{"id":2668,"date":"2024-12-19T10:30:18","date_gmt":"2024-12-19T15:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/?page_id=2668"},"modified":"2025-10-29T11:22:23","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T15:22:23","slug":"first-news-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/first-news-2\/","title":{"rendered":"FIRST News"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>FIRST News<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>10\/29\/25: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FIRST\/UMaine builds sensors that can withstand the next generation of nuclear reactors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Following two years of testing and development, University of Maine scientists and engineers created a microelectronic sensor that can withstand both the in-core radiation levels and the extreme temperatures that exist within these advanced nuclear reactors. The nanotechnology-based microchip at the heart of this sensor system not only survives the harshest reactor environments, it also provides operational data in real-time. This can help nuclear power plant engineers and operators identify technical issues faster and reduce maintenance costs. For the full article, <a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/news\/blog\/2025\/10\/27\/umaine-builds-sensors-that-can-withstand-the-next-generation-of-nuclear-reactors\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/news\/blog\/2025\/10\/27\/umaine-builds-sensors-that-can-withstand-the-next-generation-of-nuclear-reactors\/\">click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>9\/16\/25:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FIRST&#8217;s Thomas Schwartz featured on WABI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>FIRST Associate member, Dr. Thomas Schwartz, was featured in a WABI news story. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wabi.tv\/video\/2025\/09\/11\/umaine-professor-using-products-found-state-try-lower-drug-costs\/\">Click here for the video.<\/a> UMaine News also published an <a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/news\/blog\/2025\/09\/08\/new-umaine-research-could-help-lower-prescription-drug-costs\/\">article<\/a>, featuring Schwartz&#8217;s work on lowering prescription drug costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>07\/30\/25: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FIRST&#8217;s PFAS Research in the News<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newscentermaine.com\/article\/tech\/science\/environment\/pfas\/university-of-maine-pfas-forever-chemicals-sludge-low-cost-fast-testing-farm-soil\/97-f16b94c1-66e9-4796-ac09-e74266b0e46a\">FIRST&#8217;s PFAS Research in the News<\/a>: A low-cost, rapid-testing tool is in development at UMaine&#8217;s Frontier Institute for Research in Sensor Technologies (FIRST) laboratory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FIRST Faculty &amp; Staff Publish New Article<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Mauricio Pereira da Cunha, along with staff members Luke Doucette and Morton Greenslit, recently published an article entitled &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/resource\/langasite-saw-sensor-article\/\">Langasite Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors for High Temperature nuclear Reactor Monitoring Applications<\/a>&#8221; in the Advanced Sensors and Instrumentation newsletter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">UMaine\u2019s Pereira Da Cunha named IEEE Fellow<\/h2>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id2668_318add-57 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id2668_318add-57 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id2668_318add-57 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, calc(90% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem) * 1 )\/2)))minmax(0, calc(10% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem) * 1 )\/2)));}.kb-row-layout-id2668_318add-57 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id2668_318add-57 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id2668_318add-57 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id2668_318add-57 alignnone wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column2668_94edf5-bf > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column2668_94edf5-bf > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column2668_94edf5-bf > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column2668_94edf5-bf > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column2668_94edf5-bf > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column2668_94edf5-bf > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column2668_94edf5-bf{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column2668_94edf5-bf > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column2668_94edf5-bf > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column2668_94edf5-bf\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p>Mauricio Pereira Da Cunha, professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Maine, has been named an IEEE Fellow, one of the highest distinctions awarded by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). The honor recognizes his contributions to the commercialization of harsh-environment microwave acoustics materials, sensors and systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>IEEE Fellow status is conferred on less than 0.1% of voting members annually, honoring individuals with extraordinary achievements that significantly impact their fields. Pereira Da Cunha\u2019s groundbreaking work in microwave acoustic sensing technology has advanced many applications in energy, environmental monitoring, and biomedical engineering, earning him global recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDr. Pereira Da Cunha\u2019s achievements highlight the transformative power of research and innovation,\u201d said Giovanna Guidoboni, dean of the Maine College of Engineering and Computing. \u201cHis contributions not only advance global science and technology but also strengthen Maine\u2019s computing and technology economy, creating opportunities for our students and workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mcec.umaine.edu\/2024\/12\/12\/umaines-pereira-da-cunha-named-ieee-fellow\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read the complete announcement here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column2668_a63349-e1 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column2668_a63349-e1 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column2668_a63349-e1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column2668_a63349-e1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column2668_a63349-e1 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column2668_a63349-e1 