Propelling Oregon Forward
Where Hands-On Training Builds Tomorrow's Workforce
The University of Oregon is building tomorrow's semiconductor workforce today, from the classroom to the cleanroom. Through nationally distinctive hands-on undergraduate, graduate, and pathways programs, paired with unique core research facilities and deep expertise in materials science and quantum technologies, the University of Oregon is turning students into industry-ready talent. As a key partner in FAST, Oregon's statewide innovation coalition, University of Oregon is building the talent pipeline behind a projected 4,000 new graduates and 25,000 jobs in the region over 10 years—fueling the race to meet a 115,000-job national semiconductor demand by 2030.
Programs
Forging Semiconductor Talent
The University of Oregon is building tomorrow's semiconductor workforce today, from the classroom to the cleanroom — training students at every stage and connecting them directly to industry.
Undergraduate Training
Materials Science and Technology — Launched in fall 2025 as the state of Oregon's only undergraduate degree of its kind, it links fundamental science to materials innovation, building a pool of semiconductor-ready graduates.
Industry-Focused Applied Master's Programs
Knight Campus Graduate Internship Program — An accelerated master's built with Intel and other industry partners, featuring a 9-month paid internship across five tracks, including optical materials/devices and semiconductors.
Electrochemistry Master's Program — A first of its kind nationally, graduating 20+ students a year into competitive industry jobs.
Advanced Materials Analysis and Characterization Master's — Hands-on training on major research instruments through the Center for Advanced Materials Characterization.
Quantum Technologies Master's Program — Launched fall 2024, building the future quantum workforce.
Talent Pipeline
Pathways & Internships
Pipeline programs — A $4.3M NSF grant plus a $1.3M state grant creates pathways from community college to undergraduate materials science degrees and then into applied master's programs and paid internships, launching industry-ready graduates into high-wage science and engineering careers. A recent cohort landed offers from Thermo Fisher Scientific, Ouster, Keysight, Intel, and Quantinuum, with average annualized pay of $80,500.
Talent sustaining initiatives — A recent $1.5M state fund and $2M to facilities for workforce fortify and expand UO's immersive learning, industry internships, shared semiconductor courses, and K-12 pathway programs, leveraging the strength of Oregon Center for Optical, Molecular and Quantum Science (OMQ), Oregon Advanced Computing Institute for Science and Society (OACISS) and Materials Science Institute (MSI).
Cross-Disciplinary Strength
Research and Expertise
University of Oregon brings deep, cross-disciplinary expertise directly relevant to next-generation semiconductor, materials, and device needs. Anchored by the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact, the Materials Science Institute, and other successful initiatives, the UO's expertise maps to next-generation semiconductor, materials, device, and manufacturing needs.
Facilities
Unique Core Facilities
- CAMCOR, UO's Center for Advanced Materials Characterization offers open access to electron microscopy, spectroscopy, and surface analysis tools used by academic and industry researchers alike.
- A new scanning transmission electron microscope enables atomic-scale imaging, providing critical information to engineers making materials at the nanoscale.
- Knight Campus, a $1B initiative funded by Penny and Phil Knight, houses top-end research equipment in the Knight Campus Shared Core Facilities, overseen by expert staff to facilitate use across academic, commercial and government industries.
- A full-service class 1000 cleanroom supporting education, research, and partner use, from device fabrication to process development.
Broader Context
A Statewide Innovation Coalition
The University of Oregon is part of FAST (Frontiers of Advanced Semiconductor Technology), one of 12 nationwide partners that recently received an NSF Regional Innovation Engine award and is positioned to receive up to $160M over 10 years.
4,000
new graduates projected per year
25,000
projected jobs
$6.5B
in regional GDP growth over the next decade
115,000
new semiconductor jobs needed industry-wide by 2030
Read More About the FAST NSF Regional Innovation Engine Award