Launching Micro Monday: New Community of Practice Newsletter _Issue 01

We’ve been working on an idea for a fresh newsletter from Jared to better serve our amazing Community of Practice. We welcome your input and feedback as we tweak and shift to get it right. Thanks for being here.

For the record, we value our entire MNT community, but we’ve felt for a while that those on the front lines of community college work and who meet more often as a group to discuss how to serve the many students in the USA with advanced technology training, need their own thing…

We published only the internships and jobs on This Week in Small as we sent out the full MailChimp newsletter announcement. But we also posted the entire newsletter (including jobs and internships) here as well. TWIS changes more often, but is still shareable, and this post will survive a few more weeks and be more visible in the news section.

Community of Practice | Issue 01 | May 2026

A newsletter for the micro and nano technology education community — opportunities, resources, and news for the people doing the real work at community colleges across the country. This month we’re publishing the full issue here on Think Small as a launch post. Student opportunities are listed first. Share freely with students, advisors, and colleagues.

A Note from Jared

Welcome to Issue 01 of our new Community of Practice newsletter. We’ve been building toward this for a while — a regular, useful briefing for the people doing the real work of micro and nano technology education at community colleges across the country. We’ll keep it tight. Jobs, Internships, Opportunities, Events, and the occasional resource worth passing along to your students or colleagues. We’re glad you’re here.

— Jared Ashcroft, PI, MNT-EC at Pasadena City College

P.S. In our first few months, we will mail to the entire MNT community, but our intent is to focus this down to the smaller set of Community of Practice members. My email is below — message me to learn more.

Community Shout-Out

Community College of Philadelphia — Dr. Dominic Salerno and his students in the Biomedical Technician Training Program are doing exactly the kind of hands-on, industry-ready work this community exists to support. Gowning up for clean room training, building real lab skills, connecting students to biomedical careers. This is the model. We’re glad to have CCP in this network.
Connect with Dominic on LinkedIn | Biomedical Technician Training Program

Student Opportunities

Student opportunities first. Two Corning co-ops are open specifically for North Carolina community college students — one in Concord and one in Wilmington. TSMC Arizona has Summer 2026 internship openings in facility roles in Phoenix, and Micron has a process technician internship open at sites in Boise, ID and Manassas, VA.

Corning — Manufacturing Co-op for NC Community College Students | Concord, NC
Co-op opportunity specifically for North Carolina community college students. Hands-on manufacturing experience at Corning’s Concord facility.
View posting

Corning — NC Community College Student Co-op | Wilmington, NC
Second Corning co-op for NC community college students, based in Wilmington.
View posting

TSMC Arizona — Summer 2026 Internship Opportunities (Facility Roles) | Phoenix, AZ
Multiple facility-track summer internship openings at TSMC’s Arizona fab. Ideal for students in electronics, manufacturing technology, or engineering programs.
View posting

Micron — Intern, Process Technician | Boise, ID or Manassas, VA
Process technician internship open at two Micron sites.
View posting

Career and Technician Roles

Southwest — Arizona

TSMC Arizona — Failure Analysis Technician | Phoenix, AZ
View posting

TSMC Arizona — Process Technician | Phoenix, AZ
View posting

TSMC Arizona — Manufacturing Specialist Trainee | Phoenix, AZ
View posting

TSMC Arizona — Junior Electrical Technician | Phoenix, AZ
View posting

Mountain West — Idaho

Micron — Manufacturing Process Technician, Advanced Packaging | Boise, ID
View posting

Micron — Equipment Technician, APTD | Boise, ID
View posting

Northeast — New York

Corning — Optical Manufacturing Technician | Fairport, NY
View posting

GlobalFoundries — Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship | Malta, NY
An apprenticeship pathway with GlobalFoundries. Strong model for programs exploring earn-while-you-learn partnerships.
View program info

Southeast — North Carolina

Thermo Fisher Scientific — Formulation Technician II | Greenville, NC
View posting

Thermo Fisher Scientific — Multi-Craft Maintenance Technician (Days) | Greenville, NC
View posting

Thermo Fisher Scientific — Multi-Craft Maintenance Technician | Greenville, NC
View posting

Thermo Fisher Scientific — Lead QA Technician | Greenville, NC
View posting

Thermo Fisher Scientific — Lead Formulation Technician | Greenville, NC
View posting

Thermo Fisher Scientific — Stationary Engineer / Sr. Manufacturing Maintenance Technician | Greenville, NC
View posting

Grants and Funding

NSF ATE remains the primary federal funder for two-year college technology programs and is worth knowing well if you’re not already engaged. The NSF TA-ESW initiative, a joint effort with the Micron Foundation, is supporting transformative approaches to semiconductor workforce education specifically. Both are worth a look if you’re considering a proposal.

