In 1986, Microelectronics / VLSI Technology program was established at UMASS Lowell, as a result of proposal submitted by the author to the Massachusetts Microelectronics Center (MMC). One million dollar funding in kind and cash was matched by Chancellor Hogan in converting an existing space of 2400 sq feet in to a modern clean room facility. Two Laboratories namely: VLSI Design Lab and Distributed Semiconductor Industrial Processing Laboratory (DSIPL) were established deploying the state-of-art design and fabrication facilities.
In order to carry out consummate instructions in Microelectronics / VLSI Technology field, author envisioned development of state-of-art curricula, supported by the state of art Laboratories, in order to design, test and fabricate microelectronic circuits. The courses such as 16.502 VLSI Design, 16.602 VHDL Based Design, 16.504 VLSI Fabrication and 16.574 MMIC Design and Fabrication were developed and taught by the author all along.
In order to comprehend the microelectronics field in its entirety, the author envisioned a set of four labs from the date of establishment of this Microelectronics Center at UMASS Lowell, namely: (1) VLSI Design Lab. (2) Mask Fabrication Lab. (3) DSIPL, and (4) Dicing and Packaging Lab. The (1) and (3) are achieved in its entirety, (4) is partially achieved, but (2), still needs to be achieved. In the meanwhile, we are getting MASK set from National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST). It is because of this reason, we are capable of imparting state-ofart instructions in the field of Microelectronics VLSI Design Lab incorporates the latest Cadence software bundles along with Solaris-8 implemented on Sun Sparc-10 stations.
The author however emphasized the Microelectronics Model [1] comprising of (1) Fundamentals, (2) Materials, (3) Devices, (4) Circuits, and (5) System and is tirelessly working in preparing students for the Hi-Tech Industry, based on this model. Although the articles were primarily dedicated to educational endeavors, but these have resulted in sizable research funding also, primarily from regional Hitech industry.