The IMS Graduate Apprenticeship Program offers graduate students a unique opportunity to advance their research and technical expertise through immersive, hands-on apprenticeships within the Institute for Matter and Systems' state-of-the-art nanotechnology and characterization core facilities.

This program allows graduate students to work directly with expert staff scientists and faculty mentors, while mastering a range of advanced tools and techniques in materials characterization, spectroscopy, micro/nanofabrication, and process development.

Graduate apprentices must commit 10 hours per week to work within the IMS core facilities as a part of their graduate program, contributing to real-world research and facility operations. In return, IMS will support 50% of their graduate stipend and tuition.

Participation in the IMS Graduate Apprenticeship Program is viewed as an integrated part of a student’s graduate training—not an additional obligation—designed to complement and enhance their research experience. This position is a 12-month appointment with the possibility of renewal. A mid-year review will be conducted to ensure that the arrangement is meeting expectations for both the student and the facility.

The IMS Graduate Apprenticeship Program is ideal for students looking to deepen their technical expertise, expand their interdisciplinary training, and develop career-ready skills in material science and nanotechnology. We offer apprenticeship opportunities both in our cleanroom and materials characterization facilities. Responsibilities will include process development, training new users, instrument calibration and maintenance, SOP and user guide development, sample testing for external users and industry partners, to name a few. No prior experience is required; the students will be trained by our expert staff and be assigned a facility mentor.

Project 1 - Electron Microscopy Applications, Training, and Workflow Development | Materials Characterization Facility (MCF)

• Become an expert user of advanced scanning electron microscopy platforms including analytical techniques such as EDS, EBSD, and cathodoluminescence.
• Train and certify researchers on reproducible microscopy practices.
• Develop standardized workflows for imaging, compositional analysis, and crystallographic characterization across diverse materials systems.
• Assist with research projects and external collaborations leveraging electron microscopy.
• Create SOPs, training modules, and knowledge resources that improve user independence and reduce staff workload.

Project 2 – X-Ray Microtomography Calibration and Workflow Development | MCF + Micro/Nano Fabrication Facility 

• Design and fabricate microstructured calibration standards using advanced cleanroom microfabrication capabilities.
• Evaluate the performance of the Rigaku X-ray Microtomography system across a range of imaging conditions. 
• Develop optimized acquisition, reconstruction, and analysis procedures for diverse materials systems. 
• Establish standardized operating procedures to improve data reproducibility.
• Create training resources that support tomography capabilities.

Project 3 – Advanced Packaging Materials, Electroplating, and Process Integration | Micro/Nano Fabrication Facility 

• Develop and optimize electroplating processes for Cu, NiW, SnAg, and Au deposition 
• Evaluate plating uniformity, adhesion, microstructure, and material quality 
• Perform electrical, mechanical, and SEM-based characterization of plated structures 
• Utilize CVS and chemical analysis techniques for bath monitoring and process control 
• Support fabrication of redistribution layers (RDLs), interconnects, and advanced packaging structures 
• Develop process documentation and best practices for advanced packaging applications

Project 4 – Advanced Dry Etch Process Development and Microfabrication | Micro/Nano Fabrication Facility 

• Design and fabricate micro- and nanoscale structures using advanced cleanroom processes 
• Develop and optimize ICP and DRIE processes for silicon, dielectrics, and emerging materials 
• Perform mask design, lithography integration, and process characterization 
• Investigate etch selectivity, profile control, sidewall morphology, and process reproducibility 
• Characterize fabricated structures using metrology and microscopy techniques 
• Support process development for MEMS, sensors, photonics, and semiconductor devices 
• Develop standard operating procedures and process documentation

Project 5 – Process Development and User Training of Advanced Packaging Test Equipment | Micro/Nano Fabrication Facility

• Develop and optimize process workflows for advanced microelectronic packaging and characterization. 
• Provide hands-on training and user support for a range of packaging techniques, including flip-chip bonding, wire bonding, and screen printing, as well as solder reflow processing.
• Support failure analysis and quality control through advanced characterization methods such as scanning acoustic microscopy and X-ray inspection.
• Perform mechanical and electrical testing to evaluate device integrity and performance.

