Photo credit: Jonathan Van Dyke/USC ISI
John Paul, from South Los Angeles, recently started working as a security guard. Though it’s a stable job, he doesn’t necessarily see it as a long-term career. He still has other plans for life.
His aunt, a high school teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District, had always encouraged him to explore STEM education and careers, so when a new opportunity from the CHIPS Technician Fellows Program arrived on her desk in the spring, she quickly forwarded it to her nephew.
source: Successful Programs At the University of California, Santa Barbara California Defense Readiness Electronics and Microdevices Superhub (DREAMS)The CHIPS Technician Fellows Program was created to foster a new talent pipeline into the semiconductor and microelectronics industry by providing their first experience in a cleanroom environment – a crucial experience for anyone looking to become a technician or operator in an industry that will create thousands of jobs across the country over the next decade. Paul was one of six fellows in the inaugural cohort, which began in May 2024.
“At first glance, I wasn’t sure if this was something I wanted to do,” Paul said. “I had just gotten a job in security and wasn’t sure how it would work with my schedule.”
Still, Paul knew this could be a real opportunity to branch out into technology. He fondly remembered his high school chemistry teachers making lessons fun and engaging. He always enjoyed the meticulousness of lab work, but just couldn’t find a way to get back there.
“The reality is, this is an important technology,” Paul said. “Any job related to STEM is great. This opportunity, for me in particular, just came along by chance. I don’t want to miss out on this opportunity.”
The CHIPS Technician Fellows Program reaches an often-ignored community: workers who want to learn new skills outside of traditional classroom instruction. These candidates are ideally suited to take courses to become semiconductor engineers or further their education. Participants do not need any prior education or specific skills, but it helps if they have good manual dexterity, are comfortable working in personal protective equipment (PPE), are willing to follow instructions, can work on their feet for hours at a time, and are aware of safety considerations in their work environment.
The first cohort of the CHIPS Technician Fellows Programme included learners with a range of backgrounds, education and skills, aged between 22 and 46. Paul wanted to improve his prospects by finding work in a growing field, and his fellow learners’ experiences were diverse, ranging from aspiring actors looking for stable work in a cutting-edge industry to fellows looking to broaden their scientific expertise.
Take the first step towards a new career
Semiconductors and microelectronics are primarily manufactured in cleanrooms, which are controlled environments that filter out dust, airborne microorganisms, aerosol particles, and other contaminants to provide the cleanest environment possible. The group’s time was split between classroom and hands-on training at the University of Southern California. John O’Brien Nanofabrication Laboratory In the clean room, under the guidance of Deputy Director Siva Bhaskaran,
During the two week stay USC Viterbi School of EngineeringParticipants learned the basics of cleanroom operations, practiced operating 10 pieces of equipment, and built two microdevices. First, they built a wafer (a thin circular slice of semiconductor) overlaid with USC Trojan’s special art pattern. Second, they built a nerve probe that can be used in medical equipment to monitor vital signs. Each device required careful study of step-by-step instructions, called a process.
By completing these two processes, participants have demonstrated that they can operate cleanroom equipment and perform the steps necessary to work as a cleanroom technician or operator, a skill that will give them an advantage when searching for full-time work in this field.
The Fellows program culminated with a career day where participants met with members of the defense industry recruiting teams from Attollo Engineering, Boeing, HRL, Northrop Grumman and Teledyne.
A better way to learn
One student, Saniya Rasheed, fondly remembers her time as a Black Studies major at California State University, Long Beach, and has always sought to diversify her knowledge and broaden her horizons ever since.
She currently works closely with incarcerated youth and learned about the Fellows program through a friend’s Facebook post and decided to give it a try. Rasheed openly said she wanted to know if there was a way to incorporate formerly incarcerated youth into the program’s pipeline, but she also enjoyed exploring the possibilities in this field on her own.
“I love science and everything I’ve experienced in this program has been so fascinating to me. I can’t stop talking about it,” she said. “The most interesting thing about this program is that you get to learn hands-on, and you can ask questions as you learn and gain knowledge about how things work, which I think is a better way to learn.”
Bhaskaran was amazed at the group’s growth. “On the first day they arrived, they didn’t really understand what was going on. They were exhausted and overwhelmed just being in the cleanroom,” he said. “But by the time the two weeks were up, they were working very quickly and efficiently. They were wearing gowns, handling tweezers, understanding instructions, and really understanding what was going on in the cleanroom. It was a steep learning curve, but they were able to withstand all the pressure. All a recruiter cares about is that they’re safe and follow instructions, and we achieved that.”
Industry partners who attended the Career Day agreed that it is important to strengthen the talent pipeline and find new ways to find motivated and qualified candidates.
“In a 10,000 square foot clean room that operates in three shifts, HRL Research Institute “We continually need the right technical talent to keep things running smoothly and achieve our goals, and the CHIPS Technician Fellows program will help us find the right talent as we continue to grow,” said Jenny Findlay, chief human resources officer at HRL.
Graduation Day
After completing the program, Paul felt proud of his work and, although a little nervous, excited about the opportunities that lay ahead.
“It was a lot easier than I thought it would be,” he says. “I always thought I’d have to be really involved with all the information that goes into this, but I don’t.”
President Jalil Bishop said: MUME Collectiveleads recruitment and support for the CHIPS Technician Fellows program, and over the course of two weeks, he and his team were in touch with participants to receive feedback to improve the program.
“It’s not over after the two weeks,” Bishop said. In fact, one has already secured an internship, and the other two have had several interviews. “They still have us to turn to. We’re not done helping them find job opportunities, and we plan to continue to be involved.”
On the last day of the program, Rasheed thanked the instructors for their kindness and patience with her and the other participants throughout the program. She was amazed at what they had accomplished in such a short time.
“You should really feel a sense of accomplishment and confidence that you’ve done something that’s not easy,” Bishop replied. “This is something that very few people have ever attempted. You’ve been tenacious and you’ve worked every day with such high enthusiasm.”
Rasheed added: “If I can do this, I can confidently say that anyone can do it.”
Issued on August 15, 2024
Last updated: August 15, 2024
