National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 1

CHIPS for America

Leveraging Federal Opportunities for 

CHIPS Talent Development

May 3, 2023
National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 2

Today’s Speakers

Christine McGinn

CHIPS R&D Workforce 

Development Liaison

Kylie Patterson

CHIPS Senior Advisor for 

Opportunity & Inclusion

Rodney Petersen

CHIPS R&D Education 

and Workforce Advisor

James L. Moore III

Assistant Director, NSF 

Directorate for STEM Education

Corby Hovis

Program Director, NSF 

Directorate for STEM Education
National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 3

Objectives

• CHIPS Incentives 

Program

• CHIPS R&D Program

• National Science 

Foundation Programs

1

2

 Review several of the key 

workforce semiconductor 

initiatives being developed and 

currently available across the 

federal government

 Help the semiconductor 

industry and potential 

workforce partners understand 

how to participate in these 

efforts
National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 4

CHIPS for America

$39 billion for manufacturing

Two component programs:

1. Attract largescale investments in 

advanced technologies 

such as leading-edge logic 

and memory

2. Incentivize expansion 

of manufacturing capacity 

for mature and other types 

of semiconductors

$11 billion for R&D

Four integrated programs to:

1. Conduct research and 

prototyping of advanced 

semiconductor technology

2. Strengthen semiconductor 

advanced test, assembly, 

and packaging

3. Enable advances in 

measurement science, 

standards, material 

characterization, 

instrumentation, testing, and 

manufacturing

$2.7 billion

CHIPS initiatives from other 

agencies, including DOD, 

State, NSF, and Treasury

$200 million for NSF 

CHIPS for 

American Workforce 

and Education Fund to kick 

start development of the 

domestic semiconductor

workforce

Department of Commerce
National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 5

CHIPS for America

$39 billion for manufacturing

Two component programs:

1. Attract largescale investments in 

advanced technologies 

such as leading-edge logic 

and memory

2. Incentivize expansion 

of manufacturing capacity 

for mature and other types 

of semiconductors

$11 billion for R&D

Four integrated programs to:

1. Conduct research and 

prototyping of advanced 

semiconductor technology

2. Strengthen semiconductor 

advanced test, assembly, 

and packaging

3. Enable advances in 

measurement science, 

standards, material 

characterization, 

instrumentation, testing, and 

manufacturing

Department of Commerce

$2.7 billion

CHIPS initiatives from other 

agencies, including DOD, 

State, NSF, and Treasury

$200 million for NSF 

CHIPS for America Workforce 

and Education Fund to kick 

start development of the 

domestic semiconductor

workforce

Workforce development
National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 6

Workforce Development Vision

Delivering on our national and economic security objectives 

demands major investments in the semiconductor workforce 

that will support good-paying jobs across the industry. 

America’s diversity is a comparative advantage; we must make 

significant investments to create opportunities for Americans 

from historically underserved communities.

Effective workforce solutions enable key stakeholders to work 

together.
National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 7

Catalyzing private investment

Protecting taxpayer dollars

Building a skilled and diverse 

workforce

Engaging with U.S. partners 

and allies

Driving economic opportunity 

and inclusive economic growth

First funding 

announcement 

February 28, 

2023

Priorities
National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 8

Facility Workforce Plan Provisions 

in the NOFO

Workforce plans should be developed with partners

Facility workforce plans should have 5 components:

1.Workforce needs assessment

2.Worker recruitment and retention

3.Good Jobs Principles approach

4.Workforce training and wraparound services

5.Metrics and milestones

Commitment to supporting long-term, cross-cutting initiatives
National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 9

The Workforce Development Guide helps applicants think through the 

best models for them and submit strong workforce plans

1. CHIPS Workforce Values

2. Partnerships

3. Facility Workforce Plan

4. Construction Workforce Plan

5. Child Care Plan

6. Guidance on Submitting 

Successful Plans

Appendix & Resources
National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 10

CHIPS for America R&D

National 

Semiconductor 

Technology Center

National Advanced 

Packaging 

Manufacturing 

Program

Manufacturing USA 

institutes 

(up to three)

Metrology R&D 

(NIST)

• Strengthen and advance 

U.S. leadership in R&D

• An integrated ecosystem 

that drives innovation

• In partnership with 

industry, academia, 

government, and allies

• Informed by the Industrial 

Advisory Committee

• Workforce development 

efforts in each entity
National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 11

