Diodes Foundation Donates $100,000 to Support Graduate Education at Texas A&M University

The Diodes Foundation, affiliated with Diodes Incorporated, has made a $100,000 donation to Texas A&M University to advance a graduate-level educational initiative. The funding will support student-driven semiconductor research and training in areas such as chip design and machine learning, with the goal of equipping students with advanced career skills and fostering innovation.

“This initiative provides students with valuable hands-on learning experiences and serves as a bridge between our university and the semiconductor industry,” said Dr. Baotai Lin, Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

The program involves both master’s and doctoral students, engaging them in research that spans circuit design, machine learning, semiconductor fabrication, and biomedical applications.

Gary Yu, President and CEO of Diodes Incorporated, emphasized the broader impact of the donation: “By supporting skill development, we are helping students grow as future engineers and researchers. This not only strengthens their ability to innovate earlier but also benefits the industry as a whole.”

Thanks to the contribution, students are now able to access real-world tools, run simulations, design printed circuit boards, and see firsthand how their work translates into practical applications.

Graduate student William Noxon described the experience as transformative: “I designed and printed electronic circuits, and programmed microcontroller boards to perform specific functions. The most rewarding part was watching everything come together into a fully functional system.”

Under Dr. Lin’s mentorship, Noxon has been building and programming circuit boards, integrating software with semiconductor hardware, and collaborating with peers from electrical engineering, industrial engineering, and physics. “It’s fascinating to see people from diverse academic backgrounds approach the same problem in completely different ways,” Noxon noted. “As a team, we’re able to overcome challenges more quickly and effectively.”

Since joining the program last May, Noxon has gained deeper insight into the nanoscale behavior of electronics and the intersection of materials science with circuit design. He said the Diodes donation enabled him to work in a collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment, preparing him for the industry where cross-functional teamwork is essential.

Professor Lin highlighted the broader significance: “The semiconductor industry depends on three key factors—technology, workforce development, and industry-academic collaboration. This program addresses all three.”

The results are tangible: students are acquiring practical skills, achieving results, and preparing to enter the workforce with a competitive edge.

“We’ve already seen the impact this level of support can have,” Lin added. “Our hope is that this partnership continues to grow, giving more students opportunities to gain experience and positioning them—and their future employers—for success.”