REU Site: Interdisciplinary Research to Prepare Students for the Next Era of Domestic Semiconductor Device Fabrication

This three-year REU project entitled “Interdisciplinary Research to Prepare Students for the Next Era of Domestic Semiconductor Device Fabrication” hosted by the University of Alabama Tuscaloosa features research about advanced microelectronic and semiconductor devices. Through a comprehensive 10-week summer research experience, this REU program introduces undergraduate students to various aspects of semiconductor manufacturing, the challenges in process integration, and current state of the art research. The semiconductor materials and devices-based research projects will help REU students develop a solid understanding of the semiconductor technologies and the chemical and physical processes used in the manufacturing. These experiences will allow participants to make more informed decision about their graduate research and future careers. The goal of this REU site is to help cultivate a pipeline of young scientists and engineers who can contribute to the current and future challenges in domestic semiconductor and microelectronics manufacturing. By fostering a collaborative environment, participants will learn to leverage individual expertise while integrating the insights of others to expedite problem-solving and foster innovation. This three-year REU project entitled “Interdisciplinary Research to Prepare Students for the Next Era of Domestic Semiconductor Device Fabrication” hosted by the University of Alabama Tuscaloosa features research about advanced microelectronic and semiconductor devices. Through a comprehensive 10-week summer research experience, this REU program introduces undergraduate students to various aspects of semiconductor manufacturing, the challenges in process integration, and current state of the art research. The intellectual focus on advanced processing for the fabrication and integration of semiconductor devices will build upon the hypothesis that early exposure to the advanced semiconductor devices and their fabrication by undergraduate students promotes their interests in the semiconductor/microelectronics field and accelerates interdisciplinary innovation. An interdisciplinary team and a wide spectrum of research projects aligned in this REU site fosters students’ understanding of process integration, device manufacturing, as well as the challenges and opportunities in the state-of-the-art semiconductor technology. Furthermore, the hands-on research activities aim to help REU students practice and gain insights into the close-loop concept of hypothesis-driven approach for research and problem solving. In addition, participants will engage in sessions about technology transfer and entrepreneurship skills, which are essential for their long-term success. This Site is supported in part by funds provided to the National Science Foundation by the Semiconductor Research Corporation. Partial funding for this proposal was provided through NSF's Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE:EDU) program. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.