First Impressions, Lasting Paths at IMAPS Symposium 2025

We record live at IMAPS to follow a first-time attendee’s leap into advanced packaging and a trio of high school students discovering semiconductors, robotics, and career paths that bridge disciplines. Along the way, we unpack speed-to-market, standards, hybrid vs TCB, and why AI skills matter.

• why a self-funded first conference can reset a career
• key takeaways from PDCs and technical talks
• time-to-market pressure across packaging workflows
• standards tension between front-end and packaging
• hybrid bonding promise versus TCB workhorse reality
• how to network with intent and follow through
• volunteering with IMAPS to build early-career hubs
• robotics as an on-ramp to semiconductors
• interdisciplinary routes into microelectronics
• student goals, mentors, and university paths
• practical questions to ask on the expo floor

IMAPS International
IMAPS is the largest society dedicated to microelectronics and electronics packaging advancement.

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Chapters

• 0:00 Sponsor & Opening
• 0:31 Live at IMAPS: Why We’re Here
• 1:17 Meeting Ethan: First Industry Conference
• 1:56 Ethan’s Path: Materials to Manufacturing
• 3:18 Self-Funded Leap and Networking
• 4:02 First Takeaways: Speed, Scope, AI
• 5:22 Standards vs. Packaging Reality
• 6:56 Career Fit and Next Steps
• 8:15 Student Roundtable Introductions
• 10:10 Robotics Roots and STEM Drive
• 12:14 San Diego’s Competitive Robotics Scene
• 13:35 Discovering Semiconductors’ Breadth
• 15:08 What Students Hope to Learn
• 17:25 Colleges, Mentors, and Goals
• 19:18 Closing and Next on 3D Insights

Transcript

Francoise von Trapp: 0:00

This episode of the 3D Insights podcast is sponsored by IMAPs, the premier global association for microelectronics advanced packaging enthusiasts. A membership in IMAPs helps your company grow its advanced packaging workforce through professional education and networking, advances your brand, and supports building relationships. IMAPS helps you learn, connect, and collaborate. Learn more at imaps.org. Hi there. I'm Francoise von Trapp, and this is the 3D InCites Podcast. Hi everyone. This week we are recording live from the iMaps International Symposium. And you know, this is one of my favorite conferences of the year, and the best parts are the conversations I get to have with attendees. And I'm always excited to meet somebody new in the industry and ask them about why they're here. You know, we're also going to be talking to some students later, and one of the big efforts we have right now is bringing newcomers into this industry. So I had the opportunity on the bus ride to the welcome reception this week. I sat down on the bus next to Ethan Tetteh e and we struck up a conversation. And it turns out this is not just his first advanced packaging conference. This is his first industry conference ever. So I invited him to join me to talk about his experience here. So welcome.

Ethan Tetteh: 1:33

Thank you. Thank you.

Francoise von Trapp: 1:34

Ethan, before we dive in, tell me a little bit about your background.

Ethan Tetteh: 1:37

Yeah, sure. So I have a bachelor's in materials engineering from Rensilier Polytechnic Institute. I graduated in 2022 and I started working at um applied materials. Okay.

Francoise von Trapp: 1:49

And so did you intern there first or did they just hire you?

Ethan Tetteh: 1:53

No, uh I got hired. You got hired.

Francoise von Trapp: 1:55

Okay.

Ethan Tetteh: 1:56

So um I'm a process support engineer at Applied Materials. I currently work on an angled reactive beam etch uh technology, and I'm supporting um one of our prime customers um in advanced high volume manufacturing. And so I've been in the role for about three years. I got a broad base in process technology, product development, customer engagement. And um, after having that broad base in the semiconductor industry, I started thinking about what are the areas where materials engineering comes to the forefront. And I started researching around and I actually found out about advanced packaging. And so I was watching some YouTube videos, and um I actually saw the past president uh of IMAPs uh Beth Kessler. She was talking about how IMAPs as a society, there's a lot of um you know professional development and a lot of career networking events. So that was what drove me to IMAPs. So I signed up as a member and I found out there was this symposium, and I said, Oh wow, that might be a good place to meet people and learn about the industry. And so uh I I decided to come.

