Continuing and Professional Education

This summer, students had the unique opportunity to work inside an active cleanroom in the Virginia Microelectronics Center (VMC) at VCU’s College of Engineering. The Cleanroom Training Program gives participants–both high school grads, current VCU students, and working professionals–a hands-on, skill-based understanding of a research laboratory. “That is not something that you typically find,” says Camdon Hatch, Lab Manager and program instructor. “We are doing everything that we can to make sure that participants have a lot of time with their hands on systems… Everything that we can let them do, we are having them do.”

Cleanroom training is becoming really important because the amount of semiconductors that we use is accelerating.

Cleanrooms and controlled environments play a pivotal role in protecting sensitive manufacturing and research environments from dust and other contaminants. Aerospace, microelectronics, biotechnology, and automotive manufacturing are just a few industries that rely on the highest standards of cleanliness, air purity, and precision manufacturing to maintain the integrity of their products. As these industries grow, so too does the demand for skilled workers that have experience in these environments.

“Cleanroom training is becoming really important because the amount of semiconductors that we use is accelerating. We use more electronics than we ever have. Inside of [each] phone there are at least four different chips that were made in a facility like this one. And we need more people who are willing and able to do the job.” Actual experience within a cleanroom–using the tools, handling the chemical processes, and cleaning–is an incredibly rare skill (typically only achieved by working within the industry) that can drive resume visibility.

The training program is delivered in two parts: Cleanroom Fundamentals and an applied-learning course. The majority of Cleanroom Fundamentals is discussion and practice, with the rest of the course dedicated to building within the lab. In the applied-learning course, students build a semiconductor device within the lab, with a portion of class time dedicated to theory and ensuring students understand why their devices work.

This course is designed for the broader community, not just VCU students. While the VMC specializes in microelectronics and nanoelectronics, the skills can be applied across a wide range of career paths. To name just a few, cleaning room experience can also help tradespeople looking to get into cleanroom manufacturing and cleaners with data center or medical facility contracts. “We want everyone to be able to come and get the information that they need to make a career out of working in a controlled environment,” Hatch says. “This [program] is designed to let people get hands-on experience with a high-paying career path and potentially land a job straight out of high school.” As an introductory level course, no previous experience is required and anyone 18 years or older is welcome to sign up.

Keep an eye out for future Cleanroom Training Programs at go.vcu.edu/cleanroom.