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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.