In a collaboration linking academia, tech firms, autism advocates and a significantly underemployed population, the University of Florida is establishing a new pipeline of semiconductor workers perfect for the job.
Preparing for its second class, the program educates and prepares autistic students — people considered neurodivergent — using virtual reality and other custom tools for careers in semiconductor manufacturing. In doing so, the collaboration is working to change workplace culture and break down barriers to help people on the spectrum thrive in the talent-hungry tech sector.
The UF certificate program is dubbed PATHS, which stands for Preparing the Autistic Population Toward Hardware Security. It is led by UF’s Digital Worlds Institute, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, or ECE, UF’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities and UF’s College of Education, Educational Technology program.
Up to 85% of neurodivergent adults are unemployed or underemployed, according to the Autism Society of America. The barriers include hiring practices that are difficult for autistic workers, workplace stigmas and communication challenges. However, neurodivergent people often make exceptional workers.
“Neurodiverse individuals often excel at sequential, detail-driven tasks, exactly the kind of work that inspection and assurance roles demand. At the same time, industry is facing a serious shortage of skilled technicians and engineers who can serve as tool owners on factory floors,” said Navid Asadi, Ph.D., a project lead and ECE’s Alan Hastings Faculty Fellow.
Autistic individuals bring unique talents to the table, such as exceptional focus, attention to detail and innovative problem-solving skills, according to New Directions For Young Adults, a transitional independent living program.
“For semiconductor manufacturing assembly, you need to be super good at visual-pattern recognition and repetitive, systematic tasks. I was like, ‘Wow, you know what? The autistic population has all these skill sets,’” said Hyo Kang, Ph.D., a project leader and assistant professor at UF’s Digital Worlds Institute.
In spring 2026, PATHS hosted an inaugural class of 16 neurodivergent students from across the country, providing hands-on training via virtual reality to learn in a controlled environment with no physical consequences if they made mistakes.
Students also engaged with online lectures, attended a two-day training at UF’s cleanroom and SCAN Lab facilities and engaged in one-on-one mentoring with industry experts. They learned how to create resumes and navigate job interviews.
The goal: Internships, then employment.
Funded by the National Science Foundation, the project feeds the demand for more qualified workers. Florida ranks third in the nation for semiconductor manufacturers and fifth in semiconductor employment, according to UF’s Florida Semiconductor Institute.
PATHS grew out of the United States CHIPS Act (2022) to lead the nation in semiconductor manufacturing, research and workforce development. But in doing so, the country needs workers to keep pace.
“There’s a lack of people to fill these roles, so a lot of autistic people are overlooked even though they have a set of strengths they can bring to this sector. We’re finding ways we can leverage those strengths and, through that, break down some of the systemic barriers in workplaces for these individuals,” said Nigel Newbutt, Ph.D., a project lead, assistant professor of Advanced Learning Technologies and director of UF’s Emerging Technology Research Lab in the College of Education.
Essentially, the team hopes to create an even playing field for autistic workers.
Success, Asadi added, means “our students are going on to work with companies nationwide, contributing their skills, growing professionally and converting internships into full-time positions. We envision them becoming integral parts of commercial semiconductor companies and defense industrial base organizations, bringing the expertise they developed here at UF to help those companies reach the next level.”
The team also includes Ann-Marie Orlando, Ph.D., director and research associate professor with the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, and Adam Nazef, a University of Central Florida graduate in digital media.
Nazef is autistic and offers an invaluable perspective with PATHS.
“Adam helped us a lot when we designed the training program,” Kang said. “We met with neurodivergent students and asked, ‘What kind of content would be nice to have?’ They mentioned less crowded spaces, but the important thing was very systematic, organized content they can follow. Semiconductor manufacturing sites can be a bit overstimulating.”
The team is now planning for the next cohort in the fall, seeking about 40 people from across the United States. Residents interested can apply at https://www.pathprogramuf.com/.
“The curriculum sits at the intersection of manufacturing, AI/ML and design,” Asadi said. “Having access to over $15 million worth of state-of-the-art inspection tools at UF also gives students a hands-on experience that is truly unique.”