Francoise von Trapp: 2:57

Let me back up a little bit. First of all, your current role is in front-end processing, that's right. And so you decided to see what else was out there that would fit your expertise.

Ethan Tetteh: 3:08

Yes, my background.

Francoise von Trapp: 3:09

Your background and materials. Okay. And up until now, you've been in the job for three years, but you hadn't gone to like Semicon West or any of those conferences. No. I was amazed when you told me that you basically took time off to come to this and that you initiated this all on your own independently, that it wasn't something that your manager said, Hey, you should go to this event, you should, you know, learn about this, or even that you should go to a different event. And so you made the decision to come here and took the time off, paid your own way. But I have to mention, you know, so Ethan's here on his own, doesn't know anybody, signs up for the welcome reception, which is on the midway. And so that's how we met, because he was sitting by himself and I sat down next to him. And I know it's hard to meet people in with such a crowd. You know, people know each other, especially what's it been like for you since you got here?

Ethan Tetteh: 4:02

So it's honestly been amazing. Everyone I've met has been very approachable. All I've needed to do in order to actually get talking to someone is just maybe join the table and say hi. You know, I'm Ethan, you know, I I work at Applied Materials, you know, it's nice to meet you. And, you know, the next thing I know, the person is already engaging, you know, starting a conversation, sharing a lot about what they do. And even, you know, once they find out that I'm an early career person, they're willing to actually give me career advice, which is uh, you know, pretty amazing.

Francoise von Trapp: 4:31

Just off the Yeah, you know, I I agree with you. People here are very approachable. That's a great word for that. And um because people tend to be a bit introverted in this industry, except in this environment where they feel comfortable with like-minded people, right? And the point of being here is to network and to talk. So I applaud you. I think this morning you heard um Benson Chan talk about meet 10 new people. Yes. And all you have to do is sit at a table where there's five more people that you don't know. Yeah. So tell me about what you've learned. Did you go to a lot of the technical sessions?

Ethan Tetteh: 5:09

Yes, I signed up for as much PDCs as I could.

Francoise von Trapp: 5:12

Oh, so you went to the PDCs on Monday?

Ethan Tetteh: 5:14

Yeah, PDCs on Monday. I went to all the technical talks. Yeah.

Francoise von Trapp: 5:17

Okay. So what's your impression so far? What have you really taken away from this?

Ethan Tetteh: 5:22

Yeah, so I would say some of my key takeaways are, you know, first of all, whatever area you're in in packaging, it's, you know, reducing time to market is critical. That's one key takeaway I got. Also, there's many undiscovered applications in the world of packaging, and it's about talking wide and paying attention to what's happening in the ecosystem. And you just might be able to find an application or use case that you know you could um take advantage of. Um the packaging ecosystem as a whole needs standardization in order to drive the innovation. That way, you know, entrepreneurs and other smaller companies can, you know, still compete in this market. You have to think wide and ensure your solution is scalable. There's so much innovation needed that if you can find a way to solve a problem, you will get customers. So you don't have to think that you know the barrier to entry is you know that high. And as much as possible, become skilled in AI and use it where you can.

Francoise von Trapp: 6:16

Wow. You've that's awesome. You've come away with a lot of impressions. It's interesting. Okay, you mentioned standards. One thing I can tell you about the advanced packaging side of things is the moment you mention standards, I see how you've been influenced by front-end processes because front-end processes is all about standards.

Ethan Tetteh: 6:34

All about standards, specs, everything.