The National 

Semiconductor 

Technology Center

will serve as the focal point 

for research and engineering 

throughout the 

semiconductor ecosystem, 

advancing and enabling 

disruptive innovation to 

provide U.S. leadership in 

the industries of the future.
National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 12

NSTC Goals

Build and sustain a 

semiconductor workforce 

development ecosystem

Extend U.S. technology 

leadership to provide the 

foundation for future 

applications and industries for 

economic and national 

security

Significantly reduce the time 

and cost of moving from design 

idea to commercialization, 

making semiconductor design 

capabilities accessible to a 

wide range of stakeholders
National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 13

NSTC Programs

• Grand challenges and roadmaps, and standards and protocols

• Technical exchanges and advisors

• In-house and funded research

• Investment fund

• Security

• Technical centers for prototyping, research, and experimentation

• Chiplets

• Design Enablement Gateway

• Data sets, multi-project wafer program

• Patents

• Identify and scale gold-standard education models

• Information clearinghouse

• Career guidance, including for underserved populations

Workforce 

programs

Technology 

leadership 

Community 

assets
National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 14

Workforce is Critical to CHIPS R&D

National 

Semiconductor 

Technology Center

National Advanced 

Packaging 

Manufacturing 

Program

Manufacturing USA 

institutes 

(up to three)

Metrology R&D 

(NIST)

Training in real-world and 

cutting-edge capabilities
National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 15

Manufacturing USA & CHIPS 

EMPOWERING THE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING WORKFORCE

>106,000 Workforce and training participants

$35.4M

79,229 Students participated in institute 

projects or internships and training

23,059 Workers completed certificate, 

apprenticeship, or training program

4,037 Teachers or trainers completed 

institute-led training

EWD investments in 142 

institute projects and activities

FY22
National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 16

National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 16

Our goal is to find the hidden gems, with drive, passion, and 

discipline, and give them the opportunity to succeed.

• Building the skilled workforce via returning veterans

• 200,000 returning veterans yearly, a unique resource for the 

U.S.

• For semiconductor fabs, the working environment mandates 

discipline, similar to the military

• Example: LIFT’s Operation Next

• Building the skilled workforce via outreach to underserved 

communities and underrepresented populations

• Example: NIIMBL eXperience with MSIs and HBCUs

• Leveraging partnerships with national and regional 

organizations, industry, community colleges, and universities

Manufacturing USA Institutes drive education and 

workforce development for new advanced 

manufacturing industry needs
National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 17

National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 17

Anticipated Resources for 

Education and Training Providers

• NSTC expected to offer grant opportunities for 

workforce development, including opportunities for 

research and educational infrastructure 

• Facility access at CHIPS R&D entities for research 

and experiential learning

• Increased opportunity for research collaboration, 

including industry partnership, through CHIPS R&D 

entities, especially NSTC, MFG USA, NIST Metrology

• CHIPS R&D entities provide opportunity for 

collaboration on development of curricula focused on 

in-demand industry skillsets
National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 18

National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 18

Opportunities for Incentives 

Applicants in CHIPS R&D

• Join the NSTC to participate in workforce 

programs, including grant applications, to 

support a long-term semiconductor workforce 

ecosystem

• Participation in Manufacturing USA institute(s) 

research and workforce development programs 

to facilitate training of industry-ready workforce
National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 19

National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 19

CHIPS R&D EWD Goals

• Strengthen local partnerships focused on EWD to 

support semiconductor career pathways

• Identify opportunities for scaling of effective 

programs to meet Secretary Raimondo’s stated goal 

of 3X graduates in semiconductor-related fields in the 

next ten years

• Create resources that lower barrier to entry and 

broaden participation in semiconductor-related fields

• Expand outreach about semiconductor opportunities 

in local communities 
National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 20

James L. Moore III Corby Hovis

Assistant Director Program Director

Directorate for STEM Education Directorate for STEM Education 

CHIPS for America Webinar: “Leveraging Federal Opportunities for CHIPS Talent Development”

NSF investments in semiconductor 

workforce development
National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 21

National Science Foundation

“To promote the progress of science; to 

advance the national health, prosperity, and 

welfare; to secure the national defense....”

