News
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VINSE Receives Community Partnership Excellence Award from 91³Ô¹ÏÍø Compliance Services
The 91³Ô¹ÏÍø Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, represented by Sarah Ross, has received the Community Partnership Excellence Award from 91³Ô¹ÏÍø Compliance Services in recognition of its longstanding commitment to collaboration, education, and responsible community engagement. The award honors programs that exemplify meaningful partnership in higher education. In its official… Read MoreFeb. 26, 2026
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VINSE Transitions from L-Edit to KLayout for Cleanroom CAD
VINSE offers customized photolithography patterning for direct-write or photomask applications. Tanner [Siemens] L-Edit IC software is a CAD package capable of complex, multi-layer layout editing for cleanroom tools such as the Bungard photoplotter, Heidelberg uPG101 laser writer, Raith eLine electron beam lithography system [EBL], and the future Elionix ELS-BODEN 50… Read MoreFeb. 22, 2026
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Spotlight Publication: “Substrate stiffness and shear stress collectively regulate the inflammatory phenotype in cultured human brain microvascular endothelial cells” published in Fluids and Barriers of the CNS
BMECs subcultured on 6 kPa and 30 kPa GEL substrates under static conditions express CD31/PECAM-1 (red), claudin-5 (green). Merged images include DAPI (blue). Congratulations to Alexis Yates in the Lippmann lab! Dr. Yates article “Substrate stiffness and shear stress collectively regulate the inflammatory phenotype in cultured human brain microvascular endothelial… Read MoreFeb. 16, 2026
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Celebrating the Achievements of VINSE’s Graduating Tech Crew Members
VINSE is proud to recognize several outstanding members of the Tech Crew from the Class of 2026 whose dedication, curiosity, and service have made a lasting impact on cleanroom operations, research, and outreach. Their contributions support the daily success of VINSE and reflect the collaborative spirit at the heart of… Read MoreFeb. 14, 2026
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Ecomet 30 Bringing Semi-automatic Polishing to VINSE
The Buehler Ecomet 30 is a new grinding and polishing system located in VINSE’s specimen preparation laboratory. This tool enables both manual polishing of devices and materials and automatic polishing of resin-embedded samples. Rapid, but controlled material removal is achieved by varying the grit… Read MoreFeb. 13, 2026
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Spotlight on Courtney Ragle: Advancing Nonlinear Spectroscopy
Courtney Ragle Graduate Student, Interdisciplinary Materials Science Lauren Buchanan Research Group When I started graduate school, I knew I wanted to make a meaningful contribution to the scientific community, but I wasn’t exactly sure how. During my undergraduate years, I realized my passion lies in research. After… Read MoreFeb. 13, 2026
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Tiny Pipes, Big Discoveries: Lebanon High School Students Explore Microfluidics Lab
How can differences in designs alter the behavior of the fluid? On Thursday, February 12, 2026, VINSE welcomed 16Â students from Lebanon High School to our Cleanroom Microfluidics Lab. They went inside the VINSE cleanroom, home of the cleanest air in Middle Tennessee, and found out with hands-on activities! The students… Read MoreFeb. 12, 2026
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Ion Wave 10 Returns to the VINSE Cleanroom
VINSE is pleased to announce that the Ion Wave 10 Batch Plasma System has been successfully repaired and returned to service in the VINSE cleanroom. The Ion Wave 10 is a microwave plasma processing system that delivers higher ion and radical densities at lower substrate bias voltages than traditional RF… Read MoreFeb. 12, 2026
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VINSE Welcomes Asheley Chapman
Starting in January 2026, Dr. Asheley Chapman joined 91³Ô¹ÏÍø as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Asheley’s research strengthens 91³Ô¹Ï꿉۪s efforts at the interface of nanotechnology, immunology, and translational medicine.  … Read MoreFeb. 12, 2026
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Spotlight on Camille Trinidad, Ph.D.: Developing Nanoparticles to Prevent Preterm Labor
Camille Trinidad, PhD. Postdoctoral Fellow, Biomedical Engineering Todd Giorgio Research Group I have always been passionate about making an impact in patients’ lives. My PhD research focused on identifying biomarkers for the early detection of ovarian cancer using extracellular vesicles. This work ignited a broader passion for women’s… Read MoreFeb. 11, 2026