NSF ATE — Advanced Technological Education
Learn more

NSF TA-ESW — Transformative Approaches to Educating the Semiconductor Workforce
Learn more

NNME Regional Nodes
Awards expected Spring 2026. Up to $20M per node over five years to build regional microelectronics workforce infrastructure.
Learn more

Events and Deadlines

Two dates for your calendar. If your institution submitted an LOI for the NSF NQNI solicitation, full proposals are due May 14. And the 2026 Embedded Vision Summit runs May 11–13 in Santa Clara — relevant if you have programs touching computer vision, sensors, or applied semiconductor work.

NSF NQNI Full Proposals Due — May 14, 2026
Solicitation details

2026 Embedded Vision Summit — May 11–13 | Santa Clara, CA
Learn more

Useful Resources

These two are oldies but goodies — both 7 to 10 years old and still among the best starting points we’ve found for students new to nanoscale work. Zoom into a Microchip takes viewers from human scale down to chip-level features and works well as a first-day primer. Pair it with the Visual Capitalist particle size infographic for a quick one-two on why scale matters in this field.

Zoom into a Microchip
Watch on Vimeo

Visual Capitalist — Relative Size of Particles Infographic
View infographic

Also Worth Knowing

If you’re not already following APT Friday, it’s worth your time. Christine Galib at Princeton curates a weekly briefing for the Advancing Photonics Technologies community — events, jobs, funding, and shout-outs at the photonics and microelectronics intersection. Adjacent to what we do and genuinely good. Her newsletter is a big inspiration for this one — thank you, Christine.

Subscribe to APT Friday

One Question for You

We read every response. Here’s our question for this issue:

What’s one resource you wish more of your students knew about before they enrolled?

Share your answer here — we may feature it in Issue 02.

Thanks for reading. If something here is useful to a colleague, please forward it along.

–Follow MNT-EC on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/mnt-ec

–News and resources: Think Small at MNT-EC

–Questions or news to share? JMASHCROFT@Pasadena.edu

— Jared
Building the workforce, one program at a time.

AI Didn’t Kill the Job. It Moved the Door.

AI Is Changing Who Gets Hired First — Here’s What That Means for Our Students

A new report from EAB caught my attention this week and raises an urgent need for direct conversation within the micro-nano community about how AI shifts who gets hired.

If you work in workforce development or technical education, you’re already noticing employers’ shifting expectations due to AI. EAB’s data quantifies these changes, showing us where urgent action is required. That’s worth our attention.

(A quick note on EAB: they’ve been working in education research and advisory for about four decades, partnering with more than 2,800 organizations from K-12 through career — including a significant focus on community colleges. Their mission is to make education smarter and communities stronger, and their research team closely tracks workforce and student success trends. Worth bookmarking if you don’t already follow them.) This link gets you to their AI post.

So — what are they seeing?

EAB found that AI isn’t just changing jobs—it’s shifting entry-level opportunities, making them scarcer while stability lies in higher roles. For tech and STEM-adjacent fields, entry-level roles are declining. Even traditional pathways like IT and computer science are affected, with flat employment and rising unemployment among young workers.

This shift isn’t cause for panic, but it’s a clear signal to adapt our strategies now.

For community colleges and microelectronics programs, the message is clear: AI is altering hiring pathways, requiring a rethink of how we prepare students for the workforce.

Credentials alone aren’t enough. Employers increasingly expect new hires to contribute right away, not just to learn. We often hear that applied, hands-on experience must be more than an add-on to our programs. Are you doing this? We’d love to hear about it.

