Lecture: Reflections on a 40-Year Career in the Semiconductor Industry

Introduction

• Presenter: Chris Mack
• Focus: Retrospective on a 40-year career in the semiconductor industry
• Theme: Unplanned career paths and lessons learned

Career Overview

• Started in the semiconductor industry in 1983
• Career not linear; more like a random walk
• Importance of embracing randomness in career progression

Education

• Attended Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Indiana
• Degrees in Physics and Chemistry
• Initially planned to get a Ph.D. and become a professor, but dropped out of Caltech

Early Career

• First job at the National Security Agency (NSA)
  • Got a top-secret special intelligence clearance
  • Accidental start in lithography due to equipment availability
• Developed passion for lithography after reading the Dill Papers

ProLith and Finley Technologies

• Created a lithography simulator called ProLith
• Founded Finley Technologies to commercialize the software
• Sold the company to KLA in 2000

Academic and Teaching Work

• Obtained Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas while running a company
• Taught part-time for over 25 years
• Explored and implemented the flipped classroom model
• Created a YouTube channel to host lectures, gaining 23,000 subscribers

Publications

• Published "Fundamental Principles of Optical Lithography" in 2007
• Authored "How to Write a Good Scientific Paper"
• Pursued writing and sharing knowledge through lithoguru.com

Stochastics in Lithography

• Interests in stochastics emerged around 2005-2007
• Focus on randomness at the molecular level affecting lithography
• Stochastic variability is a major challenge in modern lithography

Fractilia and Metrology

• Founded Fractilia, focusing on computational metrology
• Expertise in modeling and data analysis

Career Philosophy

• Planning is indispensable, but plans are often useless
• Chance favors the prepared mind
• Advice: Find something to be passionate about on your career path

Conclusion

• Emphasis on adaptability and passion
• Gratitude for the opportunity to share career reflections