Boise State University

04/13/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/13/2026 10:50

Team Synaptic named Top 10 Finalist in National Semiconductor Solutions Challenge 2026

Team Synaptic, a multidisciplinary research team from Boise State University, has been selected as a Top 10 Finalist in the prestigious Semiconductor Solutions Challenge 2026, hosted by the Southwest Advanced Prototyping (SWAP) Hub at Arizona State University.

The final competition and showcase took place on April 3, when finalist teams presented their solutions to a panel of judges.

The national competition brought together more than 150 students from across the United States to address real-world challenges in semiconductor manufacturing and infrastructure. Participants worked on industry-relevant problems, gaining hands-on experience while competing for top recognition.

Team Synaptic earned finalist distinction for its innovative and technically rigorous solutions to two advanced semiconductor problems:

  • Polymer Thickness Uniformity Prediction for Semiconductor Packaging
  • Automating DRC-Clean Layout for Standard-Cell / Memory Macro Interfaces

The team's work focused on combining physics-aware modeling, optimization strategies, and designing automation techniques to improve manufacturability and ensure design-rule compliance in modern chip design workflows.

Boise State team members included:

  • Ashraf Shihab, PhD Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Asif Bhuiyan, PhD Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Md Mahmudul Kabir Peyal, PhD Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Mostofa Najmus Sakib, PhD Student, Computing

The Semiconductor Solutions Challenge is designed to bridge academia and industry by engaging students in practical problem-solving, enabling direct interaction with industry professionals, and fostering innovation in semiconductor technologies.

Being named a Top 10 finalist underscores Team Synaptic's ability to translate advanced research into impactful engineering solutions and highlights Boise State University's growing role in semiconductor research and innovation.

Boise State University published this content on April 13, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 13, 2026 at 16:51 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]