Ohio State & MMEC Midwest Infrared Semiconductor Technology (MIST) Workshop
Blackwell Inn and Conference Center, Ohio State Columbus Campus
The Midwest Infrared Semiconductor Technology (MIST) Workshop: From Atoms to Arrays is a new, high-impact regional gathering designed to energize the future of the Electro-Optics and Infrared (EO/IR) field. This two-day, in-person event brings together the nation's brightest emerging engineers with top minds in defense, government, academia, and industry to explore innovations in EO/IR and strengthen the domestic talent pipeline.
Hosted by The Ohio State University College of Engineering and the Midwest Microelectronics Consortium (MMEC), with support from the Institute for Materials and Manufacturing Research (IMR), the MIST Workshop directly supports strategic priorities of the DoD, the State of Ohio, and MMEC to develop next-generation technical leaders in microelectronics and sensing technologies.
Interested in Attending?
Academic, Industry, and Government Participants:
Complete the brief interest form below by Friday, May 15, 2026.
Eligibility: U.S. persons (citizens and permanent residents).
Student (Undergraduate and Graduate) Participants:
Apply through our competitive fellowship program via the interest form below (to include a Resume and Brief Statement of Interest). Fellowships (including travel, hotel, and registration support) are available for a select group of applicants. Additional students may be accepted to attend on a space-available basis with a waived registration fee.
Explore the fundamentals of electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) semiconductor technologies before applying to the MIST Workshop. These short read-ahead resources introduce the key concepts, applications, and innovation ecosystem shaping this rapidly advancing field. Download the student read-ahead materials here.
All participants, whether requesting an invitation or applying for a fellowship, must complete the interest application found via the button below by Friday, May 15, 2026.
Deadline to complete the Interest Form is Friday, May 15, 2026.
Lodging and registration information coming soon.
Workshop Goals
- Address a Critical Workforce Challenge: Tackle the aging EO/IR workforce by inspiring and recruiting top-tier undergraduates to pursue graduate research careers aligned with national security priorities.
- Showcase the EO/IR Technology Stack: Offer immersive experiences: from detectors and ROICs to cryo-cooling systems and software processing, through talks, demos, and lab tours.
- Facilitate Connections: Create opportunities for students, faculty, and industry/government stakeholders to connect around internships, jobs, and collaborative research.
What to Expect
- Keynotes and Technical Talks from leaders in DoD, AFRL, and academia
- Hands-on Experiences including IR scavenger hunts, live demos, and facility tours
- Industry and Government Panels exploring the future of EO/IR innovation
- Career Networking Opportunities including a job/internship fair and reverse poster session
- Experiential Learning tailored to show the “full stack” of EO/IR systems development—from materials growth to system deployment
Who Should Attend
- Undergraduate students (junior/senior) interested in MS/PhD pathways in EO/IR
- MS/PhD researchers in electro-optics, photonics, sensing, and semiconductor devices
- Industry partners and government labs looking to recruit or collaborate
- Faculty, postdocs, and research mentors across EO/IR domains
- U.S. persons (citizens and permanent residents)
Organizing Committee
Affiliation
Sanjay Krishna (Chair)
Ohio State University
Matt Casto (Co-Chair)
Midwest Microelectronics Consortium
Tony Vengel (Vice Chair)
Midwest Microelectronics Consortium
Program Committee
Affiliation
Amy Liu (Chair)
IQE
Elizabeth Steenbergen (Vice Chair)
Raytheon
Mike Eismann (Vice Chair)
Air Force Research Laboratory
Student Recruitment Committee
Affiliation
Leland Nordin (Chair)
University of Central Florida/CREOL
Lisa Fiorentini (Vice Chair)
Ohio State University
Nicole Pfiester-Latham (Vice Chair)
Rose-Hulman University
Sponsorship Committee
Affiliation
Ramy Tantawy (Chair)
SenseICs
Ed Smith (Vice Chair)
Anduril
Nansheng Tang (Vice Chair)
L3Harris
Government S&T Committee
Affiliation
Emily Heckman (Chair)
Air Force Research Laboratory/RY
Greg Forcherio (Vice Chair)
Naval Surface Warfare Center - Crane Division