The United States longstanding leadership in semiconductors and microelectronics is under serious threat. Semiconductor chips are the workhorse of everyday electronics with diverse application domains such as aviation, medical, transportation, etc. The future of semiconductor manufacturing requires a convergence approach to design and deploy diverse new technologies in materials, chemical and materials processes, devices, architectures through the development of application-driven systems. Semiconductor microfabrication technology cuts across traditional science and engineering disciplines and represents an opportunity to bring students together from diverse disciplines to learn in a stimulating interdisciplinary environment. The University of South Florida (USF) proposes a multidisciplinary ‘NRT: Science, Technology, Engineering, Partnership, Upward Program (STEP-UP) for Advancing Microelectronics Education and Training’ program with participating faculty from six Engineering departments. The primary vision (Fig.1) of this NRT project is to develop and implement a comprehensive education, research, training, and skills development program in semiconductor design, manufacturing, and packaging.

This NRT program will provide STEP-UP NRT Trainees with the ability to:

1. work with faculty and partner mentors to define research problems using a convergence approach to design and develop application-driven semiconductor systems and devices,
2. carry out semiconductor-based research projects with an interdisciplinary approach, and
3. develop the interdisciplinary, and global competency skills

The overall goal of this proposal is to address the current challenges (lack of interdisciplinary knowledge and lack of advances to sustain the semiconductor technology) through the development and implementation of the interdisciplinary convergence educational program based on fundamental concepts of semiconductor processing engineering by high-impact, graduate program incorporating new courses, dissertation research, and strong involvement of industry to produce a steady stream of highly qualified professionals for both industry and academia.