Participants follow a structured daily schedule that includes lectures, active learning, and hands-on training. Lectures will include foundational knowledge in semiconductors, professional development seminars, and discussions with current industry professionals. Students will also spend dedicated time on project work, experimentation, and collaboration with fellow STARS members, graduate students, and professors.

Each week of the STARS program includes report-outs and presentations, enabling students to share progress and receive feedback. Students will present at an end-of-summer symposium with the SURF program, offering a platform to share your work with peers, faculty, and professionals.

STARS has 2 tracks to choose from.

The STARS design track focuses on developing deep-tech skills like IC design, fabrication, and packaging, and semiconductor device and materials characterization. Students will focus on the techniques and basic theory necessary to design a chip to the point where it can be sent to a semiconductor manufacturer, as well as basic electronics, digital logic, register transfer level (RTL) design, and verification techniques.

The STARS manufacturing and packaging track focus on building essential skills in chip fabrication, semiconductor materials, and device characterization. Students will learn core techniques and foundational theory in cleanroom safety, substrate engineering, and semiconductor processing, including oxidation, lithography, thin-film deposition, and etching methods such as reactive ion and wet chemical techniques.

During the STARS program, you can opt to sign up for 3 or 6 class credits, which count towards the Semiconductors and Microelectronics Certificate at Purdue. Instructions for signing up will be given in your offer letter.

The STARS program is a rigorous 11-week commitment. The first week is asynchronous, while all other weeks require 40 hours of work per week. Taking one asynchronous course may be allowed with director permission.

STARS is open to Purdue students and external undergraduate students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities. The program is generally designed for current first-year students (rising sophomores), but current sophomores (rising juniors) are also welcome to apply. Students not currently attending Purdue are also welcome to apply.

Unfortunately, the STARS program is only accepting international students from Purdue at this time. Those from other institutions will need to hold U.S citizenship or permanent residency.

Preference for the STARS program will be given to Purdue students who have either completed the Changing the World with Chips - Introduction to Semiconductors course in the Fall semester or are registered for/active in the course during the Spring semester. However, students from other universities are also welcome and encouraged to apply.

Applications typically open in early December. When the application portal is open, the link to access the portal will appear in the header of this webpage.

The cover letter should be addressed to the Application Review Committee.

YES, we require a transcript. First year students are expected to wait to apply once they have their first semester transcript in hand.

For Purdue students, transcripts can be found on myPurdue, under the tab ‘Transcripts and Grades’ and then ‘Order Official Transcript.'

We will begin to review applications in late December, and admissions will be rolling through March. Final notifications will be sent by April 1.

STARS participants will be required to secure and pay for their own housing. You should be eligible for either summer intern or summer school housing.

Participants are responsible for their own medical insurance coverage. Information about special medical/accident insurance policies can be found on Purdue’s Risk Management website.