The University at Buffalo (UB), the State University of New York, and SUNY Erie Community College have partnered to enhance workforce development and education in the microelectronics and semiconductor sectors.
The collaboration will offer UB's Cleanroom Fundamentals course online, supporting academic growth and securing funding for research.
The new digital Cleanroom Fundamentals course is a collaboration between UB’s Centre for Industrial Effectiveness (TCIE), SUNY Erie, and semiconductor manufacturer Micron Technology.
The online course aims to equip students with essential knowledge and hands-on experience in semiconductor manufacturing and technologies, positioning them for future careers in the booming sector.
The new digital Cleanroom Fundamentals course is a collaboration between UB’s Centre for Industrial Effectiveness, SUNY Erie, and Micron Technology
In terms of learning outcomes, the online course includes a unique digital hands-on lab component, allowing students to virtually experience the cleanroom environment.
Participants will fabricate a patterned wafer using photolithography and etch technologies, simulating the real-world processes of semiconductor manufacturing.
The course is expected to go live in the autumn of 2025, with plans for its delivery through SUNY Erie’s Office of Workforce Development.
UB’s cleanroom, one of the most advanced in Western New York, features cutting-edge nanolithography, deposition, and etching technologies that are critical to semiconductor fabrication.
The course is expected to go live in the autumn of 2025
Meanwhile, SUNY Erie’s cleanroom, housed within its Centre for Nanotechnology Studies, is one of the few such facilities hosted by a community college in New York State.
"We’re excited about this opportunity to partner with the University at Buffalo to bring the Cleanroom Fundamentals Course to SUNY Erie," said Adiam Tsegai, President of SUNY Erie. "This partnership ensures academic success and helps our students gain invaluable experience in the burgeoning semiconductor industry."
Timothy Leyh, Executive Director of TCIE, emphasised the importance of the initiative, stating, "Our ultimate goal is to expand the U.S. semiconductor workforce pipeline. Through this course, we aim to inspire students already interested in STEM to pursue careers in semiconductor technologies, which have the potential to address critical global, social, and environmental challenges."
The new online course follows the launch of the Centre for Advanced Semiconductor Technologies at UB in 2024, which occurred shortly after the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse region was designated a federal tech hub.
The online course aims to equip students with essential knowledge and hands-on experience in semiconductor manufacturing
This was part of the CHIPS and Science Act, a $280 billion initiative designed to enhance microchip research and production across the United States.
Micron Technology, which is building a massive 1,400-acre semiconductor fabrication facility in New York State, is a key partner in the project.
The facility, which is expected to create nearly 50,000 jobs, will include the largest cleanroom in the nation.
This new hub of semiconductor manufacturing highlights the growing demand for skilled workers to support the industry’s expansion
This new hub of semiconductor manufacturing highlights the growing demand for skilled workers to support the industry’s expansion.
Jon Bird, Director of UB’s Centre for Advanced Semiconductor Technologies, added, "The semiconductor industry is undergoing a remarkable renaissance, and the need for a skilled workforce is only expected to increase. By partnering with Micron and SUNY Erie, we aim to bridge the gap between academia and industry, providing students with valuable experiences that prepare them for this dynamic field."
Both institutions are committed to ensuring that the Cleanroom Fundamentals course plays a key role in training the next generation of semiconductor professionals, in line with the growing demand for high-tech workers and the potential of the semiconductor sector.