A small graduation ceremony held on the Lam Research campus in Tualatin on June 7 had big implications for the high-tech sector, which is facing a shortage of skilled workers. In a collaboration between Portland Community College and Lam Research, eight specially selected students graduated from an inaugural eight-week Microscopy Technician Training Program that focused on customized training in preparation for exploring potential direct-hire opportunities at Lam or other local companies.
The innovative program included classroom education as well as hands-on lab training with state-of-the-art equipment at Lam Research. And high-tech was mixed with low-tech as in one exercise where students threw bouncy balls and bean bags representing high- and low-energy electrons into totes acting as detectors to help them visualize what was happening with electrons and how to capture microscope images at an atomic-level scale.
Brian Clay, a Workforce Development Program manager at Lam Research, said of the graduates, “They have worked hard, shown curiosity and a willingness to learn in a fast-paced, technical environment. Out of all the applicants, some of (whom) were pursuing (advanced degrees), you were handpicked due to your enthusiasm and unique qualifications.
“We built this program in partnership with Portland Community College to provide scholarships to participants and offer real, hands-on experience with scanning electron microscopes and lab technologies that are absolutely essential to semiconductor manufacturing to produce the world’s most advanced chips that are in the tech we all use and rely on every day.
“Microscopy plays a critical role in process control, defect analysis, and product innovation. But more than that—it requires a unique blend of specialized, highly technical skills, attention to detail, and creative problem-solving. And that’s what this program delivers.”
Aaron Fellis, a corporate vice president and general manager at Lam Research, said, “Metrology and semiconductor-device inspection is so important to both our customers who make semiconductors and advanced packaging of semiconductors, and also to us as a maker of semiconductor manufacturing equipment. The semiconductor industry is of vital importance to both Lam and the state of Oregon, especially as the industry continues to grow toward a trillion dollars, and in the neighborhood of a million more jobs.”
Fellis noted that while people are familiar with telescopic images of galaxies, stars, and singular planets in the vastness of space, it is difficult for the average person to comprehend what is inside a computer chip the size of a stamp. “However, as we go deeper into the semiconductor, we discover things as vastly small as space is grand,” he said.
“We need advanced imaging and inspection to see what the incoming device features look like… Imagine a piece of paper – thickness, length, width; shrink to width, then divide by 100,000. That’s a nanometer. If a marble diameter were a nanometer, the Earth diameter would be a meter/yard…
“Congratulations again. Welcome to the semiconductor universe. (There is) no limit to where your first job might take you.”
PCC Professor Tamasen Hayward, who taught the course along with Lam’s Monte Kozell, praised her students for their “desire to understand what was behind everything.” She added, “The students had so many questions, which led to a deeper dive into the material. These students picked up material so fast. They were so good at learning and understanding.”
Mayor Frank Bubenik congratulated the students and added, “As a microscopy technician, you’ve developed skills that are truly at the cutting edge of science. Your ability to harness powerful technology to explore the microscopic world is no small feat. You’ve dedicated hours mastering complex equipment, learning advanced techniques, and developing problem-solving skills that will serve you well in your career…
“Oregon has been a national leader in semiconductor and high-tech manufacturing for decades. The computers and electronics sector is more important to Oregon than perhaps any other state. Lam has demonstrated its commitment through its partnerships with PCC and the governor’s office to strengthen the region’s semiconductor workforce pipeline by providing targeted, hands-on training and creating new career opportunities across the state.”
Washington County Commissioner Jason Snider, representing District 3, recognized the students’ “dedication and commitment for giving up your Saturdays for eight weeks,” and he added, “I know this program will provide advantages, especially for all of you.”
One of the graduates, Kristina Henry Hall, a military veteran and a graduating civil engineering student at Portland State University, said, “Before this training program, I had no idea that electron microscopy was even a career path—let alone one I’d be excited about.”
Frustrated by the outdated measuring tools used in the lab at school, “that frustration sparked my curiosity and ultimately led me here, into the world of electron microscopy,” she said. “When I applied to the program, the idea of working with state-of-the-art tools felt like a dream—and I can honestly say, it exceeded my expectations…
“The experience helped me grow both technically and professionally, and it opened doors I hadn’t even imagined before. Programs like this are rare—and incredibly valuable. I’m so grateful to Lam for investing in us, and I’m excited for what comes next.”
