NORDTECH Primes Next-Gen Semiconductor Engineers at UAlbany
Authors: Nate Cady, Jordan Carleo-Evangelist, and Andrew McMains (University at Albany)
CNSE NORDTECH students at University at Albany NORDTECH-sponsored “Semiconductor & Microelectronics Leadership Program” first-year students get a tour of the CESTM cleanrooms on February 27, 2026. (photo by Patrick Dodson)
The University at Albany’s College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering (CNSE) is a critical pipeline for training engineers and scientists who go on to strengthen the U.S. semiconductor and microelectronics workforce.
As a founding member of NORDTECH, CNSE is educating the talented students needed to meet national priorities for re‑shoring microchip manufacturing and sustaining U.S. leadership in advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
NORDTECH facilitates microelectronics fabrication and prototyping using a regional network of cleanrooms and manufacturing-relevant facilities. Through lab-to-fab prototyping projects and relevant workforce development initiatives, NORDTECH is supporting Department of War (DOW) Microelectronics Commons program goals and U.S. leadership in advanced microelectronics, and is led by NY Creates with Cornell University, IBM, RPI, and the University at Albany, the founding five members of the hub. Collectively, our advances in chip design, intellectual property, and cutting-edge tooling make NORDTECH a strategic springboard for onshoring and scaling secure microelectronics.
During the 2025-26 academic year, UAlbany welcomed a new cohort of students into the NORDTECH‑funded Semiconductor and Microelectronics Leadership Program (SMLP). The cohort includes 15 first‑year undergraduate students from CNSE’s departments of Nanoscale Science & Engineering and Electrical & Computer Engineering. The program continues to focus on recruiting and retaining students early in their academic careers by pairing scholarship support with exposure to real‑world semiconductor research, development and manufacturing environments.
Each SMLP participant receives a one‑time $5,000 scholarship along with access to monthly educational, professional development, and workforce activities designed to introduce students to the diverse disciplines that underpin semiconductor and microelectronics innovation. By lowering financial barriers and providing structured exploration opportunities, the program gives students more flexibility to explore their academic and career options.
CNSE NORDTECH student (photo by Patrick Dodson)
Direct Access to State‑of‑the‑Art Semiconductor Facilities
As part of the 2025–26 program year, SMLP students are gaining direct exposure to advanced research and manufacturing infrastructure at the NY Creates Albany NanoTech Complex, where CNSE’s Department of Nanoscale Science & Engineering and leading semiconductor industry companies are located, including Applied Materials, TEL, IBM, and AIM Photonics. This proximity enables students to engage directly with industry professionals, learn about emerging workforce needs and explore internship and career paths within the regional semiconductor ecosystem.
A centerpiece of this year’s experiential learning activities took place in February when SMLP students participated in a hands‑on cleanroom exercise at CNSE’s 200mm Innovation Lab. Students donned full cleanroom “bunny suits” and worked alongside technical staff to perform foundational semiconductor manufacturing processes, including nanoscale thin‑film deposition, lithography and etching. The activity provided students with first‑hand exposure to the tools, protocols, and precision required in microelectronics fabrication environments, reinforcing classroom concepts through immersive practice.
CNSE NORDTECH students (photo by Patrick Dodson)
Building the Workforce Pipeline Through Education and Exposure
The SMLP directly supports U.S. Department of War microelectronics strategic priorities by addressing two critical needs: education and early exposure. By supporting students in their pursuit of undergraduate degrees in semiconductor‑ and microelectronics‑related disciplines at CNSE, the program strengthens the domestic talent pipeline. At the same time, by exposing students to semiconductor R&D and manufacturing environments at the Albany NanoTech Complex—and through experiential activities such as the cleanroom session—the program helps students develop a practical understanding of the field and its career opportunities.
“Supporting the next generation of the semiconductor and microelectronics workforce starts with programs like SMLP that provide scholarship‑based incentives to pursue undergraduate education in relevant fields of study and experiential educational opportunities that enable students to explore career paths in semiconductors and microelectronics,” said Nathaniel Cady, CNSE associate dean for research.
Through continued investment in programs such as SMLP, UAlbany and NORDTECH are reinforcing the Capital Region’s leadership as a national hub for semiconductor innovation while preparing students to contribute to one of the most strategically important technology sectors in the United States.