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
