Semiconductor Companies Team Up on Student Training

Lam Research Corp. and New York Center for Research, Economic Advancement, Technology, Engineering and Science (NY Creates) are collaborating to enable the training of approximately 3,500 students in semiconductor process integration over the next five years.

NY Creates operates the Albany NanoTech Complex. The program will use Lam's SEMulator3D virtual fabrication software, part of the Semiverse Solutions portfolio, to deliver hands-on learning across NY Creates' network of partner colleges and universities in the Northeast.

SEMulator3D is a semiconductor process modeling platform that uses physics-based simulation to virtually replicate fabrication steps such as etch, deposition, and lithography, enabling students to design, analyze, and optimize chip manufacturing integration flow without physical wafers.

David Fried, chief AI officer and corporate vice president for Semiverse Solutions at Lam Research, said: "Preparing the next generation of semiconductor engineers requires more than classroom instruction; students need practical experience with the complex process decisions that shape how advanced chips are made. Through this collaboration, access to Lam's SEMulator3D virtual fabrication platform is expected to help students build the critical process integration skills that complex chipmaking demands before they set foot in a fab."

The program is intended to develop semiconductor process integration coursework, use SEMulator3D to deliver hands-on learning in complex device architectures, and align with regional initiatives including the National Network for Microelectronics Education (NNME) Northeast, for which NY Creates serves as the Regional Node lead.