Vijay Raghunathan, serving as Purdue University’s vice president for global partnerships, director of semiconductor education, and professor in the Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, has been appointed as a founding member of the Workforce Advisory Board for the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC). This center, created under the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, aims to enhance the United States’ leadership in semiconductor technology and innovation.
Raghunathan will offer expert guidance on both national and regional workforce development strategies to the NSTC’s Workforce Center of Excellence (WCoE), ensuring that the center’s initiatives stay aligned with employer needs and industry demands. His role underscores Purdue’s key position in advancing semiconductor education and fostering workforce growth in this critical sector.
On January 2, the announcement was made by Natcast, the nonprofit managing the NSTC on behalf of the U.S. Department of Commerce. U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, emphasized that the newly appointed board members bring exceptional expertise, critical to advancing the center’s efforts.
Raghunathan, one of just four representatives from prominent universities, joins the 18-member board, positioning Purdue as a national leader in semiconductor workforce development. He believes that a skilled workforce is essential to sustaining the rapid innovation and economic growth within the semiconductor industry. “Purdue’s role in this endeavor is key, thanks to President Mung Chiang’s vision and the tireless efforts of our faculty and staff,” Raghunathan shared. He looks forward to collaborating with fellow board members to help create a robust pipeline of semiconductor talent.
Since joining Purdue in 2006, Raghunathan has significantly advanced the university’s semiconductor initiatives. Notably, he co-founded the Semiconductor Degrees Program (SDP) in 2022, a globally recognized program for semiconductor education. In 2023, he also took on the role of vice president for global partnerships and programs, further expanding Purdue’s influence through strategic collaborations with academic, industrial, and governmental partners worldwide.
