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-semester symposium, offering a platform to share your work with peers, faculty, and professionals.

The STARS design track focuses on developing deep-tech skills like IC design, fabrication, and packaging, and semiconductor device and materials characterization. Students will enroll in a VIP course called "Intro to SOCEET" and 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 Semiconductor Manufacturing and Packaging track focuses on developing hands-on skills in chip fabrication and semiconductor processing. Students will enroll in a VIP course called "Intro to Semiconductor Manufacturing" and gain experience with cleanroom safety, substrate engineering, and core fabrication techniques. Students will also explore about heterogeneous integration, advanced packaging methods, and reliability testing to enhance semiconductor performance. This track provides a strong foundation in semiconductor materials and device characterization with further exploration on cutting-edge techniques for assembling and interconnecting semiconductor devices.

STARS is open to Purdue students enrolled at West Lafayette or Indy campus. The program is generally designed for current first-year students (rising sophomores), but current sophomores (rising juniors) are also welcome to apply.

Applications for Spring 2026 will open in October 2025. When the application portal is open, the link to access the portal will appear in the header of this webpage. The application will include submission of a questionnaire, statement of interest, and current resume. Application cannot be modified once submitted.