University of South Florida (2000-Present)

·        NSF NIRT (PI): “Nanocrystalline Diamond for MEMS and Biomedical Applications” 2004-2008

·        NSF ‘CAREER’ (PI): A Faculty Early Career Program in Development of Superhard Coatings for Improved Performances”  2000-2005

·        NSF DMII (PI): “ Novel Synthesis and Fabrication of Hybrid Coatings for Manufacturing Applications”   2000-2003

·        NSF CAREER Supplemental Award (PI): “A Faculty Early Career Program in Development of Superhard Coatings for Improved Performances”

 2001-2005

·        NSF MRI: Acquisition of a Focused Ion Beam for USF Nanomaterials and Nanomanufacturing Research Center (PI: R. Schlaf, and Co-PIs: A. Kumar et. al.),  2004-2005

·        NSF SBIR/STTR Phase II (PI): Non-Contact/Zero-Stress Surface Polishing Process For Copper/Low Dielectric Constant Semiconductors (Company, Faraday Technology, Inc. Clayton, OH),  (2004-2006)

·        NSF MRI (PI): “Acquisition of a Transmission Electron Microscope for Research and Education” 2002-2005

·        NSF GOALI (PI): “Investigation of Metrology Issues in Chemical Mechanical Planarization Processes for Microelectronics Manufacturing”  2002-2005

·        NSF GK-12 Fellowship (“PI: Geoffrey Okogbaa and Co-PIs: A. Kumar et. al.): “University of South Florida: Students, Teachers, and Resources in the Sciences”  2002-2005

·        NSF DMII (PI: A. Chandra (Iowa State University) and Co-PIs: Ashok Kumar et. al.)  “Modeling and Control of Wafer Scale Improvement in Chemical Mechanical Planarization”  2003-2006

·        NSF Sensors and Sensor Networks (PI: T. K. Das and Co-PIs: Ashok Kumar et. al.) “Development and Testing of Practical Algorithms for Online Interpretation of Senor Data through Wavelet Decomposition”  2003-2005

·        General Motors (PI): “Diamond Coatings on WC-Co Cemented and High-speed Steel (HSS) for Dry Machining Applications”  2003-2005

·        Sematech Inc. (PI): “Evaluation of Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Low-k Dielectric Materials”  2001-2002

·        Agere System Inc. (PI): “Tribological and Mechanical Characterization of CMP Processes for Advanced Metal and Dielectric Applications,  2002-2005

·        NSF REU Sites (PI: Mike Zokorato et. al. Faculty Mentor and Co-PIs: A. Kumar ) “Integrated Interdisciplinary Nanoscience REU,  2003-2006

·        Florida Space Research Program (PI): “Synthesis and Characterization of Engineered Nanostructured Materials with Laser Assisted Methods”                2000-2001

·        Florid High-Tech Corridor (PI) “Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of Hard Coatings for Multifunctional Applications”, 2000-2001

·        Florid High-Tech Corridor (PI): “A Smart Composite for Microelectronics Thermal Management Applications”, 2001-2002

·        Florid High-Tech Corridor (PI): “Evaluation of Mechanical and Tribological Properties of PVD Hard Coatings for Multifunctional Applications”, 2001-2002

·        Florid High-Tech Corridor (PI): “Nanoscale Chemical, Tribological and Mechanical Properties of Surface Engineered/Modified Polymers – A Joint USF and UCF Project”, 2002-2003

·        Florid High-Tech Corridor (PI): “Nanoscale Mechanical and Tribological  Characterization of Hard Coatings” ($50,000) 2002-2003

·        Florid High-Tech Corridor (PI): “Integrated Nanostructured Thin Film based Materials for Gas Sensor Application”, 2003-2004

University of South Alabama(1993-1999)

·        NASA EPSCoR (PI): “Laser Processed Surface Modification, Thin Films, and Coating”, 1994-1999

·        Tennessee Valley Authority (PI): “Laser Processed Superhard Coating for Tribological Applications” , 1994-1995

·        DOE EPSCoR Graduate Trainee Fellowship (PI): “Laser Patterning of Organic Semiconducting Materials”, 1994-1995

·        NSF Academic Research Infrastructure (PI): “ Acquisition of Scanning Electron Microscope and X-ray Diffractometer for Education and Research”, 1995-1998

·        USA Research Council (PI): “Ferroelectric Thin Films for Electronic Materials” ($2,500) 1994-1995

·        NSF SIP (PI): “Smart Materials for Transport Control ” , 1995-1998

·        DOE EPSCoR Young Investigator Award (PI): “Wave-guide Structures on Organic Thin Films by Laser Patterning Method”  1995-1997

·        National Research Council Twinning Fellowship (PI): “Growth and Characterization of Carbides/Nitrides Thin Films Prepared by Laser Processed Methods”  1997-1999

·        NASA (PI): “Research Equipment Grant for the Acquisition of FTIR Spectrometer for Multifunctional Applications”  1997-1998

·        NSF EPSCoR Young Investigator Award (PI): “Synthesis and Characterization of Pulsed Laser Ablated Biocompatible Thin Films” 1997-1998

·        NASA Space Grant Consortium (PI): “Engineered Nanostructured Materials with Laser Assisted Methods” 1999-2000