Boise State University is breaking new ground in photonic sensor technology with a recent National Science Foundation Engineering Research Initiation award to Assistant Professor Karthik Srinivasan. There, the team of researchers is utilizing funding to develop photonic sensors capable of operating reliably in extreme environments including deep-earth drilling, deep-sea exploration, nuclear reactors and outer space. “This award reflects not only the strength of Professor Srinivasan’s vision, but also Boise State’s growing capability to push forward engineering research,” College of Engineering Dean Amy Fleischer said. However, conventional technologies based on silica fibers or silicon photonics often degrade under high temperatures or corrosive conditions, limiting their performance. The NSF Engineering Research Initiation program provides up to $200,000 over two years to support early-career investigators at institutions that have not yet received significant federal research funding.