—NSF Act of 1950
NSF by the numbers

22

Senior Researchers 52,747

Other Professionals 13,473

Postdoctoral Associates 6,062

Graduate Students 43,615

Undergraduate Students 39,241

K-12 Teachers 41,862

K-12 Students 139,070

Total: 336,070

People Involved in NSF Activities,

FY 2022

1950 Year Congress created NSF

$9.9B NSF’s FY 2023 Enacted Budget

93% Percent of budget committed to 

research, education, and related 

activities

11,000 Average number of awards NSF funds 

each year

$255M Amount that NSF awards annually to 

businesses to move discoveries into the 

marketplace

$1.6B NSF’s annual investment in STEM 

education

258 Number of Nobel Prize winners who 

have received NSF funding
Support for activities across stages of learning and work

Advanced Degrees

• Faculty research

• Postdoctoral fellowships

• Graduate fellowships

• Graduate research assistantships

Undergraduate (college/university)

• Curriculum development & faculty 

development at 2-year and 4-year institutions

• Undergraduate research assistantships

• Experiential learning (research experiences, 

internships, co-ops)

23

K-12

• Curricula, learning activities

• Teacher education & research experiences 

(in-service teachers)

• Teacher preparation (pre-service teachers)

Informal Learning and Citizen Science
Key NSF workforce development programs

24

Four-year

institutions

Workforce

Graduate

education

K-12 and 

community

colleges

Advanced Technological Education (ATE)

• Invests in advanced technician training.

• Touches nearly 40,000 students, 9,000 teachers 

annually.

NSF Scholarships in STEM (S-STEM)

• Invests in low-income students.

• Has touched more than 100,000 students in nearly 

every state, plus PR and USVI, since 2006.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

• Supports more than 6,000 students annually to 

conduct research and receive mentoring.

Experiential Learning in Emerging and Novel 

Technologies (ExLENT)

• Invests in practical experiences, including for the current 

workforce looking to reskill in emerging technologies.

• Anticipated to touch 1,000 students beginning this year.

Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate 

Students (INTERN)

• Invests in internships for NSF-funded graduate 

students. 

• Supports more than 300 students each year.

CSGrad4US Fellowships, eFellows, and MPS-Ascend

• Invests in increasing the number and diversity of 

advanced degree students and post-docs.

Supplements for Access to Semiconductor 

Fabrication

• Provides funding to enable access to semiconductor 

fabrication for research and education. 
Key NSF workforce development programs

25

Four-year

institutions

Workforce

Graduate

education

K-12 and 

community

colleges

Advanced Technological Education (ATE)

• Invests in advanced technician training.

• Touches nearly 40,000 students, 9,000 teachers 

annually.

NSF Scholarships in STEM (S-STEM)

• Invests in low-income students.

• Has touched more than 100,000 students in nearly 

every state, plus PR and USVI, since 2006.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

• Supports more than 6,000 students annually to 

conduct research and receive mentoring.

Experiential Learning in Emerging and Novel 

Technologies (ExLENT)

• Invests in practical experiences, including for the current 

workforce looking to reskill in emerging technologies.

• Anticipated to touch 1,000 students beginning this year.

Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate 

Students (INTERN)

• Invests in internships for NSF-funded graduate 

students. 

• Supports more than 300 students each year.

CSGrad4US Fellowships, eFellows, and MPS-Ascend

• Invests in increasing the number and diversity of 

advanced degree students and post-docs.

Supplements for Access to Semiconductor 

Fabrication

• Provides funding to enable access to semiconductor 

fabrication for research and education. 
Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Program

• NSF’s major program targeting the skilled technical workforce (see https://www.nsf.gov/nsb/

NSBActivities/skilled-technical-workforce.jsp)

• Focuses on...

o Technician education for the high-tech fields that drive the U.S. economy

o Community and technical colleges (two-year colleges)

o Associate degree programs and certificate programs

o Pathways: secondary school (Career & Technical Education)  community college  four-year 

college/university

o Partnerships: community colleges, employers, four-year colleges/universities, K-12 schools

• Supports all fields of technology: advanced manufacturing, biotech, chemical tech, 

environmental tech, IT/cybersecurity, microelectronics, etc.

