People

Prof. Piner’s research and technology development interests are in the growth and characterization, semiconductor fabrication, and performance optimization of gallium nitride, aluminum nitride and their alloys for device applications. Less than one-tenth of the lab performance capability of III-Nitride electronic devices has been realized commercially. Thermal impedance is a key hindrance to closing this gap. The nitrogen-face of the polar GaN crystal is a noteworthy research field. Coupled with chemical vapor deposition diamond, N-face GaN FETs will offer the next device performance revolution of Wide Bandgap Semiconductors (WBGs) in a variety of harsh environments, including high temperature applications. The AlGaN/GaN structure has particularly sensitive surface states coupled to the 2DEG channel of the FET. The sensitivity is exploitable for biological, radiological, chemical, and environmental sensors.

Prof. Piner's Texas State team has demonstrated a technique to grow single crystal GaN on patterned diamond. The technique involves epitaxial lateral overgrowth of III-Nitride thin film on exposed diamond windows demonstrating, for the first time, direct contact between III-Nitride semiconductors and diamond, without intervening passivating or protection layers. Combining this new technique with Ultra Wideband Gap (UWBG) semiconductors and heterojunctions will enable better modeling to comprehend phonon and vibrational-modes in UWBG materials and their interfaces with diamond, as well as lead to the interesting p-diamond/n-Al(Ga)N junction to study electrical transport and the potential for such a p-n junction for device applications. UWBG hetero-integration with diamond is expected to revolutionize the thermal transport challenges of high Al-content AlGaN/AlN (and gallium oxide, in the future) as well as enable a novel electrical junction device.

The combinable features of III-Nitride materials; N-face surface, wireless functionality, and harsh environment immunity in a single, environmentally safe, semiconductor material system, could pioneer a new era in solid-state device utilization for extreme applications.

Research Interests

Dr. Piner's group is principally focused on research and technology development in the growth and characterization, semiconductor fabrication, and performance optimization of wide & ultrawide bandgap materials for solid-state device applications.

Yatin S. Karpe, Ph.D. is Assistant Vice President for Innovation, Commercialization & Engagement (ICE) at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. 

Dr. Karpe's primary responsibility at ICE is to handle all day-to-day aspects of technology transfer and intellectual property management at Texas State University, as well as engage with and promote local, regional and national collaborations with industry, state and federal entities. 

Before TXSTATE, Dr. Karpe worked as Director of the Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC) at Rowan University, Associate Director of the Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) at Lehigh University and as Project & Technology Manager at North Carolina State University's OTT, all of which are located in USA. As a result, Dr. Karpe has experience of both, large and small, as well as public and private university OTT's. 

He has over 21 years of combined experience (primarily in small office) managing all aspects of technology transfer, intellectual property, innovation management, licensing, commercialization, venture development, entrepreneurship and external engagement in an academic environment. In addition, Dr. Karpe is actively involved in various regional, national and international collaborations, partnership and economic development initiatives. 

Dr. Karpe is a cabinet/advisory/planning member of several groups such as the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), Licensing Executive Society (LES), University Industry Innovation Network (UIIN), International Conference of Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Regional Development (ICEIRD), World Intellectual Property Forum (WIPF), serving on several different committees. Dr. Karpe obtained his BS Engg. degree from University of Bombay, MS degree from University of Georgia and Ph.D. in Technology Management from North Carolina State University.

Jesus A. Jimenez is a Professor and Interim Director of the Ingram School of Engineering at Texas State University. He has served as the Interim Co-Director for the Connected Infrastructure for Education, Demonstration, and Applied Research (CIEDAR) Consortium since 2023. Jimenez received his B.S. and M.S. in Industrial Engineering from The University of Texas at El Paso, and his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from Arizona State University. His research interests are in modeling and analysis of manufacturing systems; data intensive analysis & simulation; sustainable manufacturing & supply chain systems. He is a member of the College Industry Council on Material Handling Education (CICMHE) since 2016. 

Karla Pizana is the Business Manager for the Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization (MSEC) Program and provides administrative support to the Materials Application Research Center (MARC) and Shared Research Operations Office (SRO). She assists with budget and grant related matters, faculty and staff hires, equipment purchases, Research Service Center billing, and personnel changes. She holds a Master of Science in Recreation and Leisure Services from Texas State University and is finishing a second degree in Accounting.