Dayton Engineer
Electro-optics and electrical and computer engineering graduate students traveled to Taiwan to learn more about display technology
This past summer, three graduate students in electro-optics and photonics and one in electical and compter engineering, along with students from U.S. universities, traveled to Taiwan for a week to explore Taiwan's display technology industry, thanks to a joint NSF Advanced Studies Institute (ASI) grant between Penn State University and University of Dayton.
Taiwan has established itself as a global leader in the field of display technology. Over the years, the country has gained a reputation for its cutting-edge research and development, manufacturing capabilities and innovative solutions.
Their week-long visit under the International Research Experience for Students (IRES) program consisted of collaborating with students and faculty at National Taipei University of Technology through short courses, lectures, and lab projects where US and Taiwanese students partnered in small groups. The main topics included innovative materials and structures for next-generation display technology. Furthermore, industrial visits to AUO and PlayNitride provided hands-on experience in micro-LED display manufacturing and technology.
These experiences not only broadened the students’ horizons and positioned them as future leaders in the field, but also gave them a glimpse of the exciting possibilities that lie ahead in the display technology industry.
Anthony Rapp, an electro-optics and photonics graduate student, chose the trip to learn more about his career interests in optics, but he found new friends and professional connections — and even an edge in the job market.
“LED manufacturing is probably one of the most directly applicable careers for my current studies,” Rapp said. “Compared to my peers graduating, I feel like I'll get to have this unique experience where I've already seen what these machines look like, have heard of the manufacturing process before, and (if I'm so lucky) maybe even personally know some of the experts working in the field when I graduate and move into the workforce.”
Next summer, students will visit Taiwan again, but will be hosted by National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and will focus on advanced display devices and systems in the era of wearable electronics, along with more industrial visits.
