UF Trains Autistic Adults for Semiconductor Jobs

The University of Florida is enrolling a second cohort of autistic students in a certificate program designed to prepare them for semiconductor manufacturing careers. The PATHS program, which stands for Preparing the Autistic Population Toward Hardware Security, uses virtual reality simulations and hands-on training at UF facilities to teach inspection and quality assurance roles.

Sixteen neurodivergent students completed the inaugural program in spring 2026. Participants learned through VR simulations, online lectures, two days of cleanroom training, and one-on-one mentoring from industry experts. The program also covered resume writing and interview preparation.

"Neurodiverse individuals often excel at sequential, detail-driven tasks, exactly the kind of work that inspection and assurance roles demand," said Navid Asadi, a project lead and faculty fellow in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. "Industry is facing a serious shortage of skilled technicians."

The National Science Foundation funds the project, which grew from the 2022 CHIPS Act. Florida ranks third nationally for semiconductor manufacturers and fifth in semiconductor employment, according to UF's Florida Semiconductor Institute. The program provides students access to more than $15 million in inspection equipment.

About 85% of autistic adults are unemployed or underemployed, according to the Autism Society of America, despite often excelling at the systematic, detail-oriented work semiconductor manufacturing requires.

UF plans to enroll about 40 students from across the United States for the fall cohort. Interested applicants can apply at pathprogramuf.com.