Stay ahead of the curve with Taste of Tech, a premier seminar series designed for professionals, innovators, and technology enthusiasts eager to expand their knowledge. Featuring expert-led discussions, cutting-edge insights, and actionable strategies, our sessions cover the latest trends in the tech industry. Whether you’re looking to enhance your skills, gain industry-leading insights, or connect with like-minded professionals, Taste of Tech provides the tools and expertise you need to thrive in an evolving digital landscape. Browse our upcoming seminars below and secure your spot today!
PAST SEMINARS
Dr. Yingying Wu | Dr. Jessica Meloy
Quantum spintronics pathway towards scalability and energy efficiency | From Shear Stress to Spatial Apps- Everything I Needed To Know I Learned During my PhD
03.28.2025
Dr. Wu, Assistant Professor at the University of Florida, will present on quantum spintronics.
Dr. Meloy will discuss how her time at the University of Florida as a student enabled a unique career trajectory that landed her in her current position at Apple.
Dr. Hyo Kang | Dr. Elias Dinopoulos
AI-Powered Co-Pilot Learning in Virtual Reality: Personalized Training for Future Engineers | The Economics of Tariffs
03.07.2025
Hyo Kang, Assistant Professor at the Digital Worlds Institute at the University of Florida will present on how virtual reality can help train future engineers.
Dr. Elias Dinopoulos, a Professor at the University of Florida, will present on the economics of tariffs in the semiconductor industry.
Mike Aller | Dr. Roozbeh Tabrizian
The Role of NIST in the national semiconductor ecosystem, FloridaMakes, FLATE and Internship Programs at Florida Semiconductor-Related Companies | Flipping the Script: Using Electronics to Engineer Mechanics for Ultra-Stable Clocks
02.14.2025
Mike Aller will discuss how NIST MEP supports CHIPS for America initiatives and provides key insights into the role of FloridaMakes, the Florida Advanced Technological Education Center (FLATE), and their national networks.
Dr. Roozbeh Tabrizian will discuss an approach—using the electronic properties of semiconductors to engineer mechanical behavior for ultra-stable clocks.
TJ Villamil | Dr. Mark Law
The Final Frontiers: Florida’s Strengths in Deep/Edge Tech | Technology Computer Aided Design (TCAD) Past, Present, Future
01.24.2025
TJ Villamil, the President of Business Development at eMerge Americas will discuss Florida’s strengths in Deep/Edge Tech.
Dr. Mark Law, Professor at the University of Florida will present on Technology Computer Aided Design (TCAD) Past, Present, Future.
Dr. Max Lemaitre | Dr. Joshua Moon
Building America’s first foundry for displays and hybrid electronics | Chemically Modular Hydrogel Absorbents for Capturing Aqueous PFAS
12.13.24
Dr. Max Lemaitre, CEO & Founder of Mattrix Technologies will give a talk on building America’s first foundry for displays and hybrid electronics.
Dr. Joshua Moon, Assistant Professor in the University of Florida Department of Chemical Engineering will present on chemically modular hydrogel absorbents for capturing aqueous PFAS.
Dr. David Mills | Dr. Volker J. Sorger
IC2’s Case for Steady, Sustainable Growth in the Tech Sector | Digital Twins – Revolutionizing Semiconductor Industry and Innovation
11.22.2024
Elevate your knowledge with two captivating talks at our Taste of Tech Seminar!
First, we’re honored to host Dr. David Mills, President and Principal Engineer of Interdisciplinary Consulting Corporation (IC2).
Next, we are excited to have Dr. Volker J. Sorger joining us to discuss Digital Twins, models of physical representations, that are a revolutionary step to accelerate innovation, improve performance, and reduce cost in the semiconductor industry. In this talk, Dr. Sorger will review the state-of-the-art innovations and vision of digital twins in the context of the U.S. CHIPS Act and the role of the UF ecosystem.
Abdual Lateef | Sophia Watson
Plasma Etching as an Enabling Technology for Advanced Packaging | The Path Forward: Workforce Development in the Semiconductor Industry
11.01.2024
Elevate your knowledge with two captivating talks at our Taste of Tech Seminar!
First, we’re honored to host Abdual Lateef from Plasma-Therm. Abdul serves on the Banner Center for Advanced Manufacturing Advisory Council and the St. Petersburg College Advisory Committee, and he is a leadership coach at the University of Tampa. He founded the Plasma-Therm Foundation, a nonprofit focused on disaster relief and support. Abdul holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nebraska and an MBA from the University of Florida.
