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Semiconductor Chip Fabrication and Nano Characterization Certificate Program
The semiconductor Chip Fabrication and Nano Characterization certificate program prepares students for semiconductor, nanotechnology, and electronics industry careers through extensive hands-on training on state-of-the-art techniques used to develop today’s most advanced semiconductor chips.
Outcomes
Students will learn how to design, fabricate, and test advanced semiconductor chips through extensive hands-on training. Students will learn about the principles and processes used by large semiconductor manufacturers as well as semiconductor startups.
Having completed this program, students will be able to:
- Safely work in a semiconductor fabrication cleanroom
- Design parts of the semiconductor fabrication process flow
- Understand the different types of vacuum technologies
- Transfer a pattern from a mask to a wafer using photolithography
- Carryout thin-film deposition
- Perform basic thin-film analysis such as thickness and optical properties measurements
- Learn and perform basic etching techniques
- Analyze the semiconductor product through advanced imaging techniques
Roles You’ll Be Ready For
Participants will be ready for entry-level engineering and technician positions in the semiconductor industry following the completion of the program.
Agenda/Schedule
The certificate program will be 10 weeks and will include 40 hours of synchronous and asynchronous online lectures and up to 60 hours of hands-on, in-person lab training. The course consists of 10 modules:
- Semiconductor fabrication cleanroom orientation and safety
- Metrology
- Lithography
- Thin film deposition
- Etching techniques
- High-temperature processing
- Wafer bonding
- Integrated Processes
- Advanced characterization techniques
- Post-processing
Cohort 2 - October 7 - December 20, 2024
Lectures: Lectures will be available both synchronous and asynchronous on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:00-8:00 pm.
Lab Locations: Labs will be held in person at multiple locations in Virginia. Labs may also be available at multiple times.
- Norfolk State University, Norfolk Register Now
- Mondays and Tuesdays, 10am-1pm
- Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8am-11am
- Old Dominion University, Norfolk Register Now
- Wednesday and Thursdays, 1pm-4 pm
- University of Virginia, Charlottesville Register Now
- Mondays and Tuesdays, 10am-1 pm
- Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8am-11am
- Wednesdays and Thursdays, 1pm-4pm
- Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond Register Now
- Mondays and Tuesdays, 10am-1 pm
- Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8am-11am
- Wednesdays and Thursdays, 1pm-4pm
- Virginia Tech, Blacksburg Register Now
- Mondays and Tuesdays, 10am-1 pm
- Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8am-11am
- Wednesdays and Thursdays, 1pm-4pm
If these lab hours are not feasible for your schedule, please contact us at info@vast-alliance.org, suggesting a schedule that may work better for you.
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