“Illuminating,” “Spectacular,” “Compelling.” This is how community college students described their two-day experience at MIT.nano, where they learned about the complex tools inside the cleanroom and built their own functional photonic chips. Anu Agarwal, principal research scientist at MIT's Materials Research Laboratory, states, “Integrated photonics is an essential part of semiconductor packaging today, but there is no single, standardized university curriculum for integrated electronics-photonics packaging.” To address this gap, educational materials are being developed at the Initiative for Knowledge and Innovation in Manufacturing (IKIM) and MIT.nano.
As the leader of the Lab for Education and Application Prototypes (LEAP) facility at MIT.nano, Agarwal emphasizes the importance of hands-on learning in studying integrated photonics, the science of guiding and manipulating light on semiconductor chips. Through the Northeast Consortia for Advanced Integrated Silicon Technologies (NCAIST) program, she is bringing community and four-year college students to MIT.nano for experimental boot camps, teaching them how to use semiconductor tools for electronic-photonic packaging and testing. “A workforce skilled in resource-efficient semiconductor manufacturing, including electronic-photonic packaging, is critical to maintain the exponential growth of the chip industry and build national security,” Agarwal says.
NCAIST collaborates closely with AIM Photonics, a U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Institute, to coordinate and accelerate the transition of technician education content and teaching methodologies from key AIM-affiliated U.S. universities to community, technical, and four-year colleges in the Northeast. In Massachusetts, Massachusetts Bay Community College (MBCC) is paired with MIT, North Shore Community College (NSCC) with Stonehill College, and Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) with Western New England University. “The NCAIST program offers a transformative opportunity for our community college students to experience hands-on training at MIT.nano’s LEAP facility,” says Marina Bograd, professor and chair of the engineering department at MassBay Community College.
The recent MIT.nano boot camp, held on May 20-21, expanded participation to include not only MBCC students but also those from NSCC, Stonehill College, and SUNY Polytechnic Institute, where NCAIST is headquartered. Twelve students spent two full days at MIT.nano operating a die saw, die bonder, wire bonder, and flip chip tool to build and test a packaged chip. “I found the combination of hands-on activities, lectures, and informal discussion with the MIT.nano team and fellow students fostered an awesome learning environment,” says NSCC student Cari Caudill.
Students attended lectures on cleanroom safety by Kristofor Payer, assistant director of operations at MIT.nano; electronic-photonic packaging by Agarwal; and photonic integrated circuit sensing by graduate student Lizzie Gower. They also participated in VR simulation exercises led by Sajan Saini, director of education at IKIM, to help build intuition about photonic devices and semiconductor packaging tools. These VR simulations serve as foundational tools for visualizing photonic devices and complex tool mechanics, deepening technical understanding.
By bridging physical fabrication with advanced simulation resources, LEAP students are mastering the highly specialized manufacturing, assembly, and testing pipelines required for the future of electronic-photonic integration. “The experience at this boot camp not only strengthens our student technical skills, it helps them see themselves as future contributors to a rapidly evolving field,” says Mary Beth Steigerwald, professor and engineering department chair at North Shore Community College. This training will enable students to secure summer internships at hard technology companies, with several already accepted into four-year degree programs to continue their education in the fall.
Blogger's Review: The training camp at MIT.nano not only provides cutting-edge technical training but also opens multiple pathways for students into future careers. This blend of practical and theoretical education significantly boosts students' confidence and skills, making it a model worth promoting on a broader scale.