Florida is increasing its presence in the semiconductor and microelectronics sector, with significant investments aimed at developing a skilled workforce. The Florida High Tech Corridor and the University of South Florida (USF) have partnered to train graduate students for roles in this industry through the National Science Foundation’s National Research Traineeship (NRT) program at USF.
The NRT program focuses on areas such as semiconductor design, manufacturing, and packaging. This initiative comes amid national efforts to rebuild domestic semiconductor capacity and address workforce needs tied to economic growth and national security.
Paul Sohl, CEO of the Florida High Tech Corridor, stated: “The future of the semiconductor industry depends on people as much as technology. By investing in the training of the next generation of leaders, we’re ensuring Florida has the talent needed to drive innovation, strengthen our economy, and compete globally in this vital sector for decades to come.”
The partnership provides supplemental financial support from The Corridor for NRT trainees who are not eligible for external fellowships. This builds on a five-year, $3 million NSF grant awarded to USF in 2024 that supports an experiential education and research program led by Professor Ashok Kumar from USF’s College of Engineering.
Kumar highlighted the importance of workforce development: “A much-publicized semiconductor chips shortage has impacted several critical industries. A skilled and diverse pipeline of workers is critical to building a sustainable domestic semiconductor industry and to achieving the CHIPS Act economic and national security goals. This NRT grant will provide to better prepare master’s and doctoral students for the interdisciplinary talents required in semiconductor chip development.”
Graduate trainees receive annual stipends from both NSF NRT ($34,000) and The Corridor ($34,000), along with paid tuition and fees. They also gain hands-on research experience in USF’s Nanotechnology Research and Education Center using advanced manufacturing tools. The program offers professional development opportunities in entrepreneurship, leadership, communication, project management, summer internships, international research experiences, and a Semiconductors & Microelectronics Technology Certificate.
An advisory board made up of leaders from academia and industry helps guide the program’s direction. Additionally, there is collaboration with organizations such as the Florida Semiconductor Institute and alignment with initiatives like the Florida Semiconductor Engine based in NeoCity.
