Cao found that the students mastered many important unit processes in semiconductor manufacturing and were successful in building functioning devices as part of the program. This success and initial positive feedback from course evaluators gave instructors confidence that they could leverage this concept to even greater effect.
“This grant provides us with the opportunity to work with our partners to expand our established semiconductor engineer training program to address microelectronics workforce issues on a national scale,” said ISWN, who will continue as co-principal investigator. said Mr. Cao, who is involved in.
Diversity is a top consideration when starting a program. Both Rakeja and Cao say they want more workers from underrepresented populations to find their way into the semiconductor industry. Hispanics and blacks make up less than 13% of all semiconductor workers, and less than 25% are women.
Rakeja seems confident that the experience ISWN can provide will have a positive impact on these statistics.
“I have worked with first-generation college students,” Lakeja said. “What inspired them to pursue STEM, engineering and semiconductors wasn’t just the basics of math and physics; it was interacting with and being inspired by technology. I can see a hopeful future ahead of me, and I think that’s really powerful.”
Shaloo Rakheja, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
“I have worked with first-generation college students,” Lakeja said. “What inspired them to pursue STEM, engineering, and semiconductors wasn’t just a basic math or physics education; it was about interacting with and being inspired by technology. I can see a future full of hope, and I think that’s going to be really powerful.”
Industry involvement
The new program will leverage partnerships with community colleges and semiconductor industry experts to attract students. Partners include Parkland College, Heartland Community College, City Colleges of Chicago, Harper College, Illinois Eastern Community College, and the Illinois Community College Board.
Students can choose the university they want to attend. Over the course of four weeks, each student completes a training program and earns a certificate. Rakeja said the program hopes to train 60 students in the first year and about 120 students the following year.
Students pursuing a certificate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus will benefit from education in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Holonyak Institute for Micro and Nanotechnology, one of the most sophisticated university nanotechnology research centers in the United States. You can interview and learn from people. How to make semiconductors.
Fifteen semiconductor companies based in Illinois and across the United States already plan to accept the certificate. Research centers and economic development agencies also participate, including Argonne National Laboratory, Fermilab, Discovery Partners Institute, Illinois Innovation Network, and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
Argonne and Fermilab will support ISWN’s industry advisory board, which will help oversee curriculum planning, student internships, and recruitment. DPI will support outreach and recruitment, and DCEO will support employer engagement and develop transition strategies for students.
A direct pipeline of graduates to professional opportunities is built through these partnerships. Rakeja explained that there will be opportunities for companies to hold seminars and office hours where students can connect with renowned experts. They can ask important job search questions as they progress through the training program. Internship and co-op opportunities are also offered by industry partners.
Samsung Austin Semiconductor is one of the companies partnering with ISWN.
“Samsung Austin Semiconductor is proud of our partnership with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and congratulates them on the funding provided to the Illinois Semiconductor Workforce Network,” said John Taylor, Corporate Vice President. said. “Our collaboration and financial investment with the State of Illinois will help us strengthen our semiconductor ecosystem and achieve our workforce goals.”
ISWN plans to build a standardized undergraduate curriculum that can be rolled out at partner universities. Hands-on, industry-aligned coursework helps these schools’ diverse students learn about semiconductors and possible career paths.
“Our collaboration and financial investment with the State of Illinois will help us strengthen our semiconductor ecosystem and achieve our workforce goals.”
Rakeja said students from partner schools can earn fellowships to attend courses if they meet the GPA requirements. ISWN provides grants of at least $2,000 per student for up to two semesters each semester, with the goal of leveraging funding to support and improve student enrollment. The fellowship is open to students from U of I, CSU, and IIT.
ISWN will leverage Grainger Engineering’s expertise in semiconductor talent development. The university will also launch a minor in semiconductor engineering in fall 2024 to meet growing industry demand. Students in the minor address semiconductor science, design, and manufacturing from a research and industrial perspective.
This network is made possible through the National Semiconductor Technology Center’s Workforce Center of Excellence, established by CHIPS and the Science Act. The WCoE program has received a 10-year investment commitment of $250 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The funding will support President Joe Biden’s plan to help workers secure good-paying semiconductor jobs.
Belongs to Grainger Engineering
Shaloo Rakheja is an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at Grainger Engineering and director of the Center for Advanced Semiconductor Chips with Accelerated Performance (ASAP) at Illinois State. Rakheja is affiliated with Holonyak Institute of Micro and Nanotechnology and Institute of Collaborative Sciences. She has been appointed an Intel Alumni Endowed Faculty Fellow.
Qing Cao is an associate professor of materials science and engineering in the Illinois Grainger School of Engineering, where he is affiliated with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Materials Research Institute, and Holonyak Micro and Nanotechnology Research Institute.