Francoise von Trapp: 6:36

Yeah, packaging has always been application specific. You'll see all sorts of structures and packages and designs, and once something is qualified in, it never goes away and gets replaced by something else. And that's probably why it takes so long for new ideas to be implemented, because as long as something works, it doesn't change. You heard Subu Ayer talking about hybrid bonding and thermocompression bonding. And hybrid bonding has been around as long as I have in this industry, 15 years, and it's seen as the next big thing. But uh TCB is the workhorse, and we're always gonna go with the workhorse. So have you learned enough to give you the impression that this is an area you'd like to work in?

Ethan Tetteh: 7:25

Definitely. So I would say I felt like it was an area I wanted to work in before I came to this conference, and that was one of the main reasons I decided to come to actually expose myself to the industry more and hear you know directly from people who are working in it. But you know, after coming to the conference, I'd say, you know, one thing that I did confirm is that yeah, it's a right fit for me in terms of you know the technical expertise and you know the natural interest, and um also just in the fact that it's it's an up-and-coming industry, it's still growing, you know, the market for packaging is still increasing. So it's a good time to sort of get myself involved and you know help you know be one of the people that drives this uh market further.

Francoise von Trapp: 8:07

So, what are your next steps then going back from this conference? What are you gonna do with it?

Ethan Tetteh: 8:13

Right. So, one thing I'm gonna do is I'm definitely volunteering uh for IMAPs. So, you know, I'd love to start a chapter or you know, increase engagement amongst other early career uh professionals or students in IMAPs. I definitely want to see what opportunities applied materials may have for collaborations with either IMAPs or um other players in the industry, and like I said, use AI to speed it all up. Excellent.

Francoise von Trapp: 8:42

I am so excited for you, and I'm so happy I met you because this is like the story to tell is here you are, newcomer, and this one experience has kind of solidified what you kind of already suspected would be true for you, and now you've found the place to make that happen. So is I call it an IMAP success story.

Ethan Tetteh: 9:03

Oh yeah. Yeah, very grateful to have come together.

Francoise von Trapp: 9:06

Okay, thank you so much, Ethan. This was great. I enjoyed it.

Ethan Tetteh: 9:09

Thank you.

Francoise von Trapp: 9:15

So I'm at the point of my favorite part of this event where I get to interview some of the students who have come to learn about microelectronics and packaging. And so I am sitting here with three students from different schools. I have Aporv Pandy, I have Lily Long and Max Kroll. Welcome to the podcast.

Lily Long: 9:38

Thank you, it's lovely to meet you.

Apoorv Pandy: 9:40

Yes, thank you.

Francoise von Trapp: 9:41

First of all, can you each just kind of introduce yourselves and talk about where you go to school and what you're interested in studying?

Apoorv Pandy: 9:49

Yes, so I am a Porv. I am a junior at Stage Creek High School. And I think most of my life I've been interested in studying engineering. So specifically I'm looking at the mechanical.

Francoise von Trapp: 10:03

Okay.

Apoorv Pandy: 10:03

But just anything in the engineering field is something I've always been interested in.

Francoise von Trapp: 10:07

And you said you're a junior?

Apoorv Pandy: 10:08

I'm a junior.

Francoise von Trapp: 10:09

You're a junior. Okay, are your parents in the engineering field?

Apoorv Pandy: 10:12

Yeah, so my dad is in IT at Thermal Fisher, so biotech.

Francoise von Trapp: 10:16

Okay.

Apoorv Pandy: 10:16

And my mom actually works at the other high school in Carlsbad, Carlsbad High School, as like a data administrator, so she deals with a lot of data.

Francoise von Trapp: 10:24

Okay. Alright, so that's why. Well, what has made you interested in engineering for so long?

Apoorv Pandy: 10:30

Yes, so a program headed by Mrs. D actually. Uh it was called the First Lego League, and the First Lego League was my first real uh experience in the world of robotics. And since then I've gone to the high school level of that, which is the first tech challenge. And that's really piqued my interest, especially for, you know, mechanical engineering elements like, you know, linear motion or you know, the standards and elements of rotational movement or stuff like that. So it's all really piqued my interest, especially the robotics.

