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As Trevor Wavrunek, a senior\u00a0engineering physics major<\/a>, prepares for graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville this May, he credits his experience as an undergraduate researcher with helping him with his next academic goal. \u201cI\u2019m planning to go to grad school and earn a Ph.D. in material science engineering,\u201d he said. \u201cThe skills I have learned will transfer directly after I graduate.\u201d<\/p>\n Wavrunek, a Denmark, Wisconsin native, has spent the past three years researching the topic of an alternative to solvent-based microfabrication with\u00a0Dr. Gokul Gopalakrishnan<\/a>, associate professor of engineering physics. They are studying the uses of First Contact Polymer, developed by\u00a0Dr. James Hamilton<\/a>, professor of chemistry, and are using it for different instances of microfabrication and cleaning.<\/p>\n \u201cThe main thrust of our project is using [First Contact] to remove particulates from a micro-featured surface that has holes in it or features on the micro-scale,\u201d said Wavrunek. \u201cWe are also looking at removing organic residues from the surface.\u201d<\/p>\n The third part of the research Wavrunek is examining is a process called lift-off. According to Wavrunek, several microelectronic devices are built of very thin films of metal that act like wires.<\/p>\n \u201cThe devices are created using lift-off, so we are investigating the polymer either as an assistance to that or replacement,\u201d he said. \u201cWe found when you do the process and use First Contact instead of the solvent, you can create features that have more regular geometries.\u201d<\/p>\n Throughout his collegiate journey, Wavrunek said he has obtained many skills by conducting undergraduate research, from how to better formulate an experiment to enhancing his communication skills. He is also appreciative of the industry events he has\u00a0been able to attend.<\/p>\n