Campus News

RIT partners with EMA Design Automation and Cadence on new curriculum in electronics design and manufacturing

Printed circuit board coursework will provide needed skills to fill expected industry gaps

EMA Design Automation, Cadence Design Systems Inc., and Rochester Institute of Technology are collaborating to provide college-level printed circuit board (PCB) design courses for students in RIT’s College of Engineering Technology.

Taught both online and in-person by PCB design industry experts, the courses can provide engineers with training and development opportunities in key areas of electronics design and manufacturing.

Within the next 15 years, 78 percent of PCB designers will no longer work in the field due to retirements, according to Printed Circuit Design & Fab magazine’s annual industry survey. With a critical shortage in trained PCB professionals, this college-industry collaboration can provide today’s students with the skills to meet manufacturing demands.

“Ongoing learning is essential in acquiring the critical skills and specialized knowledge necessary to succeed in tomorrow’s workforce,” said David Junkin, Academic Network Program Director for Cadence. “Cadence is proud to support both EMA and RIT in their efforts to make learning PCB design easily accessible to new engineers. With knowledge and understanding of this critical skill, they can continue to solve complex technological challenges and drive innovation for the next generation of electronic devices.”

EMA Design Automation sponsored the creation of this new curriculum, which was developed and reviewed by a team of PCB design experts. Cadence donated its OrCAD software for the course, allowing for hands-on design instruction. EMA is also offering students the chance to become OrCAD certified as part of this course; the software is utilized extensively in manufacturing today.

“I decided to take this course to have a more formal understanding of PCB design and to learn the different software package from OrCAD,” said Noah Carrier, one of the dozen students currently in the pilot course this spring semester. “All my PCB design experience is self-taught on the job, so I don't exactly have an algorithmic way of attacking new designs. My hope from this class is that I have more knowledge to work with new and exciting technologies with a formal PCB design education. That is how I hope it will further my career.”

The general topics in the classes are electrical schematic capture techniques, PCB design techniques, PCB manufacturing knowledge, and other PCBspecific design constraints. With this background, Carrier and his classmates may qualify for the certification offered by the company, “a nice bonus to the knowledge gained,” said Carrier, a fifth-year computer engineering technology student from Rockland, Maine. He participated in a co-op and as a part-time employee at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics at the University of Rochester. He’ll begin work as a laboratory engineer after graduation in May. Built upon concepts taught in the popular Hitchhiker’s Guide to PCB Design book, the curriculum provides training and development opportunities in design and manufacturing fundamentals, CAD software familiarity, incorporating design for manufacturing. This further solidifies EMA’s commitment to empower engineers and support the worldwide EDA market through education, said Manny Marcano, president and chief executive officer of EMA Design Automation. “EMA is committed to supporting the next generation of engineers by providing them with the skills they need

Noah Carrier, an undergraduate student in RIT’s College of Engineering Technology, and his classmates are learning skills in printed circuit design as part of a new course developed with industry experts. Credit: M.Cometa/RIT

to meet current industry demands,” Marcano added. “Students want to excel in the workplace, and our goal is to empower them with access to training and courses that will help them acquire the skills employers are actively looking for.” James Lee, acting department chair for RIT’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology, agreed. This course combines both theory and application, and students are finding that it can potentially give them an edge in growing fields needing next generation PCBs. “RIT is leading the way by continuing to provide timely and relevant learning opportunities that address in-demand knowledge and skills,” said Lee. “Our collaboration with EMA allows us to do just that. This curriculum will provide engineers with a combination of the technological and higher-level skills necessary to succeed in this rapidly changing industry.” q

Noah Carrier, an undergraduate student in RIT’s College of Engineering Technology, and his classmates are learning skills in printed circuit design as part of a new course developed with industry experts. Credit: M.Cometa/RIT

James Hammer donates $1 million to establish Hammer Family Packaging and Graphic Media Center at RIT

New center will advance industry trends in the integration of print and packaging technology applications Entrepreneur and New York Business Hall of Fame leader James Hammer recently donated $1 million to Rochester Institute of Technology to create the Hammer Family Packaging and Graphic Media Center at the university.

Multiple market segments are integrating print and packaging technologies. Digital convergence of these industries has resulted in the need for increased research and development of new materials, processes, and sustainability initiatives Students learn the processing details for today’s print technologies through the graphic media in both commercial printing science and technology program. Credit: Elizabeth Lamark/RIT and packaging. The gift will fund a comprehensive, dedicated space for advancing research and learning in these emerging packaging and print applications.

Students learn the processing details for today’s print technologies through the graphic media science and technology program. Credit: Elizabeth Lamark/RIT

RIT’s degree programs, research laboratories, and experts in the fields make the establishment of the new center timely, said Hammer.

“As the packaging and print media industry continues to consolidate on a global basis, it is imperative that RIT stays on the leading edge of technology and innovation. With sustainability and environmental concerns continuing to evolve, it is imperative that RIT maintain the number one position in attracting top talent to train in these critical issues in the packaging and print media industries,” said Hammer. “With this gift, the Hammer family is extremely proud to assist RIT through state-of-the-art R&D to address these many challenges. The future is now.”

Combining two key programs that are part of RIT’s College of Engineering Technology—packaging science and graphic media science and technology—the new center will consist of several laboratories focused on materials testing, distribution, digital processing, and workflow analysis for packaging and commercial printing.

Collaborative and integrated programming in packaging and engineering technology is underway in the graphic media science and technology program. Packaging represents a growth market in the graphic communications industry and the interdisciplinary nature of both RIT degree programs can better position students for careers and research initiatives, including those in the e-textiles and printed electronics industry. This initiative will also leverage the Center for Electronics Manufacturing and Assembly (CEMA), an established education and research center in CET.

National corporations seek the packaging science department’s expertise in product, materials, and distribution testing. Current faculty research reflects industry trends, including a long-time focus on sustainability, circular economy, and the impact of e-commerce.

Both packaging and print are new economy majors, those that combine multiple, integrated disciplines to produce graduates that are highly sought after today, said S. Manian Ramkumar, CET dean.

“This center will model the collaboration and forward thinking needed to integrate print, graphic media, and packaging technologies,” said Ramkumar. “Our faculty-researchers, students, and corporate partners will be on the front lines of discovering—and implementing—new and novel solutions in the evolving print and packaging industries. This center is also expected to serve as a world-class workforce education and training center.”

Hammer is a member of the CET Dean’s Advisory Council and recently became a member of the RIT President’s Roundtable, an advisory board consisting of national representatives to assist in addressing strategic issues pertinent to the university.

Several packaging and print laboratories will be co-located in RIT’s newest facility, the Hammer Family Packaging and Graphic Media Center. In this pre-pandemic photo, Kyle Dunno, left, assistant professor in the Department of Packaging Science, works with student Mitchel Dickerson in the Vibrations Lab. Credit: Gabrielle Plucknette-DeVito/RIT

Hammer Packaging has been a long-time corporate partner of RIT, and company representatives have participated in faculty research and in educational exchanges between company leaders and faculty. The company has offered numerous co-ops for undergraduate and graduate students in both degree programs. More than 40 RIT alumni are currently employed by the company that has been a part of the Rochester community since it was established in 1912. Work on the new center will begin toward the end of the spring semester and continue throughout the summer and the next academic year. The Hammer gift is part of Transforming RIT: The Campaign for Greatness—RIT’s $1 billion university fundraising effort. This blended campaign seeks support from a variety of investors, including alumni and friends, government and corporate partners, and research foundations and agencies. The campaign has raised $867 million to date.