Gaining entry into a high demand career such as bioengineering, and staying at peak performance throughout a career lifespan, requires the modern employee to constantly look for ways to maintain and improve professional competence, to enhance career progression, to keep abreast of new technologies, and to add value to their organization. As part of the Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology’s (IEN) mission to develop and cultivate the next generation workforce and introduce the IEN as an industry/academic research partner, the IEN staff have developed a series of technology specific short courses open to Georgia Tech faculty, students and researchers, academics from external universities, and industry employees.

Three full to capacity short courses have been held on microfabrication and soft lithography for microfluidics in the spring and fall of 2015. The IEN’s Dr. Hang Chen coordinated 2 sessions on Microfabrication, which were geared at introducing basic microfabrication techniques to students and professional attendees. The 3.5 day courses, which were held on June 1-4 and October 19-22, combined lecture and hands-on sessions in the Marcus Nanotechnology cleanrooms. The course began with basic cleanroom orientation and safety training, then proceeded on to more focused lecture topics such as photolithography, thin film deposition, wet and dry etching, packaging, and characterization. The afternoon hands-on sessions enabled attendees to use the techniques they learned during the lectures sessions to fabricate simple micro-electronic devices.

A post-course survey of the attendees elicited positive response and the drive to develop future courses. Comments from external attendees include, “Great course, great price, great organization on part of staff…” “Facilities and staff are a pleasure to work with…” “The course was very well executed, the instructors and staff were very knowledgeable and friendly…” and, “Excellent cleanroom experience, looking for near future collaborative project.” Attendees also expressed a desire to be informed of upcoming courses and for greater access by offering online courses for overseas and external user registrants.

Dr. Paul Joseph, IEN’s Principal Research Scientist & Coordinator for External User (Academia, Industry & Government) Programs, conducted a workshop on Soft Lithography for microfluidic applications, on October 8th and 9th. The workshop was evenly divided into laboratory hands-on training sessions including SU-8 master mold creation using photolithography and PDMS device fabrication in the IEN cleanroom, supporting lectures, and project consultations. Dr. Joseph’s workshop also comprised lecture topics such as, bio-applications in microfluidics, soft lithography methods of fabrication, and microfluidic device flow demonstrations. This bio-related workshop is offered to connect and support non-traditional users from life sciences communities.

The response from Dr. Joseph’s course was also positive, including these comments from non-GT attendees, “…I had brought up my interest in soft lithography at the microfabrication course and was very pleased that it is now offered. Thanks!”  and, “…organization and presentation is outstanding!” Other comments offered helpful suggestions such as increasing the length of the course to allow for more hands-on sessions and pre-preparing samples to speed up the lab sessions and alleviate sample prep wait times.

Due to the positive response from course attendees, and with the knowledge that fostering an attitude of appreciation for lifelong learning is the key to workplace success, the IEN technical staff have planned upcoming short course sessions for the 2016 calendar year. Dr. Chen plans to offer 2 sets of the microfabrication short course, one for the dates of March 21 – 24, during the 2016 Spring Class Break, and a second series tentatively on August 22-25, over the 2016 Summer Break. Dr. Joseph has also planned 2 sessions for the Soft Lithography for Microfluidics for April 21st & 22nd and July 21st & 22nd, 2016.*

For students and professionals alike, taking the time to participate in courses such as these show the student’s PI or academic/industry attendee’s employer that the participants have a drive and commitment to develop their skill-set as well as allowing participants the opportunity to learn from experts in the field, interact with other class members, and grow their professional network.

- Christa M. Ernst

To stay up to date on all of the IEN’s lectures, events and short courses, visit: ien.gatech.edu or subscribe to the IEN digital newsletter.

*All dates are tentative, please subscribe to the IEN newsletter to receive updates on these, and other IEN events, lectures and news.