AI fluency is now a baseline skill, not a specialty. Students who can work with AI tools understand what they’re good at, where they fall short, and how to use them responsibly will have a real edge. That’s something we can teach.

Networks matter more than ever. The data on this is striking: referred job candidates advance past resume screening at four times the rate of non-referred applicants. Many of our students don’t have those networks yet. That makes us, as institutions, responsible for helping build them.

The good news is that community colleges, and particularly programs in microelectronics, are already doing a lot of this right. Hands-on lab work, employer partnerships, stackable credentials. The question is whether we’re doing it intentionally enough, given the current hiring landscape.

Let’s keep this focused conversation going inside the MNT network: how can we best respond to these AI-driven hiring shifts?

What changes are you seeing at your institution? Are your students raising these issues? Drop me a note. I read every email. TJ @ Micronanoeducation.org

— TJ

P.S. As I was writing this, I saw an announcement that EAB has an upcoming webinar on May 5, 2026: “Preparing New Graduates for an AI-Driven Workforce: Rethinking Career Readiness in Community Colleges… A data-driven look at how AI and shifting generational expectations are redefining early career opportunities.” You can find the link in the article above.

Disclosures: Nano Banana Pro helped me turn that title into an image. Grammarly and its AI helped me improve this post. Also, we do not have any formal or informal relationship with EAB. Simply a resource that we, and many of you, already read.

MNT Monthly Update: April

April 2026 MNT Monthly Update

Thanks again for all the love and follows on the MNT-EC LinkedIn page — we want to keep up the momentum. Now, for the updates!

Educators: A Paid Summer Opportunity at the Intersection of AI and Semiconductors

If you teach at a community college or high school and want to get hands-on with semiconductor fabrication and AI — and get paid to do it — there’s an opportunity worth your attention right now. The deadline is April 30.

The Opportunity: AI & Semiconductors Summer Institute

Rio Salado College and Arizona State University are hosting a five-day, in-person professional development institute for educators this summer. It is aimed at Arizona educators, but all are welcome to apply (see note about no travel funds below).

June 1–5, 2026 | ASU Tempe Campus

Participants will:

Explore real-world AI business case studies
Train and deploy a practical AI model
Work with edge hardware
Experience semiconductor fabrication at a silicon fabrication facility
Earn an ASU Certificate of Completion

Additional benefits include a $500 stipend upon successful completion and parking validation. All are welcome to apply, but there are no travel funds available this year and there are limited spots left. Get in touch through the links and emails below.

Apply here by April 30, 2026

Questions? Contact Corey.Dorsey@asu.edu or Vinayak.Sharma@asu.edu

Downloadable Flyer you can share with peers at end of post…

The Bigger Picture: SP-ATE and Arizona’s Semiconductor Surge

This Summer Institute is part of a larger NSF-funded initiative called SP-ATE — Semiconductor Pathways in Arizona’s Technical Education — led by Rio Salado College in partnership with Arizona State University, the University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, and the Chandler Unified School District.

The goal is to build clear, accessible pathways from high school through community college to university and into industry employment — with an emphasis on inclusive outreach and strong employer engagement.

Why Arizona? The numbers tell the story. Since 2020, Arizona has attracted more than 40 semiconductor industry expansions representing over $102 billion in capital investment and more than 15,700 direct industry jobs. The growth spans the full ecosystem — manufacturing, advanced packaging, R&D, equipment, and supply chain. The technician pipeline hasn’t kept up, and that’s precisely the gap SP-ATE is designed to close.

Join the Professional Learning Community

Can’t make the Summer Institute? Rio Salado is also forming Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) — educator cohorts that work collaboratively with industry professionals to:

Provide feedback on curriculum development and alignment
Share experiences implementing semiconductor-related instruction
Collaborate on the development of hands-on laboratory projects

The PLC is open to educators who want to stay connected to the semiconductor field and contribute to curriculum that actually reflects what’s happening in industry.

PLC Interest Form: https://forms.gle/dG13dETjzMjvhfyK7

For more information: stem.initiatives@riosalado.edu

Learn more about the full SP-ATE program here

SP-ATE is funded by the National Science Foundation under grants #2500695 and #2100402.

MNT-EC is a national center for micro and nanotechnology education funded by NSF ATE #2000281.

