A Summer of Learning by Doing

This summer, three groups of interns at the University of California San Diego Qualcomm Institute (QI) learned by doing — fabricating semiconductor devices, building serious games and developing artificial intelligence applications.

“There’s no substitute for hands-on experience when it comes to building workforce-ready skills,” said QI Director Ramesh Rao. “Our summer interns don’t just learn about technology — they conduct research, write programs, use advanced equipment and build prototypes. They leave with practical skills they can carry directly into their next classroom, internship or job.”

Small chips, big opportunities

New this year was a program providing community college students an opportunity to learn skills related to semiconductor manufacturing and nanotechnology.

Called Experiential Semiconductor Training in Emerging Nano-Technologies (ExSTENT), the nine-week internship, supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation, provided students with hands-on training in semiconductor fabrication techniques — including lithography, deposition and etching — using QI’s Nano3 cleanroom and Makerspace. Interns also attended weekly career-readiness seminars with UC San Diego Center for Research on Education, Assessment and Teaching Excellence (CREATE).