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Analytical Instrumentation Facility

Recent News

Student standing in front of a wall in her graduation attire.

May 5, 2026

From First-Time User to Mentor: Lauren Dunlap’s Impact at AIF

As she prepares to graduate from NC State with degrees in Materials Science and Engineering and German Studies, Lauren Dunlap reflects on a journey at the Analytical Instrumentation Facility that…
Graphic featuring a portrait of student Boden Bernard next to a quote about learning from researchers using shared equipment at AIF.

May 1, 2026

Boden Bernard Joins AIF Through HIE Program

Boden Bernard is a rising sophomore in Materials Science and Engineering at NC State who will be joining AIF this semester through the High-Impact Experience program. Boden first became interested…
A person in a white button-down shirt stands with arms crossed in a laboratory, smiling at the camera, with microscopes and lab equipment visible on a workbench behind them.

Apr 29, 2026

Meet Swaroop Saralkar

I’m a second-year PhD student in the Materials Science and Engineering program at NC State. Originally from the Indian west coast state of Gujarat, I work in Dr. Kinga Unocic’s…
Students at NC State University on their computers and posing in front of a screen participating in an artificial intelligence and machine learning for a microscopy hackathon.

Feb 23, 2026

NC State Teams Earn Top Honors at Global AI/ML for Microscopy Hackathon

Researchers, students, and data science enthusiasts from around the world recently came together for the 2nd Annual Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Microscopy Hackathon, a hybrid global event led…
Lauren Dunlap (left) and Keertana Ramars (right) standing in front of the XRD Lab at the Analytical Instrumentation Facility

Feb 11, 2026

Gardens of the Galaxy: Exploring Lunar Agriculture Through AIF Collaboration

When Keertana Ramars first encountered astrobiology, she was not in a university lab. She was attending a summer program at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute. “I was first introduced to…

Dec 1, 2025

Happy Holidays from the AIF

In AIF’s shared spaces where questions ignite,Users turn samples into knowledge and insight.With each scan and spectrum, their stories appear,Advancing discovery year after year. As we pause this season, warm…

Dec 1, 2025

Meet Michael Lastovich

My name is Michael Lastovich, and I’m a fifth year PhD candidate in the Materials Science Program. I work with Dr. Bharat Gwalani in the Lab for Agile Manufacturing and…

Nov 24, 2025

Spotlight on Innovation: Announcing the AIF Best Paper Award Winners

We’re excited to celebrate the winners of this year’s AIF Best Paper Award, recognizing innovative research that showcases the power of AIF and supports our mission to serve researchers at…

Nov 21, 2025

Meet Aramenta Owens: AIF’s Student Worker

The Analytical Instrumentation Facility is excited to welcome Aramenta, a first-year student at NC State whose path to the university has been anything but ordinary. With a background in emergency…

Oct 31, 2025

When Science Gets Spooky: “Bend Contours in Gallium Nitride” Wins AIF’s Spooky Image Contest

We’re thrilled to announce the winner of the Analytical Instrumentation Facility (AIF) Spooky Image Contest! A huge congratulations to Michael Carter, whose entry titled “Bend Contours in Gallium Nitride” has…