2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Adapting to the Workforce: How Microelectronics Engineers Overcome Knowledge Gaps

Presented at Undergraduate Career Development

Engineers entering the microelectronics industry often encounter significant gaps in their knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs). These gaps, frequently insufficiently addressed through formal education or internships, present challenges in adapting to the technical and organizational demands of their roles. This study explores the information-seeking strategies employed by these engineers to bridge these gaps, highlighting methods such as direct and indirect mentoring, self-directed learning, and collaborative problem-solving. Additionally, the research examines how workplace organizational socialization, facilitated through relationships with coworkers, management, and mentorship, supports engineers in meeting organizational expectations. The findings emphasize the critical role of fostering supportive learning environments, demonstrating how targeted onboarding strategies and mentorship initiatives can enhance confidence, adaptability, and long-term professional success. These insights offer valuable guidance for organizations in high-stakes industries like microelectronics to improve onboarding practices and workforce integration.

Authors

Rebecca Semrau Purdue University at West Lafayette (COE)
Dr. Jennifer S Linvill Purdue University at West Lafayette (COE) [biography]

Dr. Jennifer S. Linvill is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Technology Leadership & Innovation at Purdue University. Her research examines workforce development, particularly through general and technical workforce needs assessments. Her research examines organizational and leadership issues that span across an ecosystem of partners within the following areas: defense, government, industry, community colleges, and universities. Dr. Linvill’s research is strategically designed to address organizational challenges and create novel solutions to those challenges. Her work has been presented at national and international conferences and has been published in The Routledge Handbook of Communication and Bullying and in Communication, relationships, and practices in virtual work (IGI Global). Dr. Linvill applies an organizational communication lens to her classes on Business Principles, Ethics, Negotiation and Decision Making, Organizational Behavior, and Organizational Leadership, and to Awareness Trainings related to destructive workplace behaviors presented at local high schools. Dr. Linvill is a Member of the Advisory Committee on Equity for the Office of the Vice President for Ethics and Compliance at Purdue University. She has also served as a Mentor for the USAID Liberia Strategic Analysis Program, mentoring an early-career Liberian woman on leadership and communication skills, professional development, and networking.
Dr. Emeline Anne Ojeda-Hecht Purdue University at West Lafayette (COE) [biography]

Emeline Ojeda-Hecht is a Post Doctoral Research Assistant at Purdue University in the department of Technology Leadership and Innovation where she serves as a mixed methods expert for the Scalable Asymmetric Lifestyle Engagement (SCALE) project and conducts microelectronics engineering workforce needs assessments. Her research expertise lies in organizational communication, particularly the influence of social media connections on coworker/employee and supervisor relationships.

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 22, 2025, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 25, 2025

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