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column2668_a63349-e1{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column2668_a63349-e1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column2668_a63349-e1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column2668_a63349-e1\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">UMaine researchers creating semiconductor curriculum for high schoolers<\/h2>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id2668_e66ae0-83 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id2668_e66ae0-83 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id2668_e66ae0-83 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}.kb-row-layout-id2668_e66ae0-83 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id2668_e66ae0-83 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id2668_e66ae0-83 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id2668_e66ae0-83 alignnone wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column2668_ba96ec-8b > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column2668_ba96ec-8b > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column2668_ba96ec-8b > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column2668_ba96ec-8b > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column2668_ba96ec-8b > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column2668_ba96ec-8b > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column2668_ba96ec-8b{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column2668_ba96ec-8b > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column2668_ba96ec-8b > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column2668_ba96ec-8b\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p>The National Science Foundation awarded $1.2 million to a University of Maine-led team of researchers to create a comprehensive semiconductor curriculum for high school students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;Spearheaded by principal investigator Prabuddha Chakraborty and co-principal investigator Rosemary Smith from UMaine\u2019s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the team will devise lessons and coursework about developing semiconductors that will feature state-of-the-art technologies such as artificial intelligence, interactive game modules and hands-on learning.  <a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/news\/blog\/2024\/05\/21\/umaine-researchers-creating-semiconductor-curriculum-for-high-schoolers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read More Here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column2668_7ec560-1c > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column2668_7ec560-1c > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column2668_7ec560-1c > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column2668_7ec560-1c > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column2668_7ec560-1c > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column2668_7ec560-1c > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column2668_7ec560-1c{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column2668_7ec560-1c > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column2668_7ec560-1c > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column2668_7ec560-1c\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"578\" src=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/498\/2024\/12\/Semiconductor-education-1024x578.jpg\" alt=\"Image of Dr. Chakraborty and Dr. Smith\" class=\"wp-image-2672\" srcset=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/498\/2024\/12\/Semiconductor-education-1024x578.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/498\/2024\/12\/Semiconductor-education-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/498\/2024\/12\/Semiconductor-education-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/498\/2024\/12\/Semiconductor-education-1536x867.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/498\/2024\/12\/Semiconductor-education-105x59.jpg 105w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/498\/2024\/12\/Semiconductor-education-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/498\/2024\/12\/Semiconductor-education-317x179.jpg 317w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/498\/2024\/12\/Semiconductor-education-423x239.jpg 423w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/498\/2024\/12\/Semiconductor-education-634x358.jpg 634w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/498\/2024\/12\/Semiconductor-education-846x477.jpg 846w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/498\/2024\/12\/Semiconductor-education-951x537.jpg 951w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/498\/2024\/12\/Semiconductor-education-1268x716.jpg 1268w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/498\/2024\/12\/Semiconductor-education-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/498\/2024\/12\/Semiconductor-education.jpg 1648w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The National Science Foundation awarded $1.2 million to a University of Maine-led team of researchers to create a comprehensive semiconductor curriculum for high school students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;Spearheaded by principal investigator Prabuddha Chakraborty and co-principal investigator Rosemary Smith from UMaine\u2019s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the team will devise lessons and coursework about developing semiconductors that will feature state-of-the-art technologies such as artificial intelligence, interactive game modules and hands-on learning.  <a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/news\/blog\/2024\/05\/21\/umaine-researchers-creating-semiconductor-curriculum-for-high-schoolers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read More Here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FIRST News 10\/29\/25: FIRST\/UMaine builds sensors that can withstand the next generation of nuclear reactors Following two years of testing and development, University of Maine scientists and engineers created a microelectronic sensor that can withstand both the in-core radiation levels and the extreme temperatures that exist within these advanced nuclear reactors. The nanotechnology-based microchip at [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":197,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2668","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"taxonomy_info":[],"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":{"display_name":"tracyrichardson","author_link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/author\/tracyrichardson\/"},"comment_info":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2668","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/197"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2668"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2668\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2792,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2668\/revisions\/2792"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2668"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}