The University of Texas at Arlington has awarded funding to research teams to launch new investigative projects. The Research Enhancement Program (REP), administered by UTA's Office of Vice President for Research and Innovation, offers seed funding to investigators to help them test new ideas and explore new directions that could lead to future innovations and more competitive proposals for external funding from federal agencies and nonprofit foundations.
In our research series, we highlight six of these grants.
Researchers: Sally Jia, assistant professor of materials science and engineering, College of Engineering
Research focus: Helping future computer chips stay cooler and work more efficiently
What's the idea?
As computer chips become smaller and more powerful, managing heat has become one of the biggest challenges in electronics. Dr. Jia's project explores new ways to improve heat flow inside electronic devices by redesigning how different materials connect at the nanoscale. Researchers will study advanced low-dimensional materials, including 2D graphene and 1D carbon nanotubes, that can transfer heat more effectively than traditional materials. The team will investigate how these materials connect with metal electrodes and develop new interface designs that transport heat more effectively, preventing overheating in next-generation electronics.
Why it matters
Excess heat can slow down electronics, reduce performance and shorten the lifespan of devices such as AI processors, data-center hardware and advanced communication systems. While many advanced materials conduct heat efficiently on their own, heat often becomes trapped where different materials meet, creating thermal bottlenecks inside devices. The project aims to better understand how heat moves across these tiny connections and how engineers can design electronics that stay cooler, operate more efficiently, and support increasing computing demands.
Real-world use
The findings could help engineers develop faster, more energy-efficient computer chips and electronic devices. Potential applications include AI systems, high-performance computing, flexible electronics, sensors and advanced communication technologies. The research may also help manufacturers design smaller and more powerful electronics that can handle increasing computing demands without overheating.
Next steps
The research team plans to fabricate and test nanoscale devices based on advanced low-dimensional materials such as 2D graphene and 1D carbon nanotubes, and 3D metal electrodes. Researchers will measure how efficiently heat moves through the newly designed interfaces and compare their performance with existing technologies. The project will support graduate student research and generate preliminary data for future proposals to agencies such as the National Science Foundation and Department of Energy.
In their words
"As electronic devices continue to shrink, heat management is becoming one of the biggest barriers to future computing performance. The goal of Thermal Management & Processing lab (TEMP lab) is to better understand and regulate how heat moves across material interfaces and develop new strategies that allow advanced materials to reach their full potential in next-generation electronics." — Sally Jia
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth. With a student body of over 42,700, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation's top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.
