UC sends students to Taiwan to study advanced microchips

Students at the University of Cincinnati will have the opportunity to travel to Taiwan to learn more about semiconductors in the world capital of microchip manufacturing.

UC College of Engineering and Applied Science Professor Ying Sun received a National Science Foundation grant that will sponsor travel to Taiwan for 40 students over the next five years.

Sun said the International Research Experiences for Students grant will allow UC to give both undergraduates and graduate students firsthand experience in semiconductor manufacturing, including the latest research at four Taiwanese universities.

“It’s a brand-new program. It’s very exciting,” Sun said. “More than half of the world’s microchips are made in Taiwan, so they’re a world leader.”

She is the Herman Schneider Professor of Mechanical Engineering and serves as director of the college’s research and strategic initiatives. In her lab, she studies the acoustic signatures created when liquids turn into gases and back, which could lead to more efficient cooling systems.

UC students will spend two months in Taiwan learning about the latest research in semiconductor devices and manufacturing. The semiconductor industry is expected to continue to grow rapidly to meet demand, according to analysts such as Deloitte.

“Under this NSF grant, UC students will be exposed to various aspects of the most advanced ecosystem of semiconductor manufacturing in the world, particularly through hands-on research training under joint supervision of world-class faculty at UC and partner Taiwanese universities,” UC Professor Jing Shi said.

He is the program chair of Industrial & Systems Engineering in UC’s College of Engineering and Applied Science.

“Obtaining such an international experience will strengthen the competitiveness of our students in this fiercely contested field globally,” he said.

Sun said the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, which dominates the industry for high-end chips used in artificial intelligence applications, has one of the most highly educated workforces in the industry.

“They pay for the best to drive innovation. Most of their workers have at least a master’s degree,” she said. “It’s a different philosophy.”

Besides introducing students to the latest innovations, Sun said the program is likely to spur research partnerships among participating UC graduate students.

“We hope to cultivate future research collaborations,” Sun said. “It’s important to make those connections.”

UC already has several longstanding ties to universities in Taiwan, including a dual-degree program in which Taiwanese students come to Cincinnati and earn master’s degrees at UC and at their sponsor university.

Ohio has seen growing interest in microchip manufacturing because of Intel Corp.’s 2023 groundbreaking for a new fabrication plant in Columbus. But Sun said UC is preparing students for a variety of the latest industries, including advanced manufacturing and flexible electronics to name a few.

“The future of semiconductor manufacturing is very bright for U.S. students,” UC professor Shi said.

“Advanced chips are the foundation of new technologies such as artificial intelligence and autonomous driving,” Shi said. “For the United States, continuous innovations and investments are being made to maintain our competitive advantages.”