# Plasma Science Career Pathways in Semiconductors
**Dr. Devshree Mandal**, *Lam Research, India*

## Abstract

As semiconductor scaling reaches sub-3 nm nodes and multi-hundred-layer 3D memory
architectures, modern fabrication increasingly relies on non-equilibrium plasma science for
atomic-scale precision. Critical processes like atomic layer etching, low-temperature deposition,
and EUV light generation depend directly on plasma fundamentals, yet the transition from
academic research to industry remains opaque for many graduate researchers.
This talk provides an overview of the semiconductor industry and maps out high-impact career
pathways across tool OEMs, foundries, and subsystem vendors. We detail key technical roles—
including Computational Modeling, Process Development, RF Hardware Design, and In-Situ
Diagnostics—and demonstrate how core academic skills directly translate into commercial
technological innovation.

## About the Speaker

**Dr. Devshree Mandal** has been an RF Program Lead Engineer at Lam Research Corp since 2025.
She previously worked as a Senior Staff Engineer at Applied Materials Inc. from 2022 to 2025.
She was a research scholar at the Institute for Plasma Research, India, where her doctoral
research focused on laser-plasma interactions using particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation techniques.
She joined IPR in 2016 and defended her thesis in 2022.