America’s future depends on a new generation of talent skilled in artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and advanced manufacturing. These cutting‑edge emerging technology fields are shaping how next‑generation technologies ranging from agriculture, health care, energy, and defense are designed, built, and operated.

By developing skills in these areas, students can directly restore and advance America’s science and technology leadership while preparing for high‑impact careers across all sectors.

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2027 Program

Tuesday March 23^rd

Keynote address

Bill Wilson, Harvard University

Speed networking sessions

Students will have the opportunity to meet and interact in small group settings with representatives from a wide variety of career paths and industries.

Wednesday March 24^th

Student entrepreneurs

Led by Matthew Hull, Virginia Tech

Attendees will learn about funding opportunities, training and mentorship programs, and infrastructure aimed at inspiring and supporting future hard-tech innovators and entrepreneurs through a dedicated program.

Career Awareness Fair

Building on the first day’s learnings, attendees will have the opportunity to interact directly with industry representatives on the expo floor to learn about different industries and career paths in a relaxed and informal “ask me anything” setting.

Thursday March 25^th

Demo Day

A hands-on experience to finish out the week, various organizations will be displaying hands-on demonstrations of quantum, AI, and advanced manufacturing technologies.

Participating organizations include: Cornell Nanofabrication Facility (Tom Pennell) , Princeton Advanced Packaging Lab (Bert Harrop), Princeton Center for Complex Materials (Janine Nunes)

Back to Top ↑ 2026 Sessions
	Tuesday March 10
10:30	TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program: Keynote
11:00	TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program: Technical Tutorials
12:00	TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program: Group Photo
1:30	TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program
2:15	TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program: Career Networking Session 1
2:15	TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program: Behind the Scenes with an Industry Recruiter
3:30	TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program: Career Networking Session 2
3:30	TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program: Behind the Scenes with an Industry Recruiter
	Wednesday March 11
9:30	TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program, Future Innovators – Panel Discussion
10:30	Future Innovators – Opportunities and Student/Postdoc Pitch Contest for Emerging Entrepreneurs
11:30	Future Innovators – Keynote
1:00	TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program: Career Awareness Fair
1:30	Accelerating Wide Bandgap Innovation through the ME Commons CLAWS Hub: Technology, Transition, and Talent Development
4:00	TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program- Posters
	Thursday March 12
9:00	TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program, Supporting Emerging Technology Manufacturing Workforce and Development
10:00	TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program, Supporting Emerging Technology Manufacturing Workforce and Development
2026 Detailed Program
	Tuesday March 10
10:30	TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program: Keynote	Marriott State C
	Welcome Remarks M. Dolan, Advanced Technology International (ATI), US
	Chips, Light, and Power: Developing the Workforce for America’s Next Generation Industries D. Lopez, Penn State University, US
11:00	TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program: Technical Tutorials	Marriott State C
	Photonics S. Roberts, CUNY, US
	Semiconductors S. Roberts, CUNY, US
	Power Electronics C. Piard, Wolfspeed, US
	Bioeconomy K. Raymond, Merck, US
12:00	TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program: Group Photo	Marriott State C
1:30	TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program	Marriott State C
	Session chair: Paula Kirya, University of California, San Diego
	Tips & Tricks with Grad Student Mentor
2:15	TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program: Career Networking Session 1	Marriott Chancellor
2:15	TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program: Behind the Scenes with an Industry Recruiter	Marriott State C
	Session chair: Austin Painchaud, ARM
3:30	TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program: Career Networking Session 2	Marriott Chancellor
3:30	TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program: Behind the Scenes with an Industry Recruiter	Marriott State C
	Session chair: Austin Painchaud, ARM
	Wednesday March 11
9:30	TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program, Future Innovators – Panel Discussion	Marriott State C
	Session chair: Matthew Hull, Virginia Tech, Tim Martin, North Carolina State University, & Jacob Jones, North Carolina State University
	M. McKee, UNC innovate Carolina, US
	E. Hornstein, elysia bio, US
	S. Furst, Smart Material Solutions, LLC, US
10:30	Future Innovators – Opportunities and Student/Postdoc Pitch Contest for Emerging Entrepreneurs	Marriott State C
	Session chair: Matthew Hull, Virginia Tech, Tim Martin, North Carolina State University, & Jacob Jones, North Carolina State University
	Nano-Engineered BioFET Neural Probes Enabling Closed-Loop Neurochemical Sensing and Modulation S. van Rijs, Stanford University, US
	Anodeless Battery Electrode Design for Next-generation Transportation Z. Wylie, University of Washington, US
	ExoVerse Solutions (EMPLOY- Engineer Micropillar Platform for Ligand-based Optimized Yield) A. Kumari, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, US
	VitaFilm H. Dahlstrom, Des Moines Area Community College, US
11:30	Future Innovators – Keynote	Marriott State C
	Session chair: Matthew Hull, Virginia Tech, Tim Martin, North Carolina State University, & Jacob Jones, North Carolina State University
	From Lab to Load: Grit, Timing, and the Making of an AI Power Platform H. Inam, DGMatrix, US
1:00	TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program: Career Awareness Fair	Expo Hall AB
	Participating companies: ARM, Wolfspeed, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Ithaca Research Labs, Micron, Kyma Technologies, Synopsys, SRI International, The Princeton Center for Complex Materials, Merck, Intel, National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE), Sandia National Laboratories
1:30	Accelerating Wide Bandgap Innovation through the ME Commons CLAWS Hub: Technology, Transition, and Talent Development	Marriott State C
	Session chair: Fred Kish, North Carolina State University
	From Lab to Fab: An Overview of the ME Commons CLAWS Hub Mission and Ecosystem F. Kish, North Carolina State University, US
	Enabling Solid State Transformer with 3.3kv - 15kV SiC Devices S. Bhattacharya, North Carolina State University, US
	HVPE for High Voltage Power Electronics H. Splawn, Kyma Technologies, US
	The CLAWS Research Foundry: III-Nitride Wide-Bandgap RF and Power Electronics P. Wellenius, CLAWS Hub - NC State University, US
	Microelectronics Workforce Development: Challenges, Strategy and Programs Addressing Semiconductor Manufacturing P. Strader, CLAWS Hub - NC State University, US
4:00	TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program- Posters	Expo Hall AB
	Is it time for Electric Vehicles, or has the Golden Age for Combustion Engines Just Started Y. Musa, O. Tantawi, K. Tantawi, L. Flatt, L. Potter, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, US
	Ti:Sapphire Lasers and Their Role In Pump-Probe Spectroscopy for Semiconductor Research B. Bacon, T. Seaward, C. Schnitzer, R. Adams, G. Taft, Stonehill College, US
	Laser-Induced Thermal Flow Control for Sonic Boom Reduction in Hypersonic Flight D. Ezzat, CSU, San Bernardino, US
	Investigating the Effects of Microgravity on Saccharomyces cerevisiae S. Huang, N. Guillen, E. Andrade, M.K. Ballon, A. Huang, Advanced Technology Technician (AT3) Program, US
	Thursday March 12
9:00	TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program, Supporting Emerging Technology Manufacturing Workforce and Development	Marriott State C
	Session chair: Jared Ashcroft, Pasadena City College
	Digital Twin and AI (DTAI) Based Training Content Capture, Creation, and Customization Skills Lab for All A. Ahmadi, Mercer County Community College, US
10:00	TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program, Supporting Emerging Technology Manufacturing Workforce and Development	Marriott Chancellor
	Session chair: Jared Ashcroft, Pasadena City College
	VR/AR Session for Semiconductor Manufacturing Educational Tools
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