PSU selected as Oregon’s higher-ed partner in national microelectronics initiative

Portland State University has been selected as the only university in Oregon to participate in the newly launched Pacific Intermountain Network for Semiconductor Education (PINES), a regional node of the National Network for Microelectronics Education (NNME). Funded through the federal CHIPS and Science Act, the initiative aims to rapidly scale the country's semiconductor workforce.

As a major partner in the network, PSU will receive $257,778 to lead three distinct initiatives aimed at building a continuous talent pipeline from middle school directly into the local tech industry.

The PINES regional node is led by Boise State University and spans eight states, connecting more than 29 higher education institutions alongside K-12 districts, government agencies and industry leaders. Over the next five years, the SEMI Foundation and National Science Foundation (NSF) anticipate funding each node with up to $20 million to better meet industry workforce demands and create the "gold standard" for educating and training the microelectronics workforce nationwide.

"America's leadership in semiconductors depends on our ability to develop our talent," said Erwin Gianchandani, NSF assistant director for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships. "These regional nodes will strengthen regional ecosystems to prepare the next generation of America's semiconductor design and manufacturing workforce."

PSU's efforts will be split across three specific workforce "thrusts," led by Daimler Truck Portland Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Christof Teuscher, Assistant Dean for Inclusive Innovation Tong Zhang, and Professor of Chemistry Andrea Goforth.

• Thrust 1: The K-12 to College Pathway (Led by Zhang): In partnership with the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science's extensive K-12 network, led by Portland Metro STEM Partnership (PMSP), PSU will co-develop hands-on, project-based semiconductor curriculum modules. The university will train 100 science and engineering teachers across the Portland metro region to implement these modules in after-school programs, classrooms and summer college-bridge programs.
• Thrust 2: Open-Source AI/ML Chip Design (Led by Teuscher): PSU will adapt its advanced "Hardware for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning" course into a fully online, open-source curriculum. The class teaches students how to use modern, AI-assisted coding tools to design complex AI/ML accelerator chips.
• Thrust 3: DISC Internship Program (Led by Goforth): Discover Internships in Semiconductor Careers (DISC) places Oregon undergraduates in year-long internships with Portland-area semiconductor and microelectronics companies, paired with mentorship and professional development. The goal is to connect 10 undergraduate interns to local employers each year and give them real industry experience that leads to placement.

The university's geographical advantage plays a critical role in the strategy. By embedding education directly into one of the country's densest technology hubs, PSU is uniquely equipped to bridge the gap between academia and commercial manufacturing.

"PSU sits inside the Portland metro semiconductor cluster, with direct connections to the companies that will hire the next generation of this workforce," Teuscher said. "Our part in PINES is to turn that proximity into a working pipeline, reaching students in middle school, teaching them to design real chips in our classrooms and placing them in internships with the employers next door. It is fair to say that no other institution in the region is positioned to close that loop the way we are."