Don’t Miss: “Five Years of Building” as a review of MNT-EC’s achievements, progress, and momentum. You can give it a read at the above link.

ASU Flyer on “AI and Semiconductors Summer Institute 2026

AI and Semiconductors Summer Institute Flyer Download

MNT Monthly Update: March

AI Video Pilot to explain first five years of MNT-EC

March 2026 MNT Monthly Update

First, we would love for you to follow us on the MNT-EC LinkedIn page — we’ve grown a ton, like by hundreds this year.

Second, we appreciate all the visits and positive notes on the News & Blog section: Think Small. We hope you’ll visit and scroll through the last few months.

Thank you for both of these growth opportunities!!

Five Years of Building Together redux

Last month, we wrote, “In a joint reflection, Dr. Jared Ashcroft and Center Director Billie Copley look back on MNT-EC’s first five years.” Then, someone had the idea to create a video of the five years… using AI tools. You can read / watch / view the results, honestly, the bloopers of that effort. We are far from done, but our fearless leaders suggested we show the journey. Please enjoy the five video takes, all AI generated, on This Week in Small.

This might pique your interest.

AI version of MNT-EC Center Director Billie Copley and PI Dr. Jared Ashcroft.

Here’s to another amazing five years,
The Outreach Team

First: Jared and Billie have published “Five Years of Building” as a review of MNT-EC’s achievements, progress, and momentum. You can give it a read at the above link.

MNT Monthly Update: February

Expanding Access to Hands-On STEM and Technician Education: Five Initiatives to Watch

First: Jared and Billie have published “Five Years of Building” as a review of MNT-EC’s achievements, progress, and momentum. You can give it a read at the above link.

Across the country, innovative programs are reshaping how students experience science, technology, engineering, and math. Each has a strong emphasis on hands-on learning, authentic research, and workforce alignment. This month, we’re highlighting five initiatives advancing STEM education from K–12 through technician-level training, with a special shout-out to our amazing Outreach Team that has shared many of these cool projects with us!!!

The Wolbachia Project – Real-World Microbiology Research
https://wolbachiaproject.org/

The Wolbachia Project connects students and educators to authentic scientific discovery by investigating Wolbachia bacteria found in insects. Participants engage in field sampling, molecular biology, and bioinformatics, contributing to real research datasets while developing hands-on lab skills and scientific confidence. It’s a powerful example of inquiry-based STEM learning that blends classroom instruction with meaningful research.

Qolour – Quantum Computing Education Platform
https://www.qolour.io/

Qolour is helping make quantum computing more accessible through interactive learning tools, guided tutorials, and structured course pathways. As quantum technologies continue to evolve, platforms like Qolour provide educators and students with approachable entry points into this advanced field, building foundational literacy in one of tomorrow’s most transformative technologies.

Editor’s Note: Jump to end of page for an embedded PDF about Qolour Activities.

University of Pittsburgh – Bringing Real Research into High School Classrooms
https://www.pittwire.pitt.edu/pittwire/features-articles/evolving-stem-pittsburgh-public-schools

Faculty at the University of Pittsburgh are partnering with Pittsburgh Public Schools through the EvolvingSTEM initiative to bring authentic biological research directly into high school classrooms. Students conduct real lab experiments, including bacterial evolution studies, gaining practical lab skills and a deeper understanding of scientific inquiry. It’s a strong model for connecting research universities with local school systems to spark early STEM engagement.

DNA Learning Center – Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
https://www.cshl.edu/dna-learning-center/

The DNA Learning Center at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is a nationally recognized hub for genetics and biotechnology education. Through field trips, summer camps, student research programs, and teacher professional development, the center provides immersive, lab-based learning experiences that make modern biology accessible and exciting for students and educators alike.

MNT-EC Partners with CourseArc to Strengthen Digital Curriculum Development
https://www.coursearc.com

MNT-EC is partnering with CourseArc to enhance how micro and nanotechnology curriculum is developed and shared across our national network. With a flexible, WCAG 2.2 AA-compliant digital authoring platform, faculty can create interactive, accessible modules that can be adopted and adapted across institutions. This collaboration supports our broader goal of making workforce-aligned, industry-informed content easier to build, scale, and distribute nationwide.

