AME Alums Head an NSF Grant-Winning Startup

Paramium Technologies, a startup created to meet a need in the radio communications industry for "fast, flexible, and accurate fabrication of freeform curved metal panels," is led by two mechanical engineering alumni.

Christian DavilaPeralta, who earned his master's degree in 2018 and his PhD in 2020, is the company's co-inventor. Roslyn Norman, who earned her bachelor's degree in 2020, is the engineering manager.

Paramium, a University of Arizona Center for Innovation startup, recently received a $256,000 National Science Foundation Small Business Innovation Research grant, for conducting research and development work on efficient manufacturing methods for radio antenna reflectors. Paramium’s innovative manufacturing solution unlocks rapid prototyping capabilities for antenna designers because it is faster and more versatile than traditional methods. The underlying technology was developed by researchers and faculty from the University of Arizona College of Engineering, College of Science and College of Optical Sciences and is licensed through Tech Launch Arizona.

“The genesis of Paramium would not be possible without the support of the University of Arizona,” Norman said. “Since inception, UA has been there for us. The technology was invented by Paramium’s founders in the Steward Observatory Solar Lab, patented and licensed through Tech Launch Arizona who also funded early development of the proof-of-concept and supported the early formation of our company including our NSF I-Corps experience. From there, our team won a sponsored launch at the University of Arizona Center for Innovation where we plan to build our first prototype and begin scaling for commercialization.”