• Supports Centers (large, comprehensive efforts @ ~$500k‒$1.5M per year) and Projects

(smaller, focused efforts @ ~$100k‒$200k per year)

26

Supports partnerships between community and technical colleges, four-year 

colleges/universities, industry, and other entities to improve the education of technicians in 

science and engineering
27

ATE highlights: Grantee activities (FY 2020)
28

ATE highlights: Grantee institutions (FY 2020)

Two-year colleges must have a significant leadership role in all ATE projects.
29

ATE highlights: Students (FY 2020)

The ATE program served > 39,500 students in 2020
30

CHIPS-focused* active ATE awards

* Many awards in other (nonCHIPS) categories of the ATE 

portfolio — e.g., photonics/ 

optics/laser technology, 

advanced manufacturing, energy 

technology, general engineering 

technology — also deal with 

topics relevant to the 

semiconductor workforce.

ATE Centers (4)

ATE Projects (11)
Key NSF workforce development programs

31

Four-year

institutions

Workforce

Graduate

education

K-12 and 

community

colleges

Advanced Technological Education (ATE)

• Invests in advanced technician training.

• Touches nearly 40,000 students, 9,000 teachers 

annually.

NSF Scholarships in STEM (S-STEM)

• Invests in low-income students.

• Has touched more than 100,000 students in nearly 

every state, plus PR and USVI, since 2006.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

• Supports more than 6,000 students annually to 

conduct research and receive mentoring.

Experiential Learning in Emerging and Novel 

Technologies (ExLENT)

• Invests in practical experiences, including for the current 

workforce looking to reskill in emerging technologies.

• Anticipated to touch 1,000 students beginning this year.

Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate 

Students (INTERN)

• Invests in internships for NSF-funded graduate 

students. 

• Supports more than 300 students each year.

CSGrad4US Fellowships, eFellows, and MPS-Ascend

• Invests in increasing the number and diversity of 

advanced degree students and post-docs.

Supplements for Access to Semiconductor 

Fabrication

• Provides funding to enable access to semiconductor 

fabrication for research and education. 
NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, 

Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) Program

• Goal: Increase the number of low-income, academically talented students who graduate with a 

STEM degree and contribute to the American innovation economy

• Degree programs may be associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral level

• For the scholarships, grantees may target students in specific STEM majors or themes (e.g., 

physics, cybersecurity, engineering, microelectronics) or students in multiple disciplines

• Since 2006, the program has awarded > 1,600 grants providing > 100,000 scholarships, an 

investment of $1.4 billion

• Funding for the program comes from the “scholarship and training” fee that U.S. employers pay 

when they sponsor a foreign worker on an H-1B visa

32

Provides grants to colleges and universities to fund...

• scholarships for low-income, academically talented students in STEM fields

• curricular and co-curricular activities that support the recruitment, retention, graduation, and 

success of the scholarship recipients, and

• research on factors that affect the success of low-income students in STEM
33

Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands

S-STEM grants to colleges and universities, FYs 2018‒2022

N = 574
Examples of NSF Partnerships with Semiconductor Companies

Example #1:

• Goal: Improve the education of skilled technicians 

in semiconductor manufacturing and design

• Joint investment: $10M

• Co-fund relevant, meritorious proposals 

submitted to the ATE and S-STEM programs

• Proposals must leverage strong industry–

academic partnerships to strengthen the 

semiconductor manufacturing workforce

• Proposals may involve scholarships; experiential 

learning; development or improvement of 

courses, certificates, and programs; integration of 

industry standards; and other activities

• The company will engage with funded faculty and 

students, offering subject matter expertise, 

seminars, potential internships, etc.

34

Example #2:

• Goal: Design and implement bold, potentially 

transformative solutions to address 

semiconductor manufacturing and design 

challenges and workforce shortages

• Joint investment: $10M

• The company will co-fund proposals for 

instructional materials development, teacher 

professional development, and experiential 

learning opportunities for students at two-year 

and four-year colleges and universities
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) 

Program

• Encompasses all areas of research normally supported by NSF (including 

semiconductor/microelectronics research)

• REU Site: a cohort of students (typically 8-12) engaged in mentored research projects 

organized around a discipline or other theme

• ~ 600 REU Sites operate every year at universities, field stations, observatories, museums, 

and other research facilities around the United States, and some abroad

• ~ 6,000 students participate in REU Sites every year

• Majority of REU Sites operate for 9-10 weeks during the summer

• Students receive a stipend, lodging and meal allowance, and travel allowance

35

Provides grants to universities and other research organizations to fund college/university 

students to conduct semi-independent research projects, mentored by senior researchers
Students at REU Sites... • Conduct cutting-edge research with modern 

equipment/tools in first-rate facilities/settings

• Are mentored by research-active faculty, postdocs, and 

grad students

• Coauthor articles, prepare posters, and give 

presentations at student research symposia and 

regional or national professional meetings

• Participate in group activities: seminars, mini-courses, 

field trips, etc.

