From FastLAB to Fusion

As the notion of the Silicon Desert gains strength in the region, Southern Arizona’s tech economy is reaching a pivotal inflection point, with the University of Arizona at the forefront through its innovation and education framework. 

From workforce programs in semiconductors and optics to breakthrough research in fusion energy and cancer engineering, UA is laying the groundwork for the region’s next wave of tech growth.

“Southern Arizona has long been home to pioneering technology companies and partnerships, from aerospace and defense to mining and manufacturing,” said UA President Suresh Garimella. “What makes this moment different is the way new industries and opportunities are converging, creating a turning point for the region’s economy.

“Technology, like any tool, is only as effective as the people who use it. That is why the university’s contributions to the state’s tech ecosystem will always begin with education. Our students and the learning experiences they have with our world-class faculty are the heart of this work. By providing access to advanced learning environments and opportunities to engage directly with faculty, as well as our staff and industry partners, we are preparing them to lead in the most dynamic sectors of the economy.”

Guiding the Future of AI

UA is among a growing number of institutions, including UCLA and George Mason University, to appoint a chief artificial intelligence and data science officer, a role filled at UA by David Ebert. Garimella said the move reflects the university’s commitment to lead thoughtfully in this rapidly evolving field, noting that Ebert “brings deep experience that will help guide how we integrate AI across campus, building on the strong foundation already in place.”

That foundation includes projects such as the Lundgren Consumer Science Lab, where students use extended reality and AI-powered simulations to test retail strategies, and the inaugural AI Summer School hosted by the Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, which drew participants from across the country for hands-on training and discussions on ethics and transparency. 

“These efforts show how our academic programs are preparing students and professionals alike to engage responsibly with emerging technologies,” Garimella said. “Moving forward, our vision will anchor a comprehensive university-wide approach to AI. Beyond advancing the AI and health initiative, the strategy will establish transparent, ethical and appropriate uses of AI across research, teaching and operations.”

Meeting the demand for tech workers is central to the university’s strategy, said Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, senior VP for research and partnerships. That starts, he said, with listening to employers, industries and communities across Arizona, then turning those recognized needs into action.

The strategic research programs at the UA span a huge range of industries, including space and national security, sustainable mining, fusion energy and water, soil health and desert agriculture.

“We build partnerships that turn research into tangible results,” Díaz de la Rubia said. “In healthcare, our researchers are applying AI to improve early disease detection and develop more personalized treatments, creating better outcomes for patients while building new opportunities for employers in biotech and medicine.”

Fusion Energy at Center Stage

One of the university’s most ambitious efforts is a plan to make Arizona a world-class fusion energy research and commercialization center. Fusion energy, which powers the sun, creates energy by fusing the smallest parts of atoms, like hydrogen, releasing enormous amounts of power.

The university recently joined the STARFIRE Hub, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and led by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, home of the world’s first laboratory demonstration of fusion ignition. 

“The multi-institutional partnership connects us with leaders in fusion energy so that our expertise across disciplines can help accelerate the path to clean, abundant energy,” Díaz de la Rubia said. “Fusion represents more than scientific progress – it has the potential to anchor new industries, strengthen supply chains, and create opportunities for a highly skilled workforce that will redefine the global economy. We are positioning the state of Arizona to be part of that future.”

The university’s affiliations extend far beyond energy. At the Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture, a regional alliance enabled the launch of in-field wireless connectivity, a development that is transforming precision agriculture by enabling growers to monitor crops, control irrigation and respond to conditions in real time. 

“Our commitment to water, soil and desert agriculture is unmatched, grounded in close collaboration with producers, ranchers and industry across all 15 Arizona counties,” Díaz de la Rubia said. “These initiatives are part of a strategic commitment to drive economic growth and create high-impact jobs. We are building a model of regional prosperity powered by the partnerships between academia, industry and government.”

A Pipeline of Talent

In Southern Arizona’s mining sector, the university works with companies including South32 at the Hermosa project, where researchers are studying community resiliency, strengthening infrastructure and supporting local job creation.

“We bring together the individuals and organizations whose expertise and perspectives are essential to solving challenges that no single sector can address alone,” Díaz de la Rubia said. “By aligning these initiatives with regional prosperity and national priorities, we are creating a pipeline of talent and translational research that meets market needs while advancing science in service of the public good.”

The goal is not just to prepare students for today’s workforce, but also to equip them to be at the helm of tomorrow’s industries, Garimella said. “We do that by ensuring every student has access to hands-on learning and research opportunities from day one.”

The Future Advanced Semiconductor Technology Laboratory, or FASTLab, for example, builds on the university’s acclaimed Nano Fabrication Center, which gives students direct experience in semiconductor manufacturing, from nanotechnology and chip design to real-world fabrication processes. These facilities go hand in hand with academic programs – like a semiconductor manufacturing minor and graduate certificates – that help students build the skills they need to be career-ready in what Garimella said is a sector vital to both Arizona and the nation.

In the health sciences, the Cancer Engineering Initiative brings together faculty, clinicians and students to advance personalized cancer treatment. As part of that work, biomedical engineering students are designing organ-on-a-chip models, 3D-printed tissues and biomaterials that mimic the body’s environment. These tools allow researchers to test drugs on a patient’s own cancer cells, accelerating the path to more precise therapies, Garimella said.

“Students engaged in this work are not only contributing to breakthrough cancer research but also gaining rare, hands-on training with biomedical tools that few institutions can offer. We are equipping students with the technical expertise, interdisciplinary perspective and practical experience needed to lead in industries that are reshaping our economy and society,” he said.

Shaping the Future

For the university, long-term success is measured by impact, Díaz de la Rubia said. “It means the state of Arizona becomes known globally not only for the University of Arizona’s discoveries but for the way they are translated into solutions.”

“We are shaping the future of information and communications. Through the Center for Quantum Networks, headquartered at UA, we are helping design the foundations of the quantum internet. At the same time, the Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing is advancing microelectronics through a collaboration between engineering and optical sciences,” Díaz de la Rubia said.

Those efforts, he added, are how the university will carry Arizona’s legacy of resilience and ingenuity into the digital frontier, positioning the state as a global model for prosperity in a rapidly changing world.

“Our vision is to build an ecosystem where knowledge and technology are continuously translated into economic and social impact,” Díaz de la Rubia said. “That is why we aspire to grow our research enterprise to $2 billion annually. The goal is not scale for its own sake, but the opportunities it creates. By aligning our research enterprise with the state’s economic future, we are helping to ensure all of Arizona remains competitive in the sectors that will define the next century.”