Ph.D. student Sumudu Nimasha earns Applied Materials' Best Business Impact internship award

Days before her three-month summer internship at Applied Materials ended, Sumudu Nimasha's manager gave her news she could hardly believe.

"He came to me and said, 'Sumudu, you won the Best Business Impact award.' I was literally shaking," she said. "I had no idea I was even up for it."

Out of Applied Materials' more than 280 summer interns based in Santa Clara, California, Nimasha - a final-year doctoral student in inorganic chemistry at Wayne State - was named the sole recipient of the company's Best Business Impact award, which honors work done by an intern that makes a meaningful business impact and delivers exceptional value for the company and its customers. At her internship's end, Applied Materials president and CEO Gary Dickerson presented Nimasha with the award at the company's headquarters.

For Nimasha, it was the culmination of a multi-year journey that began nearly 9,000 miles away in her home country of Sri Lanka.

From Sri Lanka to semiconductors

Nimasha earned her bachelor's degree from Sri Lanka's University of Jaffna in 2021. A year later, she traveled to the United States to pursue her doctorate in inorganic chemistry at Wayne State. After initially pursuing analytical chemistry, she transitioned to inorganic chemistry, joining the laboratory of Dr. Charles Winter, professor of chemistry in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, whose work has positioned Wayne State as a leader in semiconductor research and industry collaboration. Through her work in the Winter Lab, Nimasha's interest in semiconductor research grew.

"In the lab we often talked about current trends, new technologies and the challenges facing the industry," she said. "Those conversations helped me understand what the industry's key problems are and how my research could help address them."

Nimasha also benefitted from the Chemistry Department's unique ties to Applied Materials. Since 2018, Applied Materials has operated a laboratory right on campus, where the company houses state-of-the-art deposition tools and instrumentation for thin film analysis.

That proximity has created employment opportunities for numerous Wayne State students and alumni. Over the nine-year collaboration between Wayne State and Applied Materials, more than 25 students have gone on to semiconductor-related careers. This includes students who participated directly in the partnership and those who leveraged the relationship through mentoring, networking, referrals, etc. These students have gone on to secure positions at Applied Materials as well as other companies in the semiconductor industry.

This close collaboration benefitted Nimasha, too.

"I had experience presenting my thesis research to Applied Materials before I started the internship," she said. "It taught me how to bridge fundamental chemistry research with industrial applications and communicate my work to different audiences."

"Experiential learning and strong partnerships with industry give Wayne State students the opportunity to put what they learn in the classroom into practice and build meaningful connections that can shape their careers," said Dr. Christina L. Bloebaum, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. "We are so proud to see students like Sumudu thrive through these experiences and be recognized for the talent and contributions they bring to the workplace."

An internship - and so much more

When Nimasha started her Applied Materials internship, she found herself working on semiconductor challenges she'd explored at Wayne State, but with an added focus: delivering solutions that could make an impact for the company's customers.

"We had to ensure our work met customer requirements as best as possible. We achieved most of those targets," Nimasha said. "And while we didn't meet every target, that was OK, because we demonstrated that our process was reliable and capable of addressing the problems at hand."

Nimasha worked on a project focused on developing new chemistry for semiconductor manufacturing. While details of the work are proprietary, she said it allowed her to branch out from the material she specializes in at Wayne State and learn new concepts; at Applied Materials, she focused on selective atomic layer deposition, rather than the thermal atomic layer deposition she works on at Wayne State. More broadly, it allowed her to contribute to technology that could make future semiconductors more powerful and energy efficient.

She credited the experience and her colleagues for providing valuable mentorship and support throughout the internship.

"My manager, Dr. Feng Liu [director of process chemistry], was a really supportive mentor," Nimasha said. "He gave me the freedom to think independently and develop my own ideas. And the constructive feedback I received from colleagues, managers and directors taught me how to think about data and communicate it effectively to any audience."

"Sumudu distinguished herself through her strong work ethic, enthusiasm, and open communication," Liu said. "She brought research rigor, experimental thinking, and analytical skills to her internship, enabling her to make meaningful contributions in a short period of time. Moreover, she handled multiple projects well and went the extra mile to complete them."

Nimasha said some of her favorite experiences took place outside the laboratory. Throughout the summer, she volunteered and took part in employee activities that helped her build new connections and friendships.

"I really enjoyed meeting and working with new people, and luckily I got a lot of opportunities to do that," Nimasha said. "I was fortunate to make friends, participate in volunteer activities and be part of a team that encouraged me. When I look back, that's what I remember most."

A foundation for further success

Reflecting on her journey from Sri Lanka to Detroit to Silicon Valley and beyond, Nimasha said success is never the work of one summer. Rather, it is the culmination of years of mentorship, support and preparation from the people around her.

"Receiving the Best Business Impact award wasn't just about the technical work I did," she said. "It's really about all the people who guided me along the way. When I received it, I felt a sense of responsibility because I knew I wasn't representing just myself."

Nimasha said Wayne State was instrumental in her preparation and growth.

"My experience at Wayne State played a crucial role in preparing me for this opportunity. My research focuses on semiconductor challenges, so I came into Applied Materials with a foundation that allowed me to contribute from the beginning," she said. "So much has helped me succeed: the experience I've gained in the Winter Lab, continuous feedback from Dr. Thomas Knisley and Dr. Zachary Devereaux, guidance from my advisors, and the opportunity to interact with industry before actually working in it."

Equally important, she said, was the encouragement she received from fellow students, colleagues and mentors who challenged her to grow as both a scientist and communicator.

"Whenever I had questions or faced challenges, there was always someone willing to help," she said. "That support system made a big difference. Winning the award is how it all came together."

Receiving Applied Materials' Best Business Impact award is an important milestone for Nimasha, but not the finish line. Instead, it underscores the impact Wayne State students can have across industries and what's possible when universities, students and industry partners work hand in hand to solve pressing challenges.

Nimasha's experience shows how breakthroughs often begin with the ideas, research and creativity of students. Her story shows how doctoral researchers help companies explore new concepts, tackle complex problems and fuel innovation.

As Wayne State strengthens partnerships with industry leaders such as Applied Materials, more students gain opportunities to apply their research beyond the classroom while companies access talent capable of helping solve the world's foremost challenges. Nimasha's journey illustrates the value of that exchange and how Warriors are driving innovation, economic growth and technological advancement, coast to coast and beyond.

Learn more about chemistry at Wayne State, the university's collaboration with Applied Materials and the Winter Lab. Want to get involved? Explore entrepreneurship at Wayne State and across the Detroit ecosystem.

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