• Develop... o deeper knowledge of science and engineering, o understanding of the research process and “culture” of the 

discipline,

o understanding of career pathways and graduate school in 

S&E, and

o writing, communication, and presentation skills

36
NSF–SRC partnership

• In 2022, NSF and the Semiconductor 

Research Corporation (SRC) 

established a partnership to expand 

undergraduate research opportunities 

related to advances in semiconductors

• SRC will co-fund REU Sites on 

semiconductor-related topics, selected 

from the REU Site proposals submitted 

to NSF’s annual competition

• SRC will also share information with 

REU students and faculty about 

semiconductor industry career paths, 

industry perspectives, conferences, 

etc.

37

“I am an NSF REU success story. I was an REU 

student in Professor Lisa McElwee-White’s 

organometallic chemistry lab, and after a short 

summer in the program, I was hooked! The 

experience drove me into graduate studies in 

chemistry that led to an amazing career in 

nanotechnology with Intel. Now, I’m thrilled 

that NSF, SRC, and SRC members can help 

create similar experiences for the next 

generation of semiconductor innovators.”

— Dr. Todd Younkin, President & CEO, SRC
38

* Many other REU Sites have 

research themes adjacent 

to semiconductors and 

microelectronics (e.g., 

renewable energy, 

batteries, lasers and 

photonics, biomedical 

engineering).

Examples of CHIPS-related* summer REU Sites (45)
Key NSF workforce development programs

39

Four-year

institutions

Workforce

Graduate

education

K-12 and 

community

colleges

Advanced Technological Education (ATE)

• Invests in advanced technician training.

• Touches nearly 40,000 students, 9,000 teachers 

annually.

NSF Scholarships in STEM (S-STEM)

• Invests in low-income students.

• Has touched more than 100,000 students in nearly 

every state, plus PR and USVI, since 2006.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

• Supports more than 6,000 students annually to 

conduct research and receive mentoring.

Experiential Learning in Emerging and Novel 

Technologies (ExLENT)

• Invests in practical experiences, including for the current 

workforce looking to reskill in emerging technologies.

• Anticipated to touch 1,000 students beginning this year.

Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate 

Students (INTERN)

• Invests in internships for NSF-funded graduate 

students. 

• Supports more than 300 students each year.

CSGrad4US Fellowships, eFellows, and MPS-Ascend

• Invests in increasing the number and diversity of 

advanced degree students and post-docs.

Supplements for Access to Semiconductor 

Fabrication

• Provides funding to enable access to semiconductor 

fabrication for research and education. 
Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate 

Students (INTERN) Program

• Goal: Complement grad students’ academic research training and prepare them for a broad range of 

career paths

• Experience is expected to build knowledge and skills that students need to enter the S&E workforce:

 Technical knowledge and skills  Project management

 Teamwork  Innovation and entrepreneurship

 Communication (written, oral)  Business and economics

• Has funded internships for ~1,400 students in many areas of R&D, including semiconductors and 

microelectronics, since 2017

• Provides up to $55k per student for up to 6 months of internship, but may be extended

• Expectation is that the internship should not unduly lengthen a student’s time-to-degree

40

Provides supplemental funding to active NSF awards to support internships for graduate 

students in non-academic settings
41

Examples of INTERN host organizations

Internship settings:

• Industry labs and R&D 

groups

• Start-ups and small 

businesses (including 

SBIR and STTR grantees)

• National labs

• Museums

• Policy think tanks

• Nonprofits
CSGrad4US Fellowship Program

• Launched in February 2021

• Goal: Increase the number and diversity of U.S. Citizens, U.S. 

