Kyle Salk

Kyle Salk

Kyle Salk

Track: PV/Semiconductor
Undergrad: Minnesota State University, Moorehead, MN – Physics
Internship: Micron
Current Job Title: Senior Engineer at Micron Technology, Inc.

The UO Master's Industrial Internship offered something no other Master's degree would offer: education geared toward a career, in addition to resources and connections to aid the transition to industry. When I arrived, I was pleased to meet many like-minded, driven peers who were just as excited about the opportunity.

The summer, as promised, was intensive. Longs days of course work provided massive amounts of information, which allowed students to immerse themselves in their respective tracks. Limited lab time meant groups had to be focused, communicate effectively with one another, and use time wisely. The intensity, while difficult at times, promoted great relationships with other students, and ultimately allowed us to be knowledgeable in the field.

After two terms of courses, I started an internship at Micron Technology, Inc. in Boise, Idaho. Micron is one of the largest memory producers in the world, and coming from the semiconductor track, it was easy to get up to speed with the current status and needs of the technology. I joined a characterization team, which is responsible for gathering electrical data for devices and determining issues or highlights of the device. In particular, there was a need for lab software to control the many required instruments. With knowledge of how to test devices and what information is useful, I was able to create and deploy software which is now widely used at multiple sites within the company. Micron also had over 100 other interns during the time, so there were plenty of activities to get to know people from all over the country.

The Master's program provided the knowledge and hands-on experience making semiconductor devices, which is crucial when characterizing devices. The goal of characterization is to tie electrical signatures back to processes used during device creation. Having direct, hands-on experience creating devices at UO has helped immensely in understanding the underlying issues.

Over my time at Micron, my job has shifted a bit from directly characterizing devices to focusing on the software behind the electrical testers. Aspects like secure and reliable software are different than my formal training, but as a detail-oriented person, I enjoy solving those issues. Other aspects, such as test time improvement or specialized tests, require a strong knowledge of device operation. In both cases, the Master's Industrial Internship program helped build a solid foundation for my professional development.