Lily Long: 11:03

Awesome. Willie, how about you? So I'm also a junior at Seach Creek. Um, I love robotics, but also just science in general. So my first run-in with robotics was also in middle school where I was the captain of my robotics team. We did Botball, which is a separate competition. Um, and I did Science Spirit, which was super fun. And both of those really showed me that SEM was definitely the path for me. Um robotics in high school was a shift because the teams are bigger, and so it taught me a lot more about collaboration and just to love this competition, it's a lot more open than the one I was doing in middle school, so it's been super fun. I love working with my team and yeah, uh other clubs that I do like Science Olympiad that are super fun. Excellent. And Max, how about you?

Max Krull: 11:56

Hello. Um I'm a 11th grader junior in Carlsbed High School.

Francoise von Trapp: 12:01

Okay.

Max Krull: 12:01

I started getting into like top technology, like robotics, that sort of stuff. Uh pretty early on. Like we I had like an Arduino kit, which was pretty cool. Like I made origami and then, like, for example, a puppet and used servos to make its math like move, which was really fun.

Apoorv Pandy: 12:18

That is fun.

Max Krull: 12:19

But then uh eighth grade, my dad encouraged me to go to this like new robots club for the first tech challenge, right? And it's really cool like seeing like how I could use my like coding abilities and like how I could use software, um just pretty much all my knowledge to uh actually like solve problems and win a competition. So that's pretty fun.

Francoise von Trapp: 12:48

So robotics has been in all of your experiences. Is that how it happens a lot? Like in school, it's been a long time since I've had kids in high school, and we were back east, and robotics wasn't a big deal, but it seems to be a really big deal out here.

Lily Long: 13:03

San Diego is one of the most competitive regions for first competitions in the world. It's a tough playing field, but there are a lot of people who are dedicated to robotics here. Um, I think that's a common theme whenever we tell people like here that we do robotics, they're like, oh yeah, that's a good start. Like it's great, great skills you learn.

Francoise von Trapp: 13:20

Well, and it's a lot of fun too, right? It's not just sitting down and learning math or learning science, or you know, you're actually taking those and applying them in a real life scenario. And so you're now, Max, into the software side of things.

Speaker 5: 13:33

Yeah, yeah.

Francoise von Trapp: 13:34

And are you both into the hardware side of things? I do hardware and business. Hardware and business. Okay. You're all juniors. Have you started thinking about what's next? College, university, jobs yet?

Apoorv Pandy: 13:49

Uh yeah. So a lot of what the robotics that we've actually been, you know, we've absorbed throughout all these years has actually led us to, I think all of us having a joint love for engineering and robotics in general. And I think, yeah, that's where we want to be headed is engineering. Uh and the whole reason that we came here to IMAPS in general is to actually explore the micro uh the microprocessing and the uh the chip industry in general, especially its packaging aspect. And I think that'd be a really cool thing to study to aim for in college as we, you know, major in engineering, do fun engineering challenges in high school. I actually met my mentor uh right now, Rohan. He's uh he's at the NanoCAD lab in UCLA, and he's he's he loves it, and I think that's where I want to go.

Lily Long: 14:42

That's exciting. I think this conference for me is a great opportunity to see a field that takes in a lot of different disciplines. So we talked about chemical engineering, material science, mechanical engineering, chemistry, but it's also a really great networking opportunity. Sometimes people say, you know, it's like it's not what you know, it's who you know, and it's a really great opportunity to meet new people and form those connections.

Francoise von Trapp: 15:06

So you get to spend an afternoon here. So you haven't had a chance, I know, to go around the floor yet. So at this point, what's the highlight been for Star Next? Well, besides lunch.

Max Krull: 15:21

Um well it's been really amazing just seeing like how nice everyone is and just like being in a room with people like like-minded, like people with similar interests, people who are passionate in their subject, it's it's really cool. And then them like displaying that for you, it's really nice.

