ELEAN Program Prepares Students for Careers in Semiconductors and Microelectronics
As the United States works to expand domestic semiconductor manufacturing, Stony Brook University researchers are helping build the workforce needed to support the growing industry.
Carlos Colosqui, professor of Mechanical Engineering, and Surita Bhatia, professor of Chemistry, have established the Experiential Learning Explorations in Advanced Nanomanufacturing (ELEAN) in New York State program to provide students from both STEM and non-STEM backgrounds with hands-on training and career pathways in semiconductors and microelectronics.
Supported by the National Science Foundation’s Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) Directorate and The Micron Foundation, ELEAN addresses a critical workforce gap in the semiconductor industry, where job growth is outpacing the number of trained workers.The program offers two learning pathways: the shorter Explorer Track, (three months to a year), which introduces participants to nanofabrication through hands-on experiences, and a longer, more extensive Developer Track, (one to two years), which provides deeper, project-based training designed to prepare students for industry roles. No prior nanofabrication experience is required, and participants receive stipends while completing their training.
ELEAN works with industry and research partners, including GlobalFoundries, Wolfspeed, and Brookhaven National Laboratory, to align training with workforce needs and connect participants with career opportunities. The Career Center and the Center for Inclusive Education (CIE) also contributes to the project with recruitment, mentoring, and job placements for participants.
Colosqui says “the ELEAN program represents the kind of partnership among universities, industry, and government that is essential to building a highly skilled semiconductor workforce in the United States.”
Currently serving approximately 25 participants annually, the program is designed to expand and serve as a model for workforce development efforts throughout New York state and beyond.
Those interested in applying to the ELEAN program can do so here.