Institute for
 Space and Defense Electronics

ISDE’s mission is to: Educate, conduct research, and provide engineering & test services for the characterization & mitigation of radiation effects in electronic devices, circuits & systems.

  • Ensuring Microelectronics Reliability 

    Microelectronics face radiation-induced failures in extreme environments such as space, high-altitude aviation, nuclear facilities, and defense systems. Exposure to ionizing radiation can degrade performance, disrupt operations, and compromise mission success. Understanding and mitigating these effects is essential for ensuring the reliability of satellites, avionics, military systems, and advanced semiconductor technologies. 

  • Research

    ISDE conducts cutting-edge research in radiation effects and reliability to advance the performance of microelectronics in extreme environments. Our work combines experimental testing, device characterization, and advanced simulations to understand and mitigate radiation-induced failures. From fundamental studies on charge transport to applied engineering solutions for space, defense, and semiconductor industries, ISDE provides critical expertise that shapes the future of resilient electronics. 

  • Engineering and Test Services 

    ISDE provides engineering and test services to evaluate and enhance the radiation hardness of microelectronics. Our facilities support radiation exposure testing, device characterization, and failure analysis using state-of-the-art equipment and simulation tools. We work with government, academia, industry, and small businesses to develop radiation hardened microelectronics for space, defense, and high-reliability applications, offering expertise in test planning, data analysis, and design strategies. 

  • Education 

    ISDE is committed to education and workforce development, training the next generation of engineers and researchers in radiation effects, reliability, and microelectronics. We offer graduate and undergraduate research opportunities, specialized coursework, and hands-on training with industry-standard tools. Our graduates go on to careers in aerospace, defense, and the semiconductor industry, making an impact at leading companies, national labs, and government agencies. 

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About Us

The Institute for Space and Defense Electronics (ISDE), an Institute of the School of Engineering adjacent to the Vanderbilt University campus, was created with encouragement from various government agencies to function as a national resource for issues related to the interaction of ionizing radiation with electronic devices and systems for space and defense.  Together, ISDE and the Radiation Effects and Reliability (RER) research group in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, a conventional academic engineering research group, constitute the largest university-‐based program in the world specializing in radiation effects in electronics. Activities of the group include engineering support for modernization of defense systems, testing of systems and devices, supporting defense contractors, collaborating with multiple NASA centers, and performing basic research and advanced software development to support both our own engineering activities and the larger radiation effects community. In the course of this electronics work, we have developed tools and expertise in modeling the interaction of radiation with extremely complex microstructures. 

Our facility is located adjacent to the Vanderbilt University campus and provides a professional office environment conducive to engineering and project management activities. The Institute has full access to the University’s laboratories and meeting facilities located on campus just a short walk away. The ISDE office is a secure, limited access facility, allowing only approved personnel to enter without an ISDE employee escort. ISDE is approved by the University to work with material controlled under ITAR and EAR regulations.  

 

Personnel include 14 faculty and engineers, 20+ graduate students, 20+ undergraduate students. Graduated 100+ PhD students, 200+ graduates working in semiconductor industry and defense industrial base. The ISDE Directory provides an overview of our team, including faculty, engineers, grant managers, administrative officers and more. Each member plays a key role in supporting ISDE’s mission in space and defense electronics research.