S4A Statistics
$5 mil
224
778
13,317
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About the S4A Grant
Goals
The U.S. government wants more semiconductor devices and microelectronics made in America. This is made possible by having a strong workforce.
Boise State University and Idaho Workforce Development Council launched the “Semiconductor for All” initiative to build education in semiconductors for K-12 and university students.
Initiatives
What MERC will do with this grant is:
- Work with state partners to build a diverse student pipeline.
- Expand capacity and workforce retention for students and professionals in the industry.
- Mobilize educational outreach to motivate students to become the next-generation workforce.
- Collaborate with industry to create K-20 career discovery opportunities, both for in-person and online learning experiences.
- Create and provide robust curriculum in technology, engineering, business operations, supply chains, and more.
- Highlight the relevancy of semiconductors in daily life, job roles, and pathways for success in these courses and curricula.
Partners
Education Partnerships:
Idaho K-12 Schools
Idaho Community Colleges
Idaho Universities
Workforce Stakeholders:
Micron Technology
Idaho Workforce Development Council
Idaho Digital Learning Alliance
Idaho National Laboratory
Microelectronics Education and Research Center
Regional Industry
Background and History
The Semiconductor for All Grant was initiated by Dr. Sin Ming Loo of Boise State University’s College of Engineering. Dr. Loo was the original Principal Investigator (PI) of the grant, and was joined by Boise State’s Peter Risse from the University President’s Office in developing the wide-reaching project.
The grant was awarded July 2023 with $5 million from Idaho’s Workforce Development Council, and another $5 million matched by Boise State University. At the creation of Boise State’s Microelectronics Education and Research Center, the PI role passed from Dr. Loo to the MERC’s initial Executive Director, Dr. Dan Lamborn. It now falls under ECE Dr. Kurtis Cantley. This transfer allowed the grant to be implemented university-wide.
Participants and Contributors
-
Kurtis Cantley, Ph.D.
Current PI
College of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty -
Neal Bangerter, Ph.D.
Current Co-PI
College of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department Chair -
Henry Charlier, Ph.D.
Co-PI
College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Department Chair -
Camille Platts-McPharlin
Project Manager
Microelectronics Education and Research Center -
Hailey Lynch
Education and Outreach Specialist
Microelectronics Education and Research Center -
Eric Schneider
Encore Fellow, Curriculum Development
Microelectronics Education and Research Center -
Sin Ming Loo, Ph.D.
Original PI
College of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty -
Peter Risse
Original Co-PI
Office of the President, Senior Advisor for Government Relations and Director for University Industry Collaborations
Our Chip Ambassadors!
MERC and its education outreach program has hired Undergraduate Chip Ambassadors to teach lesson in local K-12 schools. These students are passionate about education, students in STEM, and brilliant. They will take their knowledge and expertise and pass it along to K-12 classrooms.