Initiative Overview
Kent State University’s Pathways to a Semiconductor Career Initiative connects education, industry, and regional partners to help students explore semiconductor technologies and prepare for careers across the growing semiconductor ecosystem.
Preparing the Next Generation of Semiconductor Talent
The rapid expansion of semiconductor manufacturing in the United States is creating growing demand for a highly skilled technical workforce. Industry projections estimate the U.S. semiconductor workforce will need to grow by approximately 115,000 additional workers by 2030, representing about 33 percent growth across technician, engineering, and research roles.
National investments are accelerating this expansion. The CHIPS and Science Act allocates approximately $52 billion to strengthen domestic semiconductor manufacturing, research, and workforce development.
Ohio has emerged as an important part of this effort. Major industry investments, including Intel’s semiconductor manufacturing campus in Ohio, are helping drive the growth of a regional ecosystem of semiconductor manufacturers, suppliers, research organizations, and advanced technology companies.
Kent State contributes to these efforts through the Pathways to a Semiconductor Career Initiative, supported through the Intel Semiconductor Education and Research Programs (SERP) and developed in collaboration with partners across Ohio’s semiconductor workforce ecosystem.
Regional Collaboration
Strengthening the semiconductor workforce requires coordination across education, industry, and government.
Kent State’s Pathways initiative works alongside universities, community colleges, industry partners, economic development organizations, and workforce agencies across Ohio to expand educational opportunities connected to semiconductor technologies and advanced manufacturing.
Through collaborative networks such as Ohio TechNet, participating institutions share knowledge, coordinate educational opportunities, and work together to help students better understand semiconductor career pathways and the industries supporting semiconductor manufacturing.
These efforts are part of a broader statewide approach to developing the workforce needed to support the growing semiconductor and advanced manufacturing ecosystem.
Hands-On Learning and Industry Exposure
A central goal of the Pathways initiative is helping students gain exposure to semiconductor technologies and the environments in which semiconductor devices are designed and manufactured.
Through programs such as microcredentials and summer institutes, participants engage in applied learning experiences that introduce tools, processes, and operating practices used in semiconductor manufacturing environments.
Training experiences may include:
• cleanroom protocols and gowning procedures
• exposure to fabrication processes such as lithography, deposition, and etching
• collaborative technical projects connecting coursework with manufacturing concepts
• interaction with industry professionals and guest speakers
Some training modules take place at Kent State’s Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute (AMLCI), which houses a research and prototyping cleanroom facility used for advanced materials and device fabrication.
Kent State is also developing a teaching-focused semiconductor laboratory and cleanroom training environment at the Kent State Trumbull Campus, expected to support expanded instructional activities beginning in 2026.
In addition to physical facilities, initiative-supported programming incorporates virtual and immersive cleanroom training environments that allow participants to experience semiconductor manufacturing workflows and fabrication processes through digital simulation technologies.
Together, these experiences help participants connect classroom learning with real semiconductor manufacturing environments.
Relevant Areas of Study
Students participating in Pathways to a Semiconductor Career Initiative may come from a wide range of STEM and engineering disciplines across Kent State University. These academic programs provide foundational knowledge and technical skills relevant to semiconductor manufacturing, advanced technology systems, and microelectronics.
Relevant areas of study include, but are not limited to:
• electrical engineering and computer engineering
• mechanical engineering and mechanical engineering technology
• mechatronics engineering and mechatronics engineering technology
• industrial and systems engineering
• engineering technology disciplines (electrical, electronic, and integrated engineering technology)
• computer science, robotics, and embedded systems
• materials science and materials engineering
• chemistry and chemical sciences
• physics and applied physics
• mathematics and computational sciences
• other STEM fields connected to advanced manufacturing, automation, and emerging technologies
Students in these programs develop technical skills relevant to semiconductor and advanced manufacturing environments, including electronics and device fundamentals, automation and control systems, materials characterization, precision manufacturing, data-driven process optimization, and complex production systems. These capabilities support roles across the semiconductor ecosystem, including manufacturing operations, process engineering, equipment maintenance, and technology development.
Experiential Programs
Kent State’s Pathways to a Semiconductor Career initiative includes a range of experiential learning opportunities that complement academic coursework and introduce participants to semiconductor technologies, advanced manufacturing systems, and engineering environments.
These programs provide hands-on exposure to real technologies, laboratories, and industry practices while helping students explore educational and career pathways within the semiconductor and advanced manufacturing ecosystem.
Microcredentials
Short, focused learning experiences that introduce semiconductor concepts, fabrication processes, and advanced manufacturing technologies.
Participants gain exposure to:
• semiconductor device fundamentals
• semiconductor fabrication and manufacturing processes
• cleanroom practices and safety procedures
• vacuum and materials systems used in semiconductor production
Microcredentials provide an accessible entry point for students who want to begin exploring semiconductor technologies while building knowledge that can support continued study in related academic programs.
Summer Institutes
Immersive learning experiences that combine academic coursework, laboratory activities, industry engagement, and collaborative technical projects focused on semiconductor technologies and manufacturing systems.
Participants engage in:
• credit-bearing courses related to semiconductor technology
• hands-on cleanroom and laboratory experiences
• industry engagement and site visits
• collaborative technical projects and capstone presentations
Summer institutes provide deeper technical exposure and allow participants to connect academic learning with real semiconductor manufacturing environments.
Early Engineering and Technology Exploration
Kent State University also supports hands-on STEM experiences that introduce middle school and high school students to engineering, advanced manufacturing, and emerging technology fields.
Across multiple campuses, faculty and programs host camps, bootcamps, lab demonstrations, and community engagement events that allow students to explore engineering environments and applied technology systems.
Participants may engage in project-based activities involving:
• robotics and automation
• electronics and circuit design
• precision manufacturing technologies
• engineering systems and technical problem solving
These experiences help students understand how engineering and applied science connect to real technology systems while introducing potential educational pathways into engineering, advanced manufacturing, and semiconductor-related fields.
Scholarships and Student Support
The Pathways initiative supports student participation through scholarship opportunities designed to reduce financial barriers to participating in semiconductor-related education and training.
Scholarships may support students participating in a wide range of learning experiences, including microcredentials, summer programs, training events, certificates, and academic degree programs connected to semiconductor ecosystem jobs.
Sources
Semiconductor Industry Association – Chipping Away: Assessing and Addressing the Labor Market Gap Facing the U.S. Semiconductor Industry
https://www.semiconductors.org/chipping-away-assessing-and-addressing-the-labor-market-gap-facing-the-u-s-semiconductor-industry/National Institute of Standards and Technology – CHIPS and Science Act Overview
https://www.nist.gov/chipsIntel Corporation – Intel Invests in Ohio Semiconductor Manufacturing
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/newsroom/resources/intel-invests-ohio.html
Participants interested in gaining hands-on experience with semiconductor technologies can explore Kent State’s microcredential programs and summer institutes, which provide applied learning opportunities connected to semiconductor manufacturing concepts, cleanroom environments, and industry engagement.