CSU receives $1 million in NSF funding to recruit and develop diverse semiconductors and microelectronics workforce in Chicagoland region

CHICAGO, IL (Oct. 2, 2023) - Chicago State University (CSU) was awarded a $999,955 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to lead a partnership to recruit and develop a diverse and competitive semiconductor and microelectronics workforce in Illinois. The partnership addresses the systemic and financial barriers people from underrepresented communities face when entering a career in high-technology industries.

The Chicagoland Partnership for Semiconductors and Microelectronics Experiential Learning (Mic2ExL) responds to the critical national security need for an increase in the domestic production of semiconductor and microelectronics components. The initiative will increase the participation of people from underrepresented communities in the Chicagoland area through the provision of experiential learning opportunities, mentorship, and culturally responsive support.

“This project will bring new experiential learning opportunities that would directly impact CSU's community. We are really excited about this project as it allows CSU to join the national efforts toward developing the next generation of emerging technology workers,” said Dr. Moussa Ayyash, Professor of Computing Sciences and Technology at CSU and principal investigator of the project. Dr. Kimberly Black-Parker, Associate Professor from the Department of Computing, Information, Mathematical Sciences & Technology will serve as the co-principal investigator of this project.

The partnership includes CSU’s Center for Information and Security Education & Research (CINSER), CSU’s Division of Non-traditional Degrees and Continuing Education, Quilt, a Chicago non-profit community organization, Argonne National Laboratory and industry partners.

Mic2ExL, funded by NSF’s Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) and the Directorate for STEM Education (EDU), has been granted through the Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel Technologies (ExLENT) initiative which supports projects that provide experiential learning activities for diverse individuals to gain access to careers in emerging technology fields. Full announcement of the grant can be found here.

About Chicago State University

Chicago State University, founded in 1867, is the oldest public university in the Chicago Metropolitan area. The University’s four colleges offer over 70 undergraduate and graduate degree-granting and non-degree programs. CSU is committed to equity in education, serving as the only U.S. Department of Education-designated four-year Predominantly Black Institution in Illinois. The University’s continued value to students and the State of Illinois is demonstrated by the ranking by a Harvard economist that places CSU in the top 4 percent of public and private universities nationwide in supporting its graduates’ economic mobility. The University serves as a prominent community anchor and civic space on the greater south side of Chicago by leading a multitude of athletic, educational, cultural, and recreational activities.