Next, we are excited to have Sophia Watson. Sophia Watson has been a leader in Career and Technical Education since 2010, starting as an Instructional Leader at Florida Virtual School, overseeing the career and technical courses. For the past 11 years, she oversaw workforce development programs in Hernando County, where she led the inception, growth and physical expansion of Wilton Simpson Technical College, creating over 20 new programs and securing more than $19 million in external funding for the expansion.
John Stone | Travis Anderson
Digital Twins with AI, GPU Computing, and Omniverse | Advances in Wide- and Ultrawide- Bandgap Materials
09.20.2024
Elevate your knowledge with two captivating talks at our Taste of Tech Seminar!
First, we’re honored to host John Stone from NVIDIA. John Stone is an NVIDIA Distinguished Engineer with extensive expertise in scientific visualization, high-performance ray tracing, and GPU computing. John’s presentation will explore Digital Twins, virtual models that mirror physical systems for interactive, real-time analysis and optimization. He will discuss the key technologies behind digital twins and the challenges in developing these advanced systems.
Next, we are excited to have Travis Anderson join us to discuss Advances in Wide- and Ultrawide- Bandgap Materials and Devices. Dr. Anderson is a Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Florida. Prior to joining UF in 2024, Dr. Anderson was the Head of the Power Electronics and Advanced Materials Branch at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC, leading a group of scientists studying fundamental material growth, device processing, and performance evaluation of power electronic materials such as SiC, GaN, Ga2O3, and diamond.
Dr. Anna Herr | Peter Mejia
Superconducting Devices & RFICs | Semiconductor Career Readiness Organization (SCRO)
08.30.2024
Elevate your knowledge with two captivating talks at our Taste of Tech Seminar!
First, we’re honored to host Dr. Anna Herr, Scientific Director at Imec since May 2021. Dr. Herr will delve into the fascinating world of “Superconducting Devices & RFICs,” sharing her expertise and insights.
Next, join Peter Mejia, President of the Semiconductor Career Readiness Organization (SCRO), as he shares his journey with SCRO, explores its mission, and highlights the organization’s vital role in workforce development.
John L. Volakis, Ph.D. | Toshikazu Nishida, Ph.D.
DIGITAL TWIN MODELS FOR RF & COLLABORATING AT THE EDGE
08.09.2024
Join us for an exciting talk by Dr. John L. Volakis, Professor in the College of Engineering and Computing at Florida International University (FIU), who will present on “Digital Twin Models for High Density Heterogeneous Packaging RF/mm-Wave Transceivers”.
Additionally, Dr. Toshikazu Nishida, Professor in the College of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the University of Florida’s Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, will discuss “Collaborating at the Edge – A Tale of Two IUCRCs”.
Reza Abdolvand, Ph.D. | Jessica Gomez
SPACE ELECTRONICS & STRATEGIC ROLE OF HIGH MIX, LOW VOLUME MEMS FOUNDRIES
07.19.2024
Dr. Reza Abdolvand, UCF ECE Chair & Professor, will highlight the University of Central Florida’s significant contributions to space science and technology. This presentation will highlight our current activities in space related science and technologies, while outlining our strategic vision for future advancements.
Jessica Gomez, founder and CEO of Rogue Valley Microdevices, will provide insight into the latest MEMS technology and business trends, along with providing an inside view of Rogue Valley Microdevices’ technical capabilities, how the company strategically works with customers as a manufacturing partner.
Dale Miller | Gloria Kim, Ph.D.
ADVANCED PACKAGING TECHNOLOGIES & SEMICONDUCTOR EDUCATION
06.14.2024
Dale Miller, the Florida Vice President and General Manager at SkyWater Technology Foundry. He will highlight advanced packaging technologies, including Interposer, Hybrid Bonding, Fan-Out Wafer Level Packaging, and Prototype Assembly, developed at SkyWater’s Florida location.
Dr. Gloria Kim, an Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Engineering Education at the University of Florida. Dr. Kim will provide an overview of her extramurally-funded work at the intersection of chips, education, and global partnerships.
Mark Sheplak, Ph.D. | David P. Arnold, Ph.D.
EXTREME SENSING & FSI VISION
05.24.2024
UF Professor Mark Sheplak, will present a project funded by the DARPA High Operational Temperature Sensors (HOTS) program. With a focus on designing dynamic pressure sensors capable of withstanding temperatures exceeding 800 °C (1472 °F), this $6.6M initiative promises to unlock new frontiers.
FSI Acting Director Dr. David Arnold will provide an overview, outlook, and vision for the Florida Semiconductor Institute.
