At the heart of the AERTC is ThINC: Thermomechanical & Imaging Nanoscale Characterization, a comprehensive core facility providing sample preparation, thermo-mechanical characterization and multiscale imaging services. Stocked with ion-beam scanners, spectroscopic ellipsometry tech and a wide range of advanced microscopes, ThINC is open to students and industry alike – providing a doorway to advanced nanotechnology while fostering collaboration between Stony Brook University and cutting-edge materials and laboratory researchers around the world.