Emma Kemppinen, a student in the Chemistry and Materials Science Master's programme, spent her summer working in Professor Sami Franssila's Microfabrication research group. The group develops micro- and nanofabrication processes for use in liquid, chemical, biological, mechanical and thermal devices. Emma was one of the Aalto University students who got to work in the research groups thanks to a donation from semiconductor companies.
When I started my Master's programme, I first thought I would specialise in polymers and biological applications. I didn't think I would study semiconductors that much, but I became interested in the subject after taking a Surfaces and Films course. It was interesting, well-organised and served as a good introduction to the subject.
Working in a research group seemed nice because you have your own project and you get to do your own research. After getting a summer job, I also ended up taking more courses on the subject, which really introduced me to the field of semiconductors.
The Microfabrication course was really useful in a concrete way. Practically everything I did in the lab was related to what had been covered in that course. So it's worth taking that course if you're interested in these topics!
My job was to use microstructures to modify the surface of a silicon wafer so that it would repel any liquid - whether it was oil, solution or water, for example.
The best part was when I got something right. In theory, you might know how something should work, but it doesn't always work that way and you have to re-optimise the equipment, for example. But then, when things finally worked, it was really rewarding.
The first thing I would mention is managing my own project and time management. Everyone in the research team was really helpful, but there were times when you had to take decisions on your own. It also gave me a lot of confidence. For example, lab work at school is usually well guided and there are always clear instructions. But now, without clear instructions, the responsibility for my own work was increased because I was doing my own project.
Another thing was the use of the different equipment in the lab. I had worked in a clean room before, but this was different and much more varied. The third thing I would like to mention is presenting my own research results to other people.
As long as you're interested in the subject, anyone really! Perhaps especially those who have been thinking about an academic path as a career option. Semi-Summer jobs give you a taste of what it's really like to work in a research team. It was interesting to see people preparing their dissertations or research papers and to talk to colleagues about the processes involved.
I don't know yet whether I will choose the industrial or the academic path. The good thing about the Semi-Summer project was that the company presentations also gave you an overview of the industry side. The future of the sector looks bright, so whether you go into research or industry, there are so many opportunities.
With a donation from five semiconductor companies (Applied Materials/Picosun, Okmetic, Murata, Bosch Sensortec and Kyocera Technologies), Aalto University provided interesting summer jobs in 2024 for students of the Schools of Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Science. These jobs were suitable for both bachelor’s and master's level students. Semi-Summer was first implemented in 2023, and the project has already received praise from both students and companies.
Semiconductors play a crucial role in many parts of modern technology. So-called "Semi-Summer jobs" at Aalto University serve as a concrete example of a research and education partnership between the Aalto schools of technology and businesses in the semiconductor industry.
This summer, student Adrián Gutiérrez Cruz is working at the Organic Electronics research group. Since his background is primarily related to material science and chemistry, he is particularly interested in gaining experience and knowledge in the electronic aspects of the semiconductor technology field.
Niko Lindh, who is studying in the Functional Materials major, will be working in a research group at the Department of Chemistry and Materials Science during the summer. He believes that the experience in research work will be beneficial for his future career.
