Vijay Raghunathan appointed to national advisory board to help shape U.S. semiconductor workforce, strengthening Purdue’s leadership

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Vijay Raghunathan, Purdue’s vice president for global partnerships and programs, director of semiconductor education, and a professor in the Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, has been appointed as an inaugural member of the Workforce Advisory Board for the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC).

Raghunathan is one of only four representatives from major universities selected to join the 18-member board and will serve as a key voice in national efforts to build and strengthen the semiconductor talent pipeline. This appointment underscores Purdue’s national leadership in semiconductor education and workforce development.

The NSTC was established under the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 to strengthen U.S. leadership in semiconductor technology and innovation. As a member of the NSTC Workforce Advisory Board, Raghunathan will provide strategic input on national and regional workforce development initiatives to the NSTC’s newly established Workforce Center of Excellence (WCoE). The board’s mission is to ensure that WCoE programs remain employer-driven, worker-centered and aligned with real-time industry needs.

Natcast, the nonprofit entity designated by the U.S. Department of Commerce to operate the NSTC, announced the new board on Thursday (Jan. 2). In Natcast’s announcement of the board members, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo praised the board’s expertise and role in ensuring the success of national workforce development efforts. “These impressive leaders have the experience and track record necessary to advise the WCoE and hold it to the highest standards and will be critical to moving these efforts forward,” Raimondo said.

“Human talent is perhaps the most critical element of the semiconductor supply chain. Scaling the workforce is essential to sustaining innovation and driving economic growth in this pivotal industry,” Raghunathan said. “Thanks to Purdue President Mung Chiang’s vision and persistence, and the sustained efforts of our exceptional faculty and staff, Purdue is a leader in addressing this national and industrywide challenge. Being part of the NSTC Workforce Advisory Board is an extraordinary opportunity, and I look forward to collaborating with NSTC leadership and my accomplished fellow board members to shape national strategies for creating a robust semiconductor talent pipeline.”

Since joining Purdue in 2006, Raghunathan has played a pivotal role in advancing the university’s semiconductor initiatives. He co-founded the Semiconductor Degrees Program (SDP) in 2022, which has since garnered national and international acclaim for pioneering semiconductor education and workforce development. The SDP has helped position Purdue as a global leader in microelectronics and semiconductors, fostering collaborations with top-tier industry players and academic institutions worldwide.

In 2023, Raghunathan was appointed vice president for global partnerships and programs, tasked with overseeing and enhancing Purdue’s global footprint. His role focuses on continuing to attract exceptional international talent to Purdue, expanding global opportunities for all Boilermakers, forging high-impact partnerships with academic, industry and government stakeholders across the globe, and enhancing Purdue’s global impact and reputation.

Purdue’s leadership in semiconductors is a cornerstone of Purdue Computes — a comprehensive initiative that spans computing departments, physical AI, quantum science and semiconductor innovation. The university’s growing semiconductor ecosystem integrates cutting-edge research, transformational investments in infrastructure and workforce development programs, setting a national benchmark for excellence at scale.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research institution demonstrating excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities and with two colleges in the top four in the United States, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, including nearly 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 13 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Computes and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.