Student Internships

Ping-Ju Chuang, a student of Dr. William Vandenberghe, is continuing his internship work at Micron Technology Inc. in Boise, Idaho. Chuang’s project is in semiconductor physics on a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) product which may be in production as early as 2024. The internship is about so much more than work, it is also about teamwork and building relationships. The team took a trip to explore the national parks in the area, specifically Arches, Bryce Canyon, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.

It is not all work, right? Ping-Ju Chuang had the chance to travel with other interns from UCLA, USC, UW, CMU, UT Austin, Georgia Tech, while doing an internship during the summer and fall of 2022 at Micron in Boise, Idaho.

Students in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering are encouraged to participate in internships, so they graduate with broad experience in both academic and industry settings. Students from the summer of 2022 describe the process of seeking internships and the benefits of their work experiences as they complete their PhD degrees.

My name is Ping-Ju Chuang, and I am from Taiwan. My research is focused on semiconductor device simulation and optimization. My advisor is Dr. William Vandenberghe, and I started my PhD in the 2019 fall semester. 

It is always good to understand what is happening and how our research is applied in the real world. Every graduate student is encouraged to complete an internship in the U.S.  

I applied to several U.S. companies, most of which concentrate on the semiconductor industry. I used LinkedIn as well as their websites, to identify friends to help me with the referral process. I think a direct referral is the best way to land an interview. 

I am currently working as a junior device engineer intern at Micron located in Boise, Idaho. This position is fantastic for people who like semiconductor physics and would like to combine both simulation and experiment work. I am working on a real DRAM product which may be mass produced as early as 2024. I am trying to contribute what I have learned to this world! 

Doing internship has helped me to understand how the real industry works and new engineers are trained. This is also a fantastic opportunity to learn about the company’s culture to see whether you fit this company or not. 

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I was involved in a collaborative project with Texas Instruments Inc. (TI), and have worked on failure analysis of semiconductor devices since Fall 2019. With these characterizations works, I was eager to know how the material characterization techniques would improve semiconductor design and manufacturing. The internship has provided a great chance to work with product characterization team in TI, and participate in real failure analysis projects in industry. These valuable experiences help to align with the working target and finish strong.

The manager of a product characterization team at TI invited me to join his team as an intern during summer vacation. I submitted the application online and passed the interview with his team members. During the application process, I was assisted by Ashley Willess in the MSE department and Andrea Croasdale Woudwyk in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. My advisor Dr. Moon Kim supports my participation in the internship and has given me guidance. 

The experience is going well so far. I am working on a great team with friendly and helpful people. The internship experience has given me a chance to work in industry and to learn the organizational culture of the company while I am working on my PhD. Working in industry is definitely a good choice for me after graduation. 

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I wanted to experience materials research in industry and strengthen my professional network in preparation for life after the PhD. 

The application process was smooth and straight-forward, thanks to Micron Technology’s recruitment process. I was encouraged to apply to Micron because one of my colleagues had secured an offer at the company. 

I’m currently interning at Micron Technology Inc. located in Boise, Idaho. Overall, it has been a rewarding experience. I have gained an increased knowledge and understanding of the processes involved in the production of memory chips. 

I have always wanted to work in industry following graduation. The experience at Micron has bolstered this decision since it has helped me to see how collaboration with other motivated individuals can yield innovative products which make life better for everyone. 

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My name is Yiaoqiao Hu, and I am, from China. My research interest lies in electronic materials and their device applications. I work with Dr. KJ Cho, and I started my PhD program in August 2018. 

I define my future career in semiconductor industry. Doing an internship would expose me to the industry and will be beneficial for my career development. 

I just submitted on-line application and a manager contacted me and interviewed me. I was later informed by my manager that I was offered an internship opportunity.  My PhD advisor assisted me in looking for an internship opportunity, and he referred me to several positions. 

I have learned a lot during the process. My buddy and coworkers are very nice and friendly. They are also willing to teach me and help me. Currently I am doing my internship at TI in Dallas, TX. 

Since I had a good experience working at TI, I am now more determined to work in the semiconductor industry after my graduation. TI is a good choice for me.