RECORDINGS
| VIDEO LINKS | SPEAKERS |
|---|---|
| 04.18.2025 – Accelerating Photonic Integration | Antonio Teixeira, Ph.D. – PICadvanced | Co-founder & Chief Technical Scientific Officer | Full Professor | University of Aveiro |
| 04.18.2025 – Interdisciplinary Convergent Research and Education for Semiconductor Workforce | Ashok Kumar, Ph.D. – USF | Professor | Mechanical Engineering |
| 03.28.2025 – Quantum Spintronics Pathway towards Scalability and Energy Efficiency | Yingying Wu, Ph.D. – UF | Assistant Professor | Electrical & Computer Engineering |
| 03.07.2025 – The Economics of Tariffs | Elias Dinopoulos, Ph.D. – UF | Professor | College of Liberal Arts and Sciences |
| 03.07.2025 – AI-Powered Co-Pilot Learning in Virtual Reality: Personalized Training for Future Engineers | Hyo Kang, Ph.D. – UF | Assistant Professor | Digital Worlds Institute |
| 2.14.2025 – Flipping the Script: Using Electronics to Engineer Mechanics for Ultra-Stable Clocks | Roozbeh Tabrizian, Ph.D. – UF | Associate Professor and the NELMS Rising Star Endowed Professor | Electrical and Computer Engineering |
| 02.14.2025 – The Role of NIST in the national semiconductor ecosystem, FloridaMakes, FLATE and Internship Programs at Florida Semiconductor -Related Companies | Mike Aller – Vice President, Strategic Program Development, FloridaMakes |
| 01.24.2025 – Technology Computer Aided Design (TCAD) Past, Present, Future | Mark Law, P.h.D. – UF | Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor |
| 01.24.2025 – The Final Frontiers: Florida’s Strengths in Deep/Edge Tech | TJ Villamil – eMerge Americas | President of Business Development |
| 12.13.2024 – Chemically Modular Hydrogel Absorbents for Capturing Aqueous PFAS | Joshua Moon, P.h.D. – UF | Department of Chemical Engineering Assistant Professor |
| 12.13.2024 – Building America’s first foundry for displays and hybrid electronics | Max Lemaitre, P.h.D. – Mattrix Technologies | CEO & Founder |
| 11.22. 2024 – Digital Twins – Revolutionizing Semiconductor Industry and Innovation | Volker J. Sorger, Ph.D. – UF | Walden and Paula Rhines Endowed Professor in Semiconductor Photonics | Electrical and Computer Engineering Department |
| 11.22.2024 – IC2’s Case for Steady, Sustainable Growth in the Tech Sector | David Mills, Ph.D. – IC2 | President and Principle Engineer |
| 11.01.2024 – The Path Forward: Workforce Development in the Semiconductor Industry | Sophia Watson – UF Florida Semiconductor Institute | Assistant Director |
| 11.01.2024 – Plasma Etching as an Enabling Technology for Advanced Packaging | Abdual Lateef – Plasma-Therm | CEO |
| 9.20.2024 – Advances in Wide- and Ultrawide-Bandgap Materials and Devices | Travis Anderson, Ph.D. – UF | Department of Chemical Engineering Professor |
| 09.20.2024 – Digital Twins with AI, GPU Computing, and Omniverse | John Stone, M.S. – NVIDIA | Distinguished Engineer, Scientific Visualization DevTech |
| 08.30.2024 – Learn about the Semiconductor Career Readiness Organization (SCRO) | Peter Mejia – SCRO | President |
| 08.30.2024 – Superconducting Devices & Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits | Anna Herr, Ph.D. – IMEC | Scientific Director |
| 08.09.2024 – Collaborating at the Edge | Toshikazu Nishida, Ph.D. – UF | Electrical & Computer Engineering Professor & Associate Dean for Academic Affairs |
| 08.09.2024 – Digital Twin Models for Radio Frequency | John L. Volakis, Ph.D. – FIU | Electrical & Computer Engineering Professor & Former Dean |
| 07.19.2024 – Strategic Role of High Mix, Low Volume MEMS Foundries | Jessica Gomez – Rogue Valley Microdevices | CEO |
| 07.19.2024 – Space Electronics | Reza Abdolvand, Ph.D. – UCF | Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering Chair & Professor |
| 06.14.2024 – Semiconductor Education | Gloria Kim, Ph.D. – UF | Department of Engineering Education Assistant Professor |
| 06.14.2024 – Advanced Packaging | Dale Miller – SkyWater Technology Foundry | Florida Vice President and General Manager |
| 05.24.2024 – Extreme Sensing | Mark Sheplak, Ph.D. – UF | Electrical College of Engineering Professor |
| 05.24.2024 – Learn about the Florida Semiconductor Institute’s Vision | David P. Arnold, Ph.D. – UF | George Kirkland Engineering Leadership Professor & the Florida Semiconductor Institute Acting Director |