Penn State received quite a bonus on Monday when the National Science Foundation awarded the university a $17.8 million grant. U.S. representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson announced the grant, which will be used over the next five years. The grant will go toward Penn State’s Materials Research Institute to help further the research of next-generation electronic devices.

“I am proud to see such groundbreaking research being done at Penn State,” Thompson said in a release. “In some cases these materials are only a few atoms thick, which will eventually play an important role in commercializing faster, more energy-efficient devices that can be built on flexible surfaces. This truly is the future.”

Penn State’s Materials Research Institute focuses on the research, synthesis, characterization and theory of 2-D chalcogenide materials. The institute was one of only two recipients of the National Science Foundation Grant.

“This major award provides further proof of Penn State’s national leadership in materials scientific research and speaks to the innovative skills of our faculty,” said Vice President for Research Dr. Neil Sharkey. “On behalf of the university’s scientific research enterprise, we would like to thank Congressman Thompson for his steadfast support of Penn State scientific research and the National Science Foundation.”

It’s certainly not uncommon for the university to receive seven-figure grants, but $17.8 million is particularly substantial. Plus, science research? Someone in Old Main is certainly pleased.