[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/dvnyn05pgqkzt.cloudfront.net\/1291\/49c77eeb9828da7e\/41256485c7e42743\/9ddd50aa-e356-49ee-8ec2-1abf6edec6a4.jpg” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” admin_label=”Image” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Advanced\u00a0semiconductor testing equipment at Western Carolina University\u00a0is providing\u00a0students\u00a0with\u00a0hands-on\u00a0experiences\u00a0and opportunities to\u00a0explore the\u00a0high-demand\u00a0field of semiconductor technology.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Over the past year,\u00a0WCU\u00a0installed and began using a new\u00a0Signatone\u00a0semiconductor wafer probe station\u00a0in\u00a0the RAPID Center,\u00a0a\u00a0research and development\u00a0center\u00a0of\u00a0the WCU College of Engineering. The equipment will\u00a0expand\u00a0academic\u00a0programs and semiconductor workforce\u00a0training, and\u00a0be\u00a0used for\u00a0applied research and development.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe are excited to provide\u00a0students\u00a0access to this state-of-the-art equipment that\u2019s not commonly found at the undergraduate level,\u201d said\u00a0Andy Ritenour,\u00a0Associate\u00a0Professor\u00a0and director of WCU\u2019s\u00a0Electrical and Computer Engineering\u00a0Technology\u00a0Program.\u00a0\u201cWith the national focus on reshoring semiconductor manufacturing, there\u2019s a huge deficit in the\u00a0semiconductor technology workforce, including people who can perform test,\u00a0validation,\u00a0and product engineering.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe hope expanding opportunities for students to work hands-on with this equipment will spark more interest in semiconductor technology and guide students\u00a0to internships, careers,\u00a0or graduate school opportunities in this high-demand field.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Semiconductor\u00a0devices\u00a0are at the heart of electronics that\u00a0perform\u00a0information\u00a0and\u00a0power processing, said Ritenour. They are\u00a0integrated on\u00a0computer chips, which provide a variety of functions in terms of information processing, energy management, sensing,\u00a0and\u00a0communications.\u00a0The\u00a0components\u00a0typically\u00a0undergo testing\u00a0and\u00a0validation for performance and functionality, and\u00a0the\u00a0wafer probe station\u00a0at WCU\u00a0will allow students\u00a0to\u00a0gain experience with\u00a0electrical testing of semiconductor chips\u00a0in wafer form.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n WCU\u00a0engineering\u00a0students\u00a0will use\u00a0this\u00a0equipment\u00a0as part of coursework\u00a0and applied research projects.\u00a0WCU\u00a0continues to develop\u00a0a\u00a0wide bandgap semiconductor\u00a0curriculum\u00a0in partnership with NC State University and Central Carolina Community College\u00a0to help\u00a0address workforce needs\u00a0specifically for semiconductors used in power electronics applications. The initiative is funded by\u00a0PowerAmerica, a\u00a0Manufacturing USA\u00a0Institute.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Monty Graham, interim director of the RAPID Center,\u00a0said\u00a0the\u00a0new semiconductor testing equipment\u00a0is an exciting addition that enables the\u00a0Center to do more\u00a0to serve North Carolina.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis equipment adds significant unique capabilities to the RAPID Center and expands our ability to work with industry partners in our continued effort to support economic development in the region,\u201d\u00a0Graham\u00a0said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Advanced\u00a0semiconductor testing equipment at Western Carolina University\u00a0is providing\u00a0students\u00a0with\u00a0hands-on\u00a0experiences\u00a0and opportunities to\u00a0explore the\u00a0high-demand\u00a0field of semiconductor technology.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3401,"featured_media":10544,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[86],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10533","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wcu-engineering"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10533","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3401"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10533"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10533\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10545,"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10533\/revisions\/10545"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10544"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10533"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10533"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cet-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10533"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}