Diodes Incorporated and Texas A&M Partner to Promote Semiconductor Skills and Industry Acumen

A donation from the Diodes Foundation (Diodes Incorporated) is powering an educational initiative for graduate students at Texas A&M University. The $100,000 contribution supports student-led research and training in semiconductors, including chip design and machine learning, to equip students with advanced workforce training to enable more innovative contributions.

"This effort allows students to engage in hands-on learning. It's also a bridge between our university and the semiconductor industry," said Dr. Pao-Tai Lin, an associate professor in the electrical and computer engineering department.

The initiative involves several master's students and Ph.D. candidates from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. These students also participate in research ranging from circuit design, machine learning and semiconductor fabrication to developing biomedical applications.

"Supporting students' skill development enhances their capabilities as future engineers and researchers," said Gary Yu, chief executive officer and president of Diodes. "It also strengthens their ability to produce quality innovations earlier, which we believe is important for the individual and the profession."

"Thanks to this donation, students use real equipment, run simulations, design printed circuit boards, and learn how their work translates into real-world applications," Lin said.

One master's student described how the initiative has provided invaluable exposure to the future of semiconductors and hands-on learning experiences outside the classroom.

"I've designed and printed electronic circuits and programmed microcontroller boards to run specific tasks," said electrical engineering graduate student William Noxon. "The most rewarding part has been seeing all these pieces come together into one functioning system."

Under the guidance of Lin, Noxon has been building and programming circuit boards, integrating software with semiconductor hardware, and collaborating across fields with peers from electrical engineering, industrial engineering, and physics.

"It's really interesting to see how people from different academic and professional backgrounds approach the same problem in completely different ways," Noxon said. "As a group, you can solve roadblocks faster and more efficiently."

Since joining the initiative last May, Noxon has developed a deeper understanding of the nanoscale behavior of electrons and the real-world integration of materials science with circuit design. The Diodes donation made it possible for him to work with a diverse research group, which has also helped him prepare for future industry work, where cross-functional collaboration is key.

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"The semiconductor industry hinges on three things: technology, workforce development, and university-industry collaboration," Lin said. "This initiative hits all three."

The outcomes are real: Students are producing results, developing skills and preparing to enter the workforce with a competitive edge.

"We've seen what's possible with this level of support," Lin said. "We're hopeful that this partnership continues to grow, enabling even more students to gain experience that gives them and their future employers an advantage."