Representatives from Texas Instruments were on the Texas A&M University campus recently for a ribbon cutting at the renovated Texas Instruments Mixed Signal Test Laboratory and Product Innovation Cellar (PIC) in the Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution (ETID).
The PIC originally opened in 2013 as a 3,400 square-foot, 24/7 project development and capstone resource in Thompson Hall for students in the Electronic Systems Engineering Technology (ESET) program.
The Texas Instruments Mixed Signal Test Laboratory next to the PIC opened in 1998; when talks about renovating the lab began, TI decided to go one step farther.
“When we were looking at [renovating] the TI lab, we realized there was this great opportunity in the PIC as well,” said Dr. Rainer Fink, associate professor in the ESET program.
Fink worked closely with TI representatives to bring the look and feel of modern laboratories to the new PIC.
“We wanted to make the feel between the TI lab and PIC equivalent such that it flows together; Jack Kilby’s work and art is highlighted throughout the PIC as a motivating factor for our students,” said Fink.
Kilby, a Nobel Prize winner, was working at TI when he invented the integrated circuit.
Eight ESET students had the opportunity to visit with TI Vice President of Worldwide Manufacturing Operations Kyle Flessner, and Validation Engineering Manager Marvin Landrum, both Texas A&M graduates, to learn about the company and exchange ideas.
“Be open to new opportunities, even if you don’t think you are the best candidate,” said Flessner when talking about his journey from Aggieland to TI VP. “There’s no replacement for experience, and I think that’s why your lab-based final years [in ESET] are so critical. Always do the best job you can in your current role — don’t look too far ahead of yourself.
Flessner and Landrum stressed how excited they were to work with ESET not only to enrich engineering education, but also to create a pathway to permanent employment at TI. Students shared their thoughts on working at TI, utilizing the renovated Mixed Signal Lab and PIC and working towards graduation.
ESET faculty, students and TI representatives gathered in the PIC to celebrate the grand opening. Flessner spoke on the history of Texas A&M and TI, highlighting the importance of the relationship and its impact on ETID students, TI and beyond.
“What makes this week so special? It was 58 years ago on Sept. 12 that TI’s very own Jack Kilby unveiled the first working integrated circuit, shaping the future of electronics, what electrical engineers do, and of course changing the course of history through the thousands of products that have since been invented based on semiconductor technology,” said Flessner.
And it was 20 years ago that we began a collaboration with Texas A&M with the TI Mixed Signal Lab, changing the relationship with TI and TAMU and developing new test methods that have since been used by TI and by the industry.”
Flessner went on to highlight some of the achievements made possible by the partnership.
“TI Validation technical leaders and ESET faculty collaborated to enhance the Mixed Signal Test track to add validation, a new focus area for TI,” he said. This adds an important dimension to the ESET curriculum so students can fill emerging needs in TI. Another example is Bridge-to-Test, a new continuing education class that fills an important training gap and allows young engineers to accelerate their ramp by learning critical test engineering skills. The goal is to speed up their onboarding process so they can add value to TI faster.”
“TI support of the ESET Mobile Integrated Stackable Layers program is another example of how we are working with A&M to ensure undergraduates and faculty are removing barriers to low cost space exploration using TI parts.”
Flessner also highlighted the fact that two recent ESET graduates, Vince Rodriguez and Dakotah Karrer were part of the capstone team DVDT that won the 2016 Texas Instruments Innovation Challenge in July. Both Rodriguez and Karrer now work at TI, and taught a class for current ESET students on the TI LaunchPad hardware.
