Dr. Jim Browning holds a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After years of experience in research and development in Field Emission Displays(FEDs) and other display technologies, he joined the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Boise State University in 2006. Dr. Browning's research interests include the study of microwave vacuum electron devices (MVEDs), plasmas for electric propulsion using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) sources and low temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) for thruster structures, and the charging and interaction of planetary dust in space environments.

After graduate school, Dr. Browning joined the Center for Electromagnetics Research at Northeastern University in Boston in 1988. While there he worked on microwave devices, space plasmas, and gated vacuum field emission devices. He also taught in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department. In 1992 he joined Micron Technology in Boise, ID where he worked on the development of Field Emission Displays (FEDs). His work included test and characterization, device physics, packaging, failure analysis, reliability, device design, device manufacturing, and cost analysis. In 1999 he joined PixTech, Inc. where he continued his work on FEDs with emphasis on manufacturing development. In 2001 he became a consultant on FEDs and on other display technologies with work in display characterization and testing, device analysis, and cost analysis. He joined the ECE department at Boise State in 2006. He became the Associate Dean for Research Affairs in the College of Engineering from 2021-2024. He is currently the director and PI of the Convergent Engineering and Biomolecular Science COBRE. His c research interests include cold atmospheric pressure plasma for use in biofilm and virus remediation, microwave vacuum electron devices, and vacuum nano-transistors.

Plasma Medicine and Agriculture

Atmospheric pressure ionized gases (plasma) have the potential for numerous uses in pathogen remediation, killing or removing bacterial biofilms and viruses from surfaces and in chronic wounds. Our research looks at novel plasma source arrays for these applications through experiment and through simulation for improved healthcare and improved food safety. The highly collaborative research teams engineers with biochemists and biologists to develop the plasma sources and to improve our understanding of the plasma reactive chemistry and its effects on bacteria and viruses. This research is supported by the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and NASA.

Vacuum Electron Devices (VEDs)

Our research concerns Microwave Vacuum Electron Devices (MVEDS) and Nano-Vacuum Transistors (NVTs). High power microwave oscillators and amplifiers are used in a wide variety of civilian, industrial, and military applications where high power density, high frequency, or high reliability are needed. Our research looks at using Gated Field Emission Arrays as the electron source for magnetrons and Crossed-Field Amplifiers in order to improve performance and operational capabilities. This effort includes experiments and simulations including the development of new analysis techniques for use with Particle-In-Cell (PIC) codes. Our research is also looking at the reliability and performance of Nano-Vacuum Transistors for use in harsh environments. Such micro-fabricated devices can be used at very high temperatures (>400C) and in high radiation environments. In collaboration with colleagues at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Purdue University, University of Colorado, and Southern Methodist University, we pursue research funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the Office of Naval research.

The Convergent Engineering and Biomolecular Science (CEBS) Center of Biomolecular Research Excellence

This grant is a 5 year, $10.2M award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support research development and infrastructure at Boise State.

Funding Organization: National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Funder Project Reference: P20GM148321