Chemistry PhD Candidate Receives NSERC Postdoctoral Research Award

Mukaila Ibrahim, a Ph.D. candidate in Dr. Kathryn Preuss' research group in U of G’s Department of Chemistry, has been awarded a prestigious NSERC Postdoctoral Research Award (PDRA) in support of postdoctoral studies. This highly competitive national award recognizes Ibrahim's outstanding research contributions and strong potential as an emerging scholar.

The Canada Postdoctoral Research Award program provides significant federal support to top postdoctoral researchers, with funding of approximately $70,000 per year for up to two years, and is designed to develop the next generation of research leaders in Canada and abroad. Ibrahim's research focuses on material development for next generation of microchip design and manufacturing. The proposed project will use a bottom-up area-selective atomic layer deposition (ASALD) strategy to address the challenges with the current EUV-lithographic top-down approach chip manufacturing technology that results in frequent defects with multiple correction steps required. The anticipated research reflects the innovation and impact that this award is intended to support.