Building the Future of Semiconductor Talent
At our December 3 Lunch and Learn series, the NORDTECH Hub had the pleasure of hosting Shekhar Garde, PhD and Lucy Zhang, PhD of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, who discussed NORDTECH-supported initiatives featuring RPI-HVCC Semiconductor Scholar Program and CHIPS Ambassadors. This year, the program supported six Hudson Valley Community College students in developing critical skills and industry knowledge to meet the growing workforce demands of the semiconductor sector, aligning with NORDTECH’s mission to advance regional technology development.
Since the launch of NORDTECH Workforce Development initiatives just over a year ago, RPI has designed and implemented several programs and their contents, ready for national scalability. Our approach centers on the principles of Talent, Content, and Scale. Talent is to attract and assemble diverse teams to both train the future workforce and drive the innovation necessary to implement these programs effectively. Content is to develop and deliver cutting-edge, industry-relevant curriculum tailored to the unique needs of diverse communities and employers. Scale is to design programs with the potential for efficient, economical expansion to create pathways for thousands of students nationwide.
RPI-HVCC Scholars Program: This Scholars Program, a partnership between RPI and Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC), is designed to give community college students a transformative introduction to the world of semiconductors. In its inaugural year, the program attracted six scholars from HVCC. Unlike typical transfer pathways, the program starts with intentional engagement and deep immersion. The students start interactions with RPI faculty and students in the first year by visiting RPI Cleanroom and tours to other key NORDTECH partners, such as GlobalFoundries and NORDTECH founding member NY CREATES and its Albany NanoTech Complex.
A highlight of the program is the six-week summer immersion experience. The first two weeks align with RPI’s STEAMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, and Medicine) initiative, where students collaborate with international peers interested in chips and microelectronics. These interactions provide a global perspective and foster teamwork across diverse cultural backgrounds. The following four weeks are spent in Mercer LabX, a dynamic maker space, where students dive into hands-on chip-making projects. Starting with an empty breadboard, they learn circuit design fundamentals, soldering wires, and assembly. Their efforts culminate in creating a fully functional guitar pedal—a tangible outcome that connects their technical skills to real-world applications. The program concludes with a final presentation, where students share what they have learned—not just as aspiring engineers but as individuals. They reflect on their growth, discuss the challenges they overcame, and demonstrate the guitar pedals they built. For all six scholars, this experience is transformative, instilling confidence, resilience, and a deeper passion for their chosen field.
Chips Ambassadors Program: Outreach is also a major focus of RPI’s work. The Chips Ambassadors Program, part of RPI’s Engineering Ambassador (EA) Program, is a key part of this effort. In the first year of NORDTECH funding, EA recruited twenty-two student ambassadors and developed a set of “manufacturing” presentations and hands-on activities. The Chips Ambassadors then used this content to engage younger audiences and generate excitement about careers in semiconductors. Partnering with initiatives like RISE HIGH, these ambassadors visit 4 schools and host workshops to introduce more than 200 high school students to the possibilities in science and technology. Their work helps inspire the next generation of engineers while ensuring more diverse representation in the field.
Graduate Education in Semiconductor: For graduate students, RPI’s Semiconductor Master’s Program provides advanced training in areas like microelectronics, photonics, and device fabrication. This program is designed to prepare students for leadership roles in the semiconductor industry, offering both theoretical knowledge and practical experience to meet the needs of an evolving sector.
RPI’s close ties with the industry also play a crucial role. Courses co-taught by RPI faculty, Prof. James Lu and professionals from leading semiconductor companies on “Advanced Materials Metrology, and Equipment for Semiconductor Manufacturing” give students a direct connection to real-world challenges and solutions. These collaborations ensure that students are learning skills that are immediately relevant, from designing chips to understanding supply chain logistics.
By focusing on attracting talent, developing content, and achieving scale, RPI is building an innovative and diverse semiconductor workforce. From the Scholars’ summer immersion to industry-informed graduate programs, RPI is preparing its students not just to participate in the future of semiconductors but to shape it.
Visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn to learn more about the exciting work we are doing to speed the lab-to-fab transition and create the well-trained and diverse technical workforce the onshoring of semiconductors will demand. NORDTECH is seeking collaborations with the semiconductor industry, foundations, schools, and other entities who share our passion for workforce development. Are you interested in participating in and supporting the many exciting workforce development initiatives at NORDTECH?
Please tell us more: Workforce Development Interest Form