FSI Hosts Hands-On Semiconductor Workshop for FAMU and FSU Students

Last month, at the University of Florida’s Nonoscale Research Facility, the Florida Semiconductor Institute (FSI) hosted a group of eight students and one professor from the Electrical Engineering and Electronic Engineering Technology programs at Florida A&M University (FAMU) and Florida State University (FSU) for an immersive three-day semiconductor workshop. As part of FSI’s ongoing workforce development efforts, the second annual workshop provided an opportunity for students to expand on their theory-based coursework in semiconductors and microfabrication and to experience firsthand how semiconductor devices are designed, fabricated, and tested. 

This workshop was supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through the grant “EAGER: Empowering African American STEM Talent: Enhancing Semiconductor and Microelectronics Expertise through Targeted Research and Mentorship at an HBCU,” led and co-led by FAMU professors Dr. Mulay and Dr. Chao Li.

Over three days, visitors worked through the fundamental processes used in semiconductor manufacturing in order to gain practical experience with the tools that drive today’s microelectronics industry. The workshop combined lecture-based instruction from Dr. Jack Judy, FSI Director of Workforce Development and Professor at the University of Florida, with laboratory guidance from doctoral student Kenneth Fluker, Jr. 

Working inside the instructional laboratory, participants fabricated and tested their own semiconductor devices, including metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) and diodes. Each stage of the process introduced new challenges, which participants eagerly took on as they learned how precision and problem-solving play essential roles in creating functional semiconductor devices.

By the end of the program, participants had successfully manufactured and tested functional semiconductor devices and were able to take home diced chips containing their functional devices. As a unique keepsake, the chips also have each participant’s name patterned at the microscale. 

Simon Foo reflects on the experience: “The 3-day training on nanofabrication was extremely well-coordinated and conducted. The lectures presented by Dr. Judy were very informative and easy to understand, especially for students with less background in electronics and circuits. The hands-on practical training provided by Mr. Fluker on the design and fabrication of microstructures on silicon, along with microelectronic devices such as resistors, diodes, and n-channel MOSFETs, was most exciting for the students and me. The fact that we had the opportunity to design our own individual logos for the integrated circuits, process the silicon wafer, and test our individual chips was truly the highlight of the workshop. In summary, it was an invaluable educational experience for all of us! I highly recommend this mini-course on nanofabrication to any engineering student or working professional in the electronics field.”

Overall, this workshop allowed participants to experience firsthand how classroom concepts are applied in a real-world laboratory and to gain a valuable, memorable experience. In Florida’s growing semiconductor ecosystem, programs like these help students gain the skills and experiences needed to support the industry’s growth.