Boise State College of Engineering: Leading Energy Innovation in Idaho

At each Boise State home football game, the “Blue Turf Thinkers” series honors outstanding groups and initiatives on the renowned Blue Turf. The Sept. 12 game celebrated the College of Engineering.

A Legacy of Energy Innovation

Idaho has been a leader in energy and power innovation for over 70 years. In 1951, the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) pioneered the world’s first reactor to generate usable electricity from nuclear power, and by 1955, Arco, Idaho, became the first community powered entirely by nuclear energy.

Today, the College of Engineering at Boise State is continuing this legacy. Through partnerships, faculty, staff, and students work to advance energy solutions, bolstering both state and national energy security.

According to Dean Amy Fleischer, “Idaho is uniquely positioned to lead the future of power and energy. Our faculty are addressing critical energy challenges alongside national laboratories and industry leaders, creating an innovation ecosystem that makes a lasting difference for Idaho and beyond.”

Bridging Two Worlds

Central to this mission is the Strategic Understanding for Premier Education and Research (SUPER) Agreement between Boise State and INL. Faculty in the college hold joint appointments with entities like the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), connecting students and researchers with national lab scientists.

Sin Ming Loo, a professor whose joint appointment focuses on cybersecurity, appreciates the benefits of this collaboration: “My joint appointment supports my work by allowing me to focus on one thing at 150 percent.”

Edoardo Serra, whose work centers on artificial intelligence and high-performance computing, sees the two roles as interconnected. “At Boise State, I explore new ideas with students, while at PNNL, those ideas meet real-world challenges.”

Advancing the Energy Lifecycle

The SUPER Agreement supports two major research thrusts:

• Advanced materials and manufacturing for extreme environments: Developing next-generation nuclear reactor components and radiation-resistant alloys.
• Secure and resilient energy systems: Using AI-driven solutions to protect critical energy infrastructure.

The College collaborates closely with Idaho Power and PNNL to innovate across the entire energy lifecycle, enhancing both generation and security.

Brian Jaques, Associate Professor, reflects on Idaho’s longstanding history of developments in nuclear innovations. He emphasizes, “Idaho continues to lead in nuclear energy innovation, having brought four new reactors to criticality since June.”

Max Taylor, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, raises a relatable concern: “How do you trust systems in everyday life controlled by potentially untrustworthy software?”

Training Idaho’s Future Workforce

These partnerships reshape the Boise State education experience, allowing students to engage directly with cutting-edge research. Faculty bring lab-grade tools and projects into classrooms.

Jaques shares, “Many of my students expand their networks and internship opportunities through INL collaborations, leading to employment in technical fields that bolster our energy security.”

Similar experiences are shaped at PNNL, where Serra’s doctoral student completed an internship working on an AI project that bridged academic exercises and real-world problems.

Hui (Claire) Xiong emphasizes hands-on exposure for her students, who benefit from working directly in national lab facilities, gaining valuable experience that aligns with Idaho’s energy workforce needs.

Trailblazing Together

As Boise State’s research efforts expand, the College of Engineering is central to developing skilled graduates for Idaho’s growing STEM and energy sectors. Faculty members are optimistic about future collaborations.

Xiong envisions growth in battery research, anticipating that success in this area could attract investment and create jobs. Serra hopes for an evolved collaboration that ties Boise State, national labs, and industry into a broad, sustainable ecosystem.

These partnerships among Boise State, INL, PNNL, Idaho Power, and industry leaders reflect a commitment to merging academic expertise with practical innovation, positioning Idaho as a leader in America’s energy future.