In 2019, Kevin McComber '05, PhD '11 was at MIT working on integrated photonics ' chip-based devices that send and receive signals using light ' and set out to hire someone to design photonic chips. The experience made him realize just how little expertise the U.S. workforce has in integrated photonics design, a problem that's part of a broader shortage of workers in semiconductor manufacturing. Despite having no background in photonics design at the time, McComber decided to leave MIT and start a photonics design services company called Spark Photonics. To directly address the talent shortage he witnessed, McComber and his co-founder, Al Kapoor, launched the Spark Photonics Foundation, a nonprofit that teaches K-12 and college students about concepts in STEM and advanced manufacturing, using semiconductors and photonics technologies. 'The Foundation came from recognizing the need for workers and thinking long-term about what makes the most sense, not just for us but for the...
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