As promised, here is the Qolour Activities PDF for viewing or download via link at end.

Qolour Activities Download

STEM News _Issue 02

Technician at work on computer chips/board.

Listening Closely to Technicians: A Field Guide

STEM News is an experiment in paying attention differently—and in seeing what many STEM-focused centers and projects have been doing for years, often quietly, and to uplift their work as we all try to understand and operate in a forever-changing world. By sharing these insights, readers gain practical strategies for navigating their own evolving STEM environments.

Across clean energy, advanced manufacturing, electric vehicles, automation, and other STEM-heavy fields, change happens quickly but not always transparently. Programs receive new labels, job titles shift, and new technologies emerge yearly. For students, veterans, educators, and employers, distinguishing what is genuinely new from what is merely renamed or reorganized is challenging.

Field guides don’t predict the future. They help you recognize patterns in the present.

This issue started by examining wind and solar programs, advanced manufacturing training, and electric vehicle technician pathways to uncover unifying patterns. The program area started to matter less as I kept listening to technician voices across these domains, which reveal common skills and perspectives, despite evolving technologies.

One of the richest sources for this insight has been the Talking Technicians podcast, now spanning six seasons and dozens of conversations across manufacturing, energy, electronics, automation, and emerging technologies. For years, we’ve listened closely to these episodes—creating individual pages, revisiting them, and reflecting on what technicians say about their work and careers. Not as inspiration alone, but as signal. I have downloaded all the transcripts to look for these patterns, and I’m far from done. I plan to use AI tools to help me parse it all.

And when you listen closely—really dwell with those stories—a clear pattern emerges, offering students, educators, and employers specific insight into building resilient and progressive career paths.

Technicians rarely see careers as straight lines. Instead, they describe starting practically, learning systems, and carrying those skills as opportunities arise. Certificates and associate degrees are entry points, not endpoints. Careers are a series of moves—sometimes up, sometimes sideways—guided by what someone can diagnose, maintain, or improve, not by job titles.

What’s striking is that technicians don’t frame technological change as a reset. They frame it as an adaptation. Roles evolve. Tools change. Industries shift. But core capabilities—troubleshooting, diagnostics, electrical and mechanical systems, controls, documentation, safety, and communication—travel with them.

At the same time, educators and workforce leaders have been designing for this reality. Efforts like Preparing Technicians for the Future of Work and the Center for Occupational Research and Development (CORD) cross-disciplinary frameworks reach the same conclusions: hybrid roles are now the norm, technologies are converging, and pathways must enable movement, not lock-in.

This alignment matters, especially now.

In a time of skepticism about higher education’s cost, time, and relevance, technician pathways offer a different value when framed honestly. Start smaller. Build momentum. Stack skills. Keep options open. Apprenticeships, internships, certificates, and two-year degrees aren’t consolation prizes; for many, they make careers possible.

The stories technicians tell are often treated as anecdotes or motivational material. But when you listen to enough of them, patterns emerge. Those patterns don’t eliminate uncertainty—but they can help students, veterans, educators, and institutions make better decisions about their learning and career development. Not perfect ones. Informed ones.

Many technician careers don’t begin by picking the “right” industry. They start with learning systems—and realizing this understanding opens more doors than any single job title.

Technician Voices (From the Podcast Archive)

The following excerpts come directly from the Talking Technicians podcast, spanning multiple seasons. Together, they reflect how technicians describe skill transfer, career movement, and the realities of day-to-day technical work across industries.

“There are a lot of technician jobs that there isn’t really any formal training for, and you just have to take the skills that you’ve already learned and show them that you can apply those skills to the new field.”
— Talking Technicians, Season 05, Episode 04

“My day to day is a lot of troubleshooting. That’s most of my job… a lot of times it takes a while to dial down where that actual issue is.”
— Talking Technicians, Season 02, Episode 07

“Don’t discredit your past experiences. There’s definitely life experiences and skills and training that I’ve had that weren’t really directly related, but definitely carried over into what I’m doing now.”
— Talking Technicians, Season 02, Episode 02

“So I am what is called an MET… It’s called a Manufacturing Equipment Technician. I help with troubleshooting, diagnosing. It’s kind of what I do.”
— Talking Technicians, Season 04, Episode 06

Hands-On Tech Training: Portland CC & Lam Research Graduate First Microscopy Cohort

Shoutout to our Co-PI, Dr. Peter Kazarinoff for his dedication and efforts to supporting all technician training.

