Starting this summer, a grant from Intel will help establish a new eight-week undergraduate research and cleanroom training program.
The award will support six NMSU engineering students as they broaden their knowledge through early exposure to research experience, semiconductor-aligned skills, cleanroom training and career mentorship.
"This program is an exciting extension of Intel's ongoing investment in our students and the College of Engineering," said Sara Patricolo, interim director of Engineering Outreach. "Their support goes beyond a single initiative; it reflects an ongoing commitment to developing both our students and New Mexico's engineering workforce. By connecting students with real-world research and industry mentorship, we are strengthening the pipeline of talented engineers who will drive innovation in our region."
The program is designed to provide students with immersive research experience and technical training in semiconductor manufacturing and microfabrication. Each selected student will receive a $5,000 Intel-funded stipend to participate full-time in the summer research experience.
Before the start of the summer session, students are advised to complete Purdue University and Intel's online "Semiconductor Fabrication 101" course to build foundational knowledge.
Participants of this summer program will complete 275 hours of faculty-mentored laboratory research at NMSU and immersive cleanroom training at the University of Texas at El Paso, including a full day focused on cleanroom safety and protocols, followed by two days of hands-on microfabrication project work.
And students won't be the only participants. An additional six to eight engineering faculty members will participate in cleanroom safety and protocol training, helping expand semiconductor-related knowledge across the college and integrate those concepts into future teaching and research efforts.
Along with hands-on experience, students will receive professional development support, including weekly advising check-ins and technical lectures on semiconductor-relevant topics such as process control, post-fabrication quality control and statistical process control.
The faculty members involved in the program are Jessica Houston from Chemical and Materials Engineering, Olga Lavrova and Mario Renteria-Pinon from Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Abdu Abdelkefi from Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
To conclude the program, there will be a symposium featuring poster presentations and lightning talks, with Intel personnel invited to attend either in person or virtually.
Eligible participants are primarily undergraduate engineering students majoring in one of the following majors: chemical and materials engineering, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical and aerospace engineering, industrial engineering, or engineering physics.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Interested NMSU engineering students may apply at https://bit.ly/3QhuGjd by Monday, April 27.
The full article can be seen at https://newsroom.nmsu.edu/news/intel-grant-launches-research-program-for-nmsu-engineering-students/s/dd3deb20-3510-495c-939d-04f5fa2e5e9f
