18-410/610: Hacker Fab
Description: Discover the Hacker Fab, an unparalleled open-source micro- and nanofabrication facility where students collaborate to design and build state-of-the-art process equipment while fabricating functional semiconductor and emerging devices on a chip. Open to driven learners from all backgrounds (with instructor permission), this course emphasizes interdisciplinary teamwork, practical experience, and advanced innovation. Participants select projects aligned with their interests, spanning hardware, software, robotics, materials science, electrical and computer engineering, chemistry, and mechanical engineering. Previous initiatives have produced a lithographic stepper, an ALD system, a thermal evaporator, a sputter deposition instrument, a spin coater, tube furnace, dispensing station, and robotic gantry. These systems directly support device fabrication -such as NMOS transistors- and ongoing research explores PMOS, plating, doping, and etching. Current and future endeavors will investigate emerging material-based transistors (including those utilizing carbon nanotubes, 2D materials, and oxide semiconductors), novel IoT sensors, and much more. The course incudes minimal lectures and reading assignments that cover the background material necessary to execute projects and weekly labs. Project milestones include three demos in lieu of exams. Class time is split between lectures and group meetings to work on projects with other students.
18-525/725: Advanced Digital Integrated Design
Description: Student teams create a moderate-sized digital, analog/RF, or mixed-signal chip in a modern technology using industrial CAD tools and flows. The project involves planning and specification, writing a Verilog model, designing custom circuits and/or synthesized standard cell blocks, creating a testing/debug strategy, and full-chip integration and verification for tapeout. Completed verified designs will be sent for fabrication at the end of the semester and returned by the following fall.