Portland Community College (PCC) and Lam Research have completed an important milestone in Oregon’s growing semiconductor workforce pipeline: the graduation of the first cohort of students from the new Microscopy Technician Training Program.

The eight-week program provided 40 hours of hands-on experience with advanced microscopy and inspection technologies used throughout semiconductor manufacturing (held at Lam’s Tualatin campus). Participants trained directly on scanning electron microscopes (SEMs) and other industry-relevant tools, gaining exposure to real-world workflows inside a semiconductor equipment company.

According to the PCC news article, the program began when Lam approached the college’s Microelectronics Technology Program to explore short-term training aligned with urgent technician needs. PCC’s Professional Development & Training (PDT) team then led development and implementation of the program in close collaboration with Lam experts.

Brian Clay, Global Operations Program Manager at Lam Research, emphasized that microscopy requires a “unique blend of specialized, highly technical skills, attention to detail, and creative problem-solving,” and noted this program “brought all those and more.”

Lam Research Foundation funding helps PCC broaden its STEAM Center programs, reaching students across the district with hands-on workshops in 3D printing, design, and rapid prototyping. Over 2,000 students have already benefited from these makerspace experiences.

Tualatin Mayor Frank Bubenik highlighted the program’s economic importance, noting that the computers and electronics sector is “more important to the Oregon economy than in any other state.”

With plans already underway for a second cohort in 2026, PCC reports that the PDT team will continue adapting workforce-aligned training as Oregon ramps up semiconductor education and technician development.

Credit: Lam Research works with PCC to conduct specialized microscopy training

Micro Nano Technology Education Center Promotes Billie Copley to Center Director

The Micro Nano Technology Education Center (MNT-EC) is pleased to announce that Billie Copley has been promoted to Center Director. Billie has served as Center Manager since the Center’s founding, working closely with Dr. Jared Ashcroft, Principal Investigator (PI) and overall leader of MNT-EC.

This promotion reflects Billie’s leadership, dedication, and growing role in guiding Center activities. Dr. Ashcroft will continue to provide strategic vision, build national partnerships, and shape the Center’s long-term direction as PI, while Billie expands her responsibilities as Center Director, ensuring strong coordination across projects, partners, and outreach efforts. Together, they will continue advancing the Center’s mission of supporting educators, students, and industry in micro and nanotechnology education.

“Working alongside Billie over the past several years has shown me just how committed she is to our mission. She has an incredible ability to connect with people, keep our projects moving forward, and ensure that everyone feels supported. Promoting her to Center Director is a natural next step, and I’m grateful we get to continue building MNT-EC together.” – Dr. Jared Ashcroft, Principal Investigator, MNT-EC

“Being part of MNT-EC since the beginning has been such a meaningful experience for me. I’m grateful for the trust and support of Jared, our team, and our partners, and I’m excited to keep building this work together. Stepping into the role of Center Director is both energizing and humbling, and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish next.” – Billie Copley, Center Director, MNT-EC

📖 Learn more about their leadership journeys:

Please join us in congratulating Billie on her new role!

Community College Researchers Represented at CAMPS 2025 with Scientific Excellence

Two students from Pasadena City College (PCC) were among the select few undergraduate researchers presenting at the prestigious CAMPS 2025 Conference, hosted May 23–24 at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.

Supported by the NSF’s PREM (Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials) and MRSEC (Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers) programs, CAMPS brings together student researchers from across the country to present innovative work in materials science, biology, chemistry, and related fields.

While most attendees hailed from four-year institutions—a reflection of where PREM and MRSEC funding is typically centered—these two students from PCC stood out for their research contributions, poise, and academic rigor.

The participation of two-year students at CAMPS 2025 this year signals a noteworthy shift—one that points to the importance of fostering inclusive research pathways at all academic levels.