Francoise von Trapp: 15:46

I'm really happy to hear you say that because I don't have an engineering background, but I've been working in this industry for 20 years, and I can tell you right now that for me, the technology is interesting, but I studied English and communications. So for me, it is the people, and you're absolutely right. You can't meet a nicer group of people that are really passionate about what they do and are interested in helping people out, and just it's such a community, and I'm really excited for you that you have the chance to meet these people here. Um Lily, what what's been your favorite part so far? You have to say something else besides people.

Lily Long: 16:25

I would say I didn't actually know much about the semiconductor process or their creation or their applications. I mean, I sort of knew like technology goes with semiconductors, like there's a huge global like demand for them. But it was really interesting to see like the specific applications, like the medical applications or the applications in a car, or also just like I didn't realize how intradisciplinary of a field this is. How many different like groups of people come together to make this super cool and minuscule technology together? It's really mind-blowing.

Francoise von Trapp: 16:58

Did they show you some presentations then of the whole like semiconductor process, not just the packaging part? Yeah.

Apoorv Pandy: 17:04

We had four guest speakers, and so they basically talked to us about their different disciples, as Lily said. And yeah, I mean, we got a guest speaker who worked at Qualcomm working on RF, and that was really cool. And then we also had Mr. Ishii, who's in the marketing and finance uh area of this uh practice, and he also talked to us about how regardless of that background, he still has been involved in this industry like you for decades, and he's he's loved it, so it's really cool.

Francoise von Trapp: 17:37

Okay, that's really great. So, so what's next for you? You're gonna be visiting, you're gonna be walking around the floor. What are you hoping to see?

Apoorv Pandy: 17:44

First of all, I mean it's a huge space. We walked in and we were completely shocked by how many companies there were. But I'm I'm looking forward to seeing individually, like, you know, a lot of people think that the chip industry is just packaging, every countr uh every company does packaging. But I want to see specifically how they individually do it because we've look we talked about how cost is such a big factor in these types of um industries, and also what machines are they making to make this process cheaper and more efficient for their own individual companies and then and also ultimately like networking with these individuals is gonna be so helpful for uh all high school students.

Francoise von Trapp: 18:24

So, did you do some research before you came here today?

Apoorv Pandy: 18:27

Uh so there was an introduction video that I watched a little. But I mean, I I think I've learned more in the first two hours than I would have just researching it by myself.

Francoise von Trapp: 18:38

Yes, every one of these companies, you'll find materials companies, you'll find device companies, you'll find equipment manufacturers, and make sure you talk to them and ask them the questions because they're very happy to show you. And I'm not sure if there's any booths from school. I think there might be some university groups because there was last year. So, okay. You talked a little bit about where you want to go from here. Have you any of you uh thought about schools yet?

Lily Long: 19:08

Where you'd like to go to school? I would love to go to UCSD. Um, they've got a great engineering program, but Caltech is also really cool. I would love to go there. I'm thinking of staying in the state on the off chance that I get into MIT, which is very unlikely. I would probably go there. Oh, don't tell yourself. Apply, you never know. I will. San Diego is a nice city to grow up in. It's beautiful. We were just talking about that on the bus ride. Like how lucky we are to live here. You are very lucky to live here. It's one of my favorite places to visit.

Francoise von Trapp: 19:37

I live in Phoenix. It's hot.

Speaker 5: 19:39

Yeah.

Francoise von Trapp: 19:39

But I'm sure you meet a lot of people from Arizona in like July and August. Well, I wanted you to enjoy the rest of your visit here and thank you for taking the time to talk to me today. Good luck in your futures. Thank you so much. Thank you. It was lovely to meet you. Lovely to meet you too. Next time on the 3D Insights Podcast, we wrap up our coverage of the iMap Symposium with our member spotlight episode. And we have some really fun conversations this year, so be sure to listen in. There's lots more to come, so tune in next time to the 3D Insights podcast. The 3D Insights Podcast is a production of 3D Insights LLC.