UA ENGINEERING STUDENTS TAKE FIRST PLACE IN NATIONAL MICROELECTRONICS COMPETITION

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The University of Arkansas International Microelectronics and Packaging Society (IMAPS) student chapter brought home the $1,500 cash first prize in a booth competition held in conjunction with the society's 35th international symposium in Denver recently.

The six-member team is comprised of students in electrical, mechanical and computer science & computer engineering.

For the competition, team members presented research projects in microelectronics field and answered technical questions from five judges. In addition, the team was judged on chapter activities and the campus facilities they use for packaging research.

The team competed against student chapters from around the country, including Auburn University, Virginia Tech and the University of Kentucky. Dr. Aisha Elshabini, professor and head of electrical engineering and interim head of computer science & computer engineering, serves as the chapter's advisor.

Kuldeep Saxena, vice president of the IMAPS student chapter and electrical engineering Ph.D. candidate, credits the group's advisor for the win.

"I must tell you that we were able to receive this award due to Dr. Elshabini's hard work and the motivation she stirs up in us," he said.

Other team members include -- Habib Mustain, chapter president and electrical engineering Ph.D. candidate; Parthiban Arunasalam, secretary and master's candidate in mechanical engineering; Kiran Vanam, treasurer and master's candidate in electrical engineering; and undergraduate students Zigfried Eli Ahiepkor, computer science & computer engineering; and Jeremy Junghans, electrical engineering.

The largest international microelectronics and electronic packaging society, IMAPS, has 27 student chapters nationally and 12,000 professional members internationally.

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Aicha Elshabini, professor and head of electrical engineering, College of Engineering, (479) 575-3009, aicha@engr.uark.edu

Mary-Ann Bloss, communications director, College of Engineering, (479) 575-6016, mab4@engr.uark.edu