The next generation of semiconductors need to unlock system-level capabilities such as those needed in AI applications and compute-heavy gaming.
Nandini Venkataraman, our next pathbreaker, works at AMD in Singapore, focusing on advanced packaging technologies for high-performance computing chips used in data centers and AI systems.
Nandini talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about pursuing a career in semiconductor manufacturing after being exposed to the incredible engineering and material innovation that happens at the nano-scale.
For students, semiconductors are the foundation of modern life, especially for technologies like Artificial Intelligence (including tools like ChatGPT), cloud computing, communication networks, automobiles and smart devices.
Nandini, Your background?
I was born and raised in Chennai in a close-knit, progressive Tamil family. I am the younger of two children. My father is a Chemical Engineer who ran a business consultancy, but he was also deeply interested in social work, and public issues and is a prolific writer. My mother studied economics and was the quiet strength of our family and she taught me important life lessons like balance, humility, and managing money wisely.
My older brother was an excellent student and went on to study Chemical Engineering and MBA. Watching my father and brother made engineering feel exciting to me. At the same time, my childhood was not only about studies. We talked about science, business, politics, sports, music, food, and social issues at home. This helped me develop a broad way of thinking.
I studied at Vidya Mandir, Mylapore. I enjoyed both science and social sciences (particularly, civics and economics) alike. There was no pressure from my family to choose engineering, but during my school years, engineering was very popular. In addition, I chose the science stream because I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps.
What did you do for graduation / post graduation?
After school, I studied Chemical and Electrochemical Engineering at CECRI, Karaikudi, which is a small but strong research-focused program under CSIR. I was lucky to learn from passionate teachers and scientists. Many alumni from CECRI had gone on to do PhDs and built research careers in academia and industry, and that inspired me.
Motivated by this environment, I decided to pursue a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Arizona, USA. During my PhD, I worked closely with excellent professors and got my first exposure to the semiconductor industry. My industry-sponsored doctoral work helped me understand how classroom learning connects to real-world technology implementations.
What made you choose this career?
Honestly, I could not have planned this career from the beginning even if I had wanted to! Looking back, it feels like a series of small decisions over time, guided by meeting the right people at the right time.
My interest in engineering came from my family and teachers. At CECRI, my friends and seniors motivated me to explore higher studies. Moving to the US for graduate studies was a big step for me. During my PhD, my research advisor was a true mentor with my best interests at heart and played a huge role in shaping my career. He introduced me to the semiconductor industry and encouraged me to explore it seriously. That guidance helped me take my first steps into this field, and I remain deeply grateful for that mentorship.
How did you plan the steps to get into the career you wanted? Or how did you make a transition to a new career? Tell us about your career path.
At CECRI, I had the opportunity to be mentored by practicing scientists working in various aspects of applied electrochemistry including batteries and corrosion prevention technologies. With this academic exposure, I applied to graduate programs in the US with research focus in electrochemistry, many of which are part of the Materials Science department. With a combination of good college grades, good GRE scores and undergraduate research exposure at CECRI, I was able to secure a direct PhD admit at The University of Arizona.
During my PhD, my overarching focus was on development and fundamental characterization of semiconductor wet process technologies including electrochemical etching of silicon and chemical mechanical planarization. My PhD was partly funded by a graduate fellowship from Applied Materials, a leading semiconductor equipment maker, as well as projects funded by Semiconductor Research Corporation. Besides academic research and coursework, opportunities to network and participate in conferences as well as an opportunity to intern at Intel Corporation during graduate school gave me good insights into real-world problems and augmented my interest in the field.
While my entry into semiconductors happened by chance, my career choices after that were largely intentional.
I consciously looked for roles where I could learn various aspects of semiconductor technology, manufacturing and the ecosystem.
I started at Intel (USA), working in advanced wafer fabrication. At Intel, I worked as a process technology development engineer in defect metrology and photolithography, which is one of the most “mission-critical” process steps involving definition of nano-scale circuit patterns which are defined using light-sensitive materials and ultraviolet light. In this position, I had a chance to learn cutting-edge process integration flows, defect analysis and root cause analysis of photolithography equipment and process engineering, as well as soft skills in teamwork and communication.
Later, when my family moved to Singapore, I joined Micron Semiconductors, where I worked on leading-edge memory chip manufacturing.
As the industry evolved beyond traditional transistor scaling, I wanted to learn newer areas. I moved to the Institute of Microelectronics (Singapore) to work on advanced packaging and heterogeneous integration. Today, I work at AMD on advanced packaging for high-performance compute chips.
Traditional semiconductor packaging is meant to protect and connect single fragile semiconductor chips to the outside world such as motherboards. Advanced packaging goes a step further by enabling the connection of specialized parts like a CPU, GPU, and memory so they work together seamlessly and unlock impressive system-level capabilities such as those needed in AI applications and compute-heavy gaming. My job focuses on technologies that physically connect these specialized chips or chiplets, inside a single package, so they communicate extremely fast, use less power, and deliver much higher overall performance.
Each move has been about learning something new and exciting.
How did you get your first break?
My first big break came through an internship at Intel during my PhD. That internship allowed me to see how real semiconductor factories work. After completing my PhD, I took up a full-time offer from Intel, launching my career. Once I saw the incredible engineering and material innovation that happens at the nano-scale, I was completely hooked.
What were some of the challenges you faced? how did you address them?
Challenge 1: Moving abroad alone
Living in the US on my own was scary at first. Everything from food to culture was different from what I grew up around in India. But supportive friends and a caring mentor helped me settle in. Once I adjusted, I truly enjoyed the challenging and stimulating university environment.
Challenge 2: Working in a high-pressure industry
Semiconductor manufacturing is demanding. It can sometimes involve long hours, late nights, and troubleshooting complex problems under tight deadlines. What keeps me going is knowing the impact of this work, chips power everything from smartphones to AI systems in the modern world today.
Where do you work now?
I currently work at AMD in Singapore, focusing on advanced packaging technologies for high-performance computing chips used in data centers and AI systems.
My role combines engineering problem-solving, collaborating with global manufacturing partners and coordinating complex projects. Every day is different and that’s what keeps the job exciting.
How does your work benefit the society?
Semiconductors are the foundation of modern life. The chips my company builds power technologies like Artificial Intelligence (including tools like ChatGPT), cloud computing, communication networks, automobiles and smart devices. By helping make these chips reliable, scalable and cost-efficient, my work indirectly supports innovation and connectivity across the world.
Tell us an example of a specific memorable work you did that is very close to you!
One of the most meaningful parts of my career has been working on cutting-edge technologies that did not exist a few years ago and enabling new applications. Being part of teams that take a complex idea from research to real-world production and knowing it will be used by millions of people is satisfying.
Your advice to students based on your experience?
Stay curious and read widely. Explore different subjects and talk to people with different careers. Be open to changing your mind and course, if needed, and aim to make your career a journey of learning.
Future Plans?
While I continue working on complex engineering challenges, I am increasingly interested in the business and strategy side of semiconductors. Understanding how technology, economics, and global supply chains interact is something I hope to explore further.