UTD - The University of Texas at Dallas
07/02/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/02/2026 12:41
Role in Building National Semiconductor Workforce Grows
Engineering technician Antonio Hamilton is shown in the Cleanroom Research Laboratory, which features equipment for semiconductor research at UT Dallas. The University will expand an existing North Texas consortium focused on semiconductor technician training and lead employer engagement efforts across the new National Network for Microelectronics Education South Regional Node.
As semiconductor manufacturers invest heavily in new facilities in North Texas and across the U.S., The University of Texas at Dallas is leading regional efforts to train workers for the growing industry.
Building on its workforce-development efforts and partnerships with semiconductor manufacturers and community colleges, UT Dallas has been selected to lead key initiatives within the new National Network for Microelectronics Education (NNME) South Regional Node. As part of the national effort to boost the semiconductor workforce, UT Dallas will:
- Expand an existing North Texas consortium focused on semiconductor technician training. The consortium includes Collin College, Dallas College, Grayson College, Tarrant County College and Murray State College in Oklahoma. UT Arlington serves as an independent evaluator.
- Lead employer engagement efforts across the NNME South region.
Dr. Ted Moise
"The reshoring of the semiconductor industry and the growth of artificial intelligence are creating a strong demand for expertise in advanced manufacturing," said Dr. Ted Moise, director of the North Texas Semiconductor Institute (NTxSI), based at UT Dallas. "We are excited to work with industry and academic partners as part of the National Network for Microelectronics Education to build a workforce with the knowledge, skills and abilities that these employers need."
The NNME initiative is supported by the National Science Foundation, U.S. Commerce Department and the SEMI Foundation. NNME South, which is eligible for up to $20 million over five years, is led by UT Austin and serves Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
The initiative comes as semiconductor companies such as Texas Instruments, GlobalWafers America, Coherent Corp. and FormFactor accelerate their investments in North Texas.
The U.S. semiconductor industry is expected to add 115,000 new jobs by 2030, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association, and Moise estimated that 29,000 of those positions will be located in the NNME South region.
Technicians represent the largest category of workforce shortages. Training for many technician positions, which offer competitive starting salaries, can be accessed through community college certificate programs.
"As semiconductor manufacturers are making significant investments in North Texas, we have been working with industry leaders to ensure that universities and community colleges provide students with the skills that employers need," Moise said. "We will expand this work as part of the new regional initiative."
Since its 2023 launch, the NTxSI has led workforce development efforts with support from the U.S. Department of Education.
"One of our primary challenges for semiconductor workforce development is the invisibility of the industry. Career starters won't pursue an industry that they don't know exists," said Dr. Eden Zielinski, assistant director of NTxSI.
Through job fairs, recruiting events and other outreach activities, the institute has reached nearly 60,000 prospective students over the past three years. In addition, the NTxSI recently launched a new scholarship program to address the demand for highly skilled engineers in the semiconductor industry.
In conjunction with the North Texas community colleges and Texas State Technical College, the NTxSI has helped boost the number of students enrolled in advanced manufacturing training from a few hundred in 2023 to over a thousand in 2026. More than 300 students have earned L1 and L2 certifications or Associate of Applied Science degrees within the program and are now employed in manufacturing firms across North Texas.
Dr. Eden Zielinski
"Our outreach has increased dramatically the number of students pursuing this training in community colleges. Students are getting jobs and multiple job offers in some cases," Moise said. "Through the NNME South, UT Dallas will continue to help coordinate education, internships and training efforts across the region to prepare students for thousands of projected semiconductor jobs in the coming decade."
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