Dr. Viktoriia Rutckaia – Research Collaborator

Dr. Viktoriia Rutckaia is the Director of the Photonics Core Facility at ASRC. She earned her Ph.D. in Physics from Martin-Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, Germany. Her research is rooted in the study of light-matter interactions within dielectric and plasmonic structures, silicon photonics, and active emitting materials. She brings a wide range of skills, including numerical modeling, nanofabrication, and optical characterization of nanodevices, which significantly bolster the research conducted at ASRC. In this proposal, Dr. Rutckaia will provide research projects, training, and support for Cohort A fellows during the Micro-Internship at ASRC.

Tara McCaughey – Industry Collaborator

Tara McCaughey is the Strategic University Partnership Manager at GlobalFoundries (GF) in Malta, NY, building partnerships with key universities to enable and facilitate research projects, workforce development collaborations, and to grow the technology talent pipeline. Her background includes experience in the semiconductor industry as an engineer and in secondary education, teaching math and STEM courses. In her prior role in workforce development at GF, she helped launch the first Registered Apprenticeship in the U.S. semiconductor industry, created a network of employee Ambassadors for regional STEM outreach, and built industry-education partnerships with the region's high schools, community colleges, and universities²⁴. In this proposal, Tara McCaughey will coordinate all organizational efforts from the GF side, including the virtual information session and the site visit activities.

Dr. Milan Begliarbekov – Industry Collaborator

Dr. Milan Begliarbekov is the Director of QCi Foundry, leading the company in the development of quantum materials, devices, and technology. His research focuses on thin film niobate and transition metal ferroelectrics to facilitate quantum-enabled sensing and photonic computing. Prior to joining QCi, Dr. Begliarbekov was a Director of the Nanofabrication facility at ASRC, CUNY. In this capacity, he oversaw the design, construction, commissioning, and ongoing operation of the Nanofabrication facility. Dr. Begliarbekov possesses extensive expertise in nanofabrication, materials science, and quantum technology development. He will manage the operations of this project and coordinate summer Internships at QCi.

Dr. Kurt Steuck — Consultant and External Evaluator

Dr. Kurt Steuck is the Director of Evaluation and Research at Steuck & Associates LLC. After receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Educational Psychology, Dr. Steuck taught at Trinity University in San Antonio, conducted research as a federal employee for nearly 15 years in the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and focused on evaluation and training for the past 25 years in the private sector. He is a member of American Evaluation Association, the International Society for Technology in Education, and the Texas Evaluator's Network.