12/19/2025 Edited by Megan Altmyer
ECE lab coordinator Dane Sievers has shaped a strong safety culture in Illinois’ undergraduate nanofabrication cleanroom through training, trust, and leadership.
Written by Edited by Megan Altmyer
Playing a pivotal role in the development of one of the nation’s first undergrad instructional cleanroom facilities, Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) teaching lab coordinator Dane Sievers provides more than just technical guidance to the thousands of students that have gone through this lab since the 1990s.
Visible through the distinct orange-yellow transparent walls, the facility stands as an exemplary demonstration of the safety culture for everyone to see. In his role, Dane expertly manages hazards inherent in nanofabrication work like extreme temperatures, pressure, voltage and corrosive chemicals. Despite this complexity in work, his focus is dual purposed; meticulously updating the facility to keep pace with the advancements, all while instilling in every student an unwavering commitment to safety as a basic, shared responsibility.
“I expect lab users to understand and follow instructions, report mistakes, suggest improvements, and take responsibility for their own safety and the safety of everyone in the lab.”
-Dane Sievers explained his expectations for the students.
Dane empowers students to take ownership, not out of fear of reprimand, but through the great combination of trust and training.
He actively collaborates with the Division of Research Safety, sharing his well-thought-out training modules for feedback and campus-wide use, all while driven by a palpable excitement for science done safely. Dane’s dedication and expertise have been instrumental in shaping the safety culture in the ECE nanofabrication cleanroom we see today, a commitment featured in the Grainger College of Engineering promotional video.