Advancing workforce development collaborations
Northwest University Semiconductor Network reinforces nationwide commitment to building semiconductor workforce of the future.
Micron Technology has announced the Northwest University Semiconductor Network, a partnership focused on collectively developing the next generation of the U.S. semiconductor industry’s workforce. The network will drive foundational and emerging research to increase students’ opportunities for experiential learning across the semiconductor ecosystem, with equitable access for underrepresented students, including those in rural and tribal communities.
The STEMM Opportunity Alliance (SOA) will hold its Northwest STEMM Summit: Achieving Equity and Excellence, hosted by Micron, in Boise today. At this summit, Erwin Gianchandani, National Science Foundation’s assistant director for technology, innovation and partnerships, and Travis York, SOA leader and director of inclusive STEMM ecosystems for equity and diversity at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), will join Micron executives as they introduce the network, which includes 13 founding member institutions across six states.
The SOA is a national initiative led by the AAAS, with support from the Doris Duke Foundation, more than a dozen funders and 110+ cross-sector partners that are focused on galvanizing stakeholders to build a STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine) ecosystem rooted in equity, inclusion and scientific excellence. The SOA was launched at a White House summit in December 2022 alongside advisory council members, including April Arnzen, Micron senior vice president, chief people officer and president of the Micron Foundation. The SOA and Micron understand that diversity in STEMM is essential to excellence in the scientific ecosystem, which is critical for U.S. economic growth and competitiveness and necessary for building a better society that benefits all communities.
Micron and National Science Foundation (NSF) also announced the next step in a previously disclosed $10 million partnership between the Micron Foundation and NSF. NSF will publish a Dear Colleague Letter with two NSF solicitations that are focused on educator equity and are aligned with the strategic vision laid out in the CHIPS and Science Act. The first of these solicitations, Research Experiences for Teachers (RET), looks to facilitate professional development of K-12 science teachers through research experience. And the second, the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program (Noyce), addresses the critical need for recruiting, preparing and retaining highly effective elementary and secondary mathematics and science teachers in high-need school districts.
“Partnerships between institutions of higher education, government and industry leaders like Micron are critical so that together, we can build an inclusive and robust talent pipeline equipped with the high-tech skills that will advance U.S. technology innovation and leadership,” Arnzen said. “Micron is proud to be expanding our university partnership model through the U.S., leveraging the regional proximity to our leading research and development center in Boise and reaching students that have been traditionally underrepresented in the semiconductor industry, including rural and tribal communities in the Northwest. Our partnership with NSF aims to increase diversity and equity among STEM professionals, helping more students from traditionally underrepresented groups see themselves in their educators, the STEM field and the semiconductor industry. We look forward to furthering the impact of Micron’s Northwest University Semiconductor Network and our NSF partnerships as we focus on building a workforce of the future.”
Micron plans to invest approximately $15 billion through the end of the decade to construct a leading-edge memory manufacturing fab co-located with the company’s R&D epicenter in Boise. This project will create over 17,000 new Idaho jobs, furthering the need for a diverse, highly-skilled workforce. To support the semiconductor industry at scale, Micron has prioritized building relationships with K-12 and higher education partners who can help train students in STEM disciplines, expand research in the broad field of semiconductors and retain a more diverse group of students as they complete their degrees.
“Public-private partnerships help the U.S. stay competitive in key technology areas and grow access to high-wage, good-quality jobs in every part of the country,” Gianchandani said. “NSF is delighted to partner with Micron to catalyze new career pathways, including through practical experiences for learners of all backgrounds, ages and geographic locations. The new funding opportunity that we are releasing today will broaden participation in the semiconductor workforce and help create opportunities everywhere and unleash innovation anywhere.”
“Both the Northwest University Semiconductor Network and the partnership between Micron and the NSF embody the kind of cross-sector and public-private collaboration necessary to achieving equity and excellence in STEMM,” York said. “Investing in the critical semiconductor industry and ensuring we have a diverse workforce that can meet the moment is paramount. SOA looks forward to continued work with our diverse group of partners to build a STEMM ecosystem that will maintain American competitiveness and better individual lives.”
The founding partners of the Northwest University Semiconductor Network were identified based on their strong collective undergraduate and graduate programs in engineering and other STEM degrees, as well as on their vast R&D expertise and hands-on learning opportunities for students. The network collectively offers access to teaching labs and cleanrooms, a strong foundation of collaboration across institutions, programs connecting to community colleges and strong diversity programs to increase equitable access to engineering education.
The Northwest University Semiconductor Network will expand and prepare the next generation of talent through a framework centered on collaboration, innovation and problem-solving. Micron, in partnership with the network institutions and in alignment with the American Semiconductor Academy and the SEMI Foundation, will champion efforts to modernize and enhance curriculum by sharing best practices and industry-backed technical content, expanding experiential learning programs for greater access to cleanrooms and teaching labs, and bolstering research opportunities for students.