Poster Presentation: Safety of Brain Implants in Living Organisms

Carlton Mantovani: Pasadena City College | AT3 Internship Program | NSF PREM #2425226

LinkedIn Profile

Carlton’s research poster explored the neurological effects of brain microchip implants in animal models, particularly in rhesus macaques and sheep. His work focused on measuring whether such implants—used to study or even treat neurological diseases—cause long-term harm to cognitive function or brain tissue.

Using MRI imaging, behavioral Delayed Non-Matching-to-Sample (DNMS) tests, and biomarker analysis (GFAP and IBA-1 expressions), Carlton found no significant memory impairment or tissue damage. His findings suggest that brain implants could play a safe and influential role in neuroscience in the future.

“This type of advanced, interdisciplinary work is exactly the kind of research we want to see coming out of programs like AT3 and PREM,” PCC professor and student mentor, Dr. Jared Ashcroft, said. “Carlton’s results were well-documented and thoughtfully presented—it was a proud moment for our team.”

Poster Presentation: Pollution and Biodiversity at the Audubon Center

Phone (Morest) Myint Mo: Pasadena City College | Department of Natural Sciences

LinkedIn Profile

Morest’s research examined biodiversity loss due to urban air and noise pollution in two plots at the Audubon Center in California—Monarch Alley and Hummingbird C. By collecting data on air quality (PM2.5, PM10, VOCs), noise levels, and plant species counts (using iNaturalist and Shannon diversity index), the team discovered a clear correlation: the less polluted site had higher biodiversity and healthier vegetation.

His group used leaf area measurements of native oak species as indicators of physiological stress and found that air and noise pollution had a measurable adverse effect on these species.

Morest, a STEM tutor and Vice President of the Resilience Club at PCC, plans to transfer to UC Berkeley in Fall 2025 to pursue Molecular and Cellular Biology. He brings a deeply interdisciplinary perspective to science, linking biology, chemistry, and physics with real-world sustainability and public health issues.

A Sign of Progress

“To our knowledge, they were the only community college students presenting at the conference this year,” Dr. Jared Ashcroft said. “Their work was just as advanced and compelling as that of students from major research universities.”

As CAMPS continues to grow (this year marked only its third occurrence), participation from two-year institutions remains less common—but meaningful. The presence of these students at such a high-level national research forum reflects the increasing role community colleges are playing in shaping the future of science and innovation.

“We hope their stories inspire other students and institutions to aim high and pursue research opportunities that might once have seemed out of reach,” said Dr. Ashcroft.

Resources / Links

CAMPS at a Glance (Source: NSF PREM Highlights)

Hosted by The Texas State University PREM Center for Intelligent Materials Assembly (CIMA) with 94 students from over 30 PREM and MRSEC institutions nationwide.

Included in the program:

Invited speaker series featuring four faculty and three industry presenters
Two rapid-fire oral presentation sessions (38 student presenters)
Two poster sessions (87 posters presented)
A career panel and industry networking lunch
A lab tour of Texas State’s Shared Research Operations, featuring demonstrations of SEM, TEM, EDS, and a nanofabrication clean room

CAMPS at a Glance content provided by Dr. Tania Betancourt, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Texas State and Director of the PREM Center for Intelligent Materials Assembly.

Ashley is an RDA process technician at Micron _S06-E02 Talking Technicians

Ashley is an RDA process technician at Micron in Manassas, Virginia. Ashley describes her role in inspecting wafers for imperfections and ensuring high-quality chips. She works shifts from Wednesday to Saturday, earning a starting wage of $20-$25 per hour, with potential differentials for night shifts. Benefits include excellent healthcare and retirement plans. Ashley emphasizes the importance of communication and adaptability, crediting her community college education and internship at Micron for her success.

Show Notes

The Talking Technicians podcast is produced by MNT-EC, the Micro Nano Technology Education Center, through financial support from the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education grant program.

Opinions expressed on this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the National Science Foundation.

Join the conversation. If you are a working technician or know someone who is, reach out to us at info@talkingtechnicians.org.

Links from the show: Careers at Micron

Main Podcast Web Page on MNT-EC:

Talking Technicians Podcast

This Podcast was originally published at: Ashley is an RDA process technician at Micron.

If you prefer to listen via YouTube: