Quantum Foundry Lab Space: Barnard Hall 008/008D
Description of Request
Submitted By: Yves Idzerda, Dean of College of Letters & Science
With a $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation, Montana State University
and the University of Arkansas will establish the MonArk Quantum Foundry to accelerate
the development of quantum materials and devices. The foundry will assist those studying
2D materials for quantum technologies by creating tools to aid their research and
infrastructure to facilitate the exchange of ideas across academia and industry. The
foundry will team with industrial partners including Montana Instruments and HighRI
Optics to create two 2D Quantum Materials Pipelines, one based at MSU and one at UA.
The pipelines will feature specialized robotics to test different pressures and application
speeds for adhesives, examine the resulting 2D layer under a microscope, and use artificial
intelligence to analyze the conditions. Once optimized for a material, the instruments
will have the ability to lift a single layer repeatedly and mount layers on a specialized
surface for study.
In consulting with the Dean of the College of Letters and Science (CLS) as well as
the Dean of the Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering (NACOE), the basement in Barnard
Hall, room 008 and 008D, have been identified as appropriate spaces to begin the first
phases of the Quantum Foundry. This would require the relocation of several Mechanical
& Industrial Engineering (MIE) labs and researchers, including Dr. Dilpreet Bajwa
and Dr. Yaofa Li. Barnard 234 and 234A have been identified as new lab space for Bajwa
and Li’s research activities, with space in Barnard 136 also being allocated. Currently,
Physics is storing lab equipment in Barnard 234, with Barnard 234A being occupied
by graduate students. The Dean of CLS has agreed to vacate room 234/234A for use by
MIE as part of the reallocation of 008/008D in its entirety to the Quantum Foundry
project. Some of the existing equipment in 234 will be utilized in the Quantum Foundry
and some items will be disposed of, with graduate students being relocated.
Resolution
Date: December 3, 2021
Space Management Committee has approved the allocation of Barnard 008/008D to the Quantum Foundry, and Barnard 234/234 to MIE.