Permanent Residents, and U.S. Nationals pursuing research-based 

doctoral degrees in computing fields

• Context: Computing fields are experiencing booming 

undergraduate enrollments, but few of those students go on to 

grad school

• Target of fellowships: Bachelor’s degree holders returning from 

industry into PhD programs

42

Fellowship Process

One-year, part-time mentorship program → application and admission to doctoral degree program

→ three years of fellowship support → graduation with research-based doctoral degree

→ research leader in academia, industry, or government

Supports graduate study leading to a research-based doctoral 

degree in computer science, computer engineering, or 

information science
Postdoctoral Fellowship Programs

eFellows: Engineering

• Launched in summer 2021; administered by the 

American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) 

with funding from NSF

• Intent: Prepare the fellows to become academic 

leaders and to succeed in future research careers

• Fellows work in university research settings

• Fellowship experience:

o Hands-on academic research with a faculty advisor

o Cohort activities: Learning community, peer 

mentoring, and professional development webinars 

with guest speakers from industry and academia

• Provides 2 years of support @ $75k per year 

salary, plus fringe benefits and travel expenses, 

paid to the fellow’s host institution

MPS-Ascend: Mathematical & Physical Sciences

• Launched in spring 2021

• Intent: Develop a diverse set of future leaders in MPS fields 

through research experiences that broaden their 

perspectives and facilitate interdisciplinary interactions

• Fellows work in universities, museums and other nonprofit 

institutes, government labs, observatories, and other 

research settings

• Provides up to 3 years of support @ $100k per year, paid 

directly to the fellow

43

Provides postdoctoral fellowships to early-career 

PhDs in engineering fields

Provides postdoctoral fellowships to PhDs who will 

broaden the participation of underrepresented racial 

and ethnic minorities in the mathematical sciences, 

astronomical sciences, chemistry, physics, and 

materials research
Supplements for Access to 

Semiconductor Fabrication (ASF)

Program

• Context: Design of semiconductor integrated circuits and systems is easier than ever, but 

fabrication of the designs has become less frequent

• Funds may be requested to access any fabrication facility of the researcher’s choice

• Access will also benefit students working on the NSF-funded research projects

44

Provides supplemental funding to NSF-funded researchers 

to support their fabrication of semiconductor devices and 

systems developed in their research projects
Key NSF workforce development programs

45

Four-year

institutions

Workforce

Graduate

education

K-12 and 

community

colleges

Advanced Technological Education (ATE)

• Invests in advanced technician training.

• Touches nearly 40,000 students, 9,000 teachers 

annually.

NSF Scholarships in STEM (S-STEM)

• Invests in low-income students.

• Has touched more than 100,000 students in nearly 

every state, plus PR and USVI, since 2006.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

• Supports more than 6,000 students annually to 

conduct research and receive mentoring.

Experiential Learning in Emerging and Novel 

Technologies (ExLENT)

• Invests in practical experiences, including for the current 

workforce looking to reskill in emerging technologies.

• Anticipated to touch 1,000 students beginning this year.

Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate 

Students (INTERN)

• Invests in internships for NSF-funded graduate 

students. 

• Supports more than 300 students each year.

CSGrad4US Fellowships, eFellows, and MPS-Ascend

• Invests in increasing the number and diversity of 

advanced degree students and post-docs.

Supplements for Access to Semiconductor 

Fabrication

• Provides funding to enable access to semiconductor 

fabrication for research and education. 
Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel 

Technologies (ExLENT) Program

• New program — first awards anticipated in summer 2023

• Focuses on workforce development for advanced manufacturing, advanced wireless, AI, 

biotechnology, quantum information science & engineering, semiconductors/microelectronics, etc.

• Goals:

1. Expand access to career-enhancing experiential learning opportunities for a broad, diverse population, 

including those who are entering/reentering the workforce and those who are reskilling/upskilling

2. Promote cross-sector partnerships between organizations with expertise in emerging technology fields and 

organizations with expertise in workforce development

3. Develop a workforce aligned with regional economies based on emerging technologies

• Funds experiential learning activities, career exploration, nontraditional educational pathways, 

mechanisms to overcome barriers that deter individuals from pursuing the fields, etc.

46

Supports experiential learning opportunities that provide cohorts of diverse learners with the 

skills needed to succeed in emerging technology fields
ExLENT: experiential learning activities to serve a broad 

spectrum of learners

47
We welcome your partnership!
National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 49

Next Steps

• Explore workforce development opportunities:

• Partner with NSF or NSF grantees

• Develop local education and workforce development 

partnerships

• Visit CHIPS.gov for resources, including:

• Workforce Development Guide

• NSTC Strategy and Vision Paper

• FAQs and fact sheets

• Join CHIPS mailing list

• Contact CHIPS 

• askchips@chips.gov – general inquiries

• apply@chips.gov – application-related inquiries
National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 50

Questions and Answers
National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 51

Thank you