According to the Semiconductor Industry Association, the industry will gain 115,000 jobs by 2030.
The association also predicts more than half of those jobs could be unfilled based on current graduation rates. Cornell University and Tompkins Cortland Community College are helping to fill that void.
The partnership includes students using the Cornell Nanoscale Facility to get a hands on education. CNF has all the necessary tools of the trade for a beginner to learn the basics of the industry.
“So cleanroom facilities are specialized facilities in which we, layer by layer, create the tools and technologies that you see and use in your everyday life. Your smartphone is powered by a ton of different chips,” said Allison Godwin, associate director of CNF.
The National Science Foundation is funding a 12-week program for military veterans to eventually work in nanotech.
“I’m quite hungry to learn. But I mean, we’re going to Cornell for their labs, so it’s pretty cool,” said Cylan Blouin, a participant in the Microelectronics and Nanomanufacturing Certificate program.
It’s free for veterans, as well as their spouses and dependents. Blouin’s parents are veterans, qualifying him for the program. And he says he’s currently working in the industry but wants to expand his knowledge.
“Because veterans are tried and true. We can count on them to be reliable, to deliver, to actually commit and complete, the programs,” said Sophia Georgiakaki, a mathematics professor at TC3.
By the end of the 12 weeks of online classes and time in CNF, enrollees will have a credential equivalent to 18 credit hours.
“It’s a great program to get into because not only was it free, there’s going to be a lot of projects coming up within the next 10 years in New York State. So, it’ll be it’ll be very, very impactful for people to get jobs on this,” said Blouin.
Micron, due to the projected megafab facility to be built in Clay, has touted 9,000 high-paying jobs coming to Central New York.
“I feel like the sky’s the limit … for our veterans to be able to pivot their paths and pursue a new career trajectory,” said Godwin.
Registration for the spring session is now open with applications due Nov. 1, with six spots available.