Project 6 – AI-Assisted Imaging Processing for Electron Microscopy | MCF

• Develop machine learning workflows for automated object detection, segmentation, and classification of SEM, TEM, and STEM images.
• Collect, organize, and manage microscopy datasets for model development, training, and validation.
• Train and optimize AI models for nanostructure characterization, with a primary focus on nanoparticles, as well as broader microstructural analysis.
• Benchmark AI-assisted image analysis workflows against conventional image processing approaches.
• Develop user-friendly workflows to optimize nanostructure analysis, improve reproducibility, and support efficient microscopy data interpretation.

Project 7 – Advanced ICP-MS Operations and Analytical Method Development | MCF

• Develop expertise in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for trace elemental analysis across materials, environmental, biological, and engineering applications. 
• Train and certify researchers on ICP-MS operation, sample preparation, data acquisition, and analytical best practices. 
• Assist with instrument troubleshooting, preventative maintenance, performance verification, and optimization. 
• Support the development and validation of analytical methods for challenging sample matrices and emerging research applications. 
• Create standard operating procedures, training materials, and troubleshooting resources that improve user independence and facility efficiency. 
• Gain cross-training opportunities in complementary characterization techniques for elemental analysis.

Project 8 – AFM Training and Label-Free AFM-IR Bioimaging | MCF

• Develop expertise in atomic force microscopy (AFM) and nanoscale infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR) for the characterization of biological, polymeric, and hybrid materials. 
• Train and certify researchers on AFM instrumentation and in high-quality and reproducible microscopy practices. 
• Establish and optimize AFM-IR workflows for label-free chemical imaging and nanoscale surface chemistry analysis of biological systems. 
• Assist with instrument troubleshooting, preventative maintenance, and performance verification. 
• Develop standard operating procedures, training materials, and best-practice guides that expand facility capabilities and improve user independence. 
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary researchers to apply AFM and AFM-IR techniques to challenges in biomaterials, biointerfaces, soft matter, and advanced functional materials.

Project 9  –  Staff Training System – High Vacuum System Assembly | Micro/Nano Fabrication Facility 

• Develop a comprehensive training program focused on the principles, operation, and maintenance of high-vacuum systems covering vacuum science fundamentals, system architecture, and the role of vacuum technology in semiconductor fabrication, microscopy, thin-film deposition, and analytical instrumentation. 
• Develop training materials for leak detection and vacuum diagnostics.
•  Establish best practices for troubleshooting, preventative maintenance, and safe operation of high-vacuum equipment. 
• Create SOPs and technical documentation that support staff training.

Project 10 – Development of Laboratory Teaching Module and Workforce Development | Micro/Nano Fabrication Facility  + Instruction

• Support instructional activities for Integrated Circuit Fabrication laboratory (ECE4452) and Introduction to MEMS (ME6229). 
• Guide students during cleanroom laboratory sessions in fabrication processes, equipment operation, process integration, and experimental design. 
• Reinforce key concepts in semiconductor manufacturing, lithography, thin-film deposition, etching, and MEMS fabrication. 
• Assist with the operation and optimization of cleanroom instructional equipment. 
• Develop training modules focused on practical microfabrication skills and process troubleshooting. 

Project 11 – Thin Film Deposition, Materials Engineering, and Process Integration | Micro/Nano Fabrication Facility 

• Develop and optimize thin-film deposition processes using sputtering, ALD, and PECVD 
• Fabricate and characterize multilayer material stacks for advanced device applications 
• Measure film thickness, uniformity, optical properties, stress, and composition 
• Investigate materials compatibility and interface engineering challenges 
• Evaluate process reproducibility and integration across complex fabrication flows 
• Support development of semiconductor, MEMS, photonic, and packaging technologies 
• Develop process documentation and user training resources

Project 12 – Process-development for electron beam lithography (EBL) | Micro/Nano Fabrication Facility 

• Develop and optimize high-resolution electron beam lithography processes 
• Investigate resist performance, proximity effects, and dose determination 
• Design, fabricate, and characterize nanoscale test structures and devices 
• Develop grayscale lithography processes for three-dimensional micro- and nanostructure fabrication 
• Integrate EBL with deposition, etching, lift-off, and metrology techniques 
• Support applications in CMOS, MEMS, photonics, quantum devices, and metalenses 
• Develop standardized process modules, documentation, and user training materials