As part of a larger push to strengthen US semiconductor manufacturing, Purdue is initiating a Semiconductor Degree Program through collaboration between several schools in the College of Engineering. Dr. Chawla has been selected as co-director of the degree program and as a member of university president Mung Chiang's Taskforce on Semiconductors. As the taskforce's representative from MSE, Dr. Chawla will be highlighting the importance of materials processing and characterization education as part of a comprehensive training on semiconductor manufacturing.