CITRIS and the Banatao Institute

Creating information technology solutions for society's most pressing challenges

The Costas John Spanos Semiconductor Manufacturing Award

Robotic arms manufacturing a semiconductor chip.

Recognizing outstanding Ph.D. students driving advances in semiconductor devices, technology, design and manufacturing.

The Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society and the Banatao Institute (CITRIS) invite nominations for the Costas John Spanos Semiconductor Manufacturing Awards. Created in honor of CITRIS Director Emeritus and Andrew S. Grove Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at UC Berkeley Costas John Spanos, this award was established to encourage and recognize outstanding graduate student research in semiconductor devices, technology, design and manufacturing.

The semiconductor industry is on track to exceed $1 trillion by 2030, but faces steep challenges — from scaling production and reducing costs to enabling new frontiers in AI and quantum computing. With AI workloads doubling every six months, the need for novel architectures and manufacturing approaches has never been greater. Additionally, the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act underscores the urgency of strengthening the U.S. semiconductor ecosystem.

The Spanos Semiconductor Manufacturing Awards, part of a $1 million philanthropic endowment, supports this effort by investing directly in graduate researchers. These students are advancing breakthroughs in computing, AI, and advanced manufacturing—driving innovation and building resilience for a globally competitive future.

Submit nomination by Dec. 16

Award Overview

  • Four Ph.D. students will be selected annually across the four CITRIS campuses.
  • Each student will receive a $10,000 award package, including a $5,000 direct stipend and $5,000 in research support for travel, professional development and project expenses.
  • There will be an annual event to showcase winners, foster industry collaboration and build a semiconductor innovation community.

Eligibility 

Candidates must be:

  • Ph.D. students currently enrolled at UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Merced or UC Santa Cruz.
  • Doctoral candidates, having successfully passed preliminary exams.
  • Conducting research in semiconductor devices, technology, design or manufacturing.

Evaluation Criteria

Candidates will be evaluated on:

  • Academic excellence and demonstrated research potential.
  • Strength of letters of recommendation (including one from the primary research advisor).
  • Evidence of contributions to the semiconductor field (publications, presentations, patents or industry experience).
  • Potential for significant impact in advancing semiconductor manufacturing and enabling AI technologies.

Preference will be given to candidates with relevant industry experience (internships, collaborations) and/or published work in peer-reviewed outlets.

Process 

Nominators must submit a single PDF containing the following:

  1. Nomination Form 
  2. Curriculum vitae of the candidate.
  3. Research statement (2–3 pages) describing the candidate’s current work, its significance and its anticipated impact on semiconductor manufacturing.
  4. Two letters of recommendation, including one from the candidate’s advisor.

Finalists will be invited to present their proposed innovations to the selection committee in short (10- to 15-minute) in-person meetings. A slide template will be provided. 

Timeline

  • Nov. 12, 2025: Nominations open
  • Dec. 16: Nominations close
  • Feb. 13, 2026: Winners notified
  • Feb. 19: Spanos Semiconductor Manufacturing Awards winners announced
  • Feb. 26: Spanos Semiconductor Manufacturing Awards presented at CITRIS Day 2026 
Apply by Dec. 16

Contact

For questions regarding eligibility, submission requirements, or review, please contact seedteam@citris-uc.org.