Life in ASM’s corporate research & development
Rami Khazaka, Senior Manager Process Engineering, discusses what it means to work at the forefront of semiconductor innovation, where bold ideas, scientific curiosity, and collaboration help transform discoveries into real-life technologies that power the future.
I lead the epitaxy and Atomic Layer Etch (ALE) teams within ASM’s corporate Research & Development (R&D) division, where we focus on creating innovative solutions that enable the scaling required for next-generation logic and memory technologies.
From scientific curiosity to real-life impact
When people hear R&D, they often imagine scientists working in isolation on futuristic concepts. The reality is very different. Our work sits at the intersection of scientific discovery and engineering execution. A typical day involves reviewing experimental results, discussing technology challenges with our teams, defining research priorities, and collaborating with colleagues across the globe. We are constantly exploring new materials, processes, and approaches that could help solve some of the industry's most complex challenges. R&D is the cornerstone of staying ahead of what is next.
Innovation requires more than technical expertise. It takes the courage to propose bold ideas, test them rigorously, learn from setbacks, and keep moving forward. Ownership, critical thinking, scientific curiosity, and excellence in execution are all essential ingredients for success.
Being part of a materials discovery company means continuously exploring how new chemistries, materials, and processes can solve problems that customers may face years from now. We combine fundamental scientific understanding with process engineering expertise to develop solutions that can ultimately be translated into manufacturable technologies.
When our work looks years ahead, choosing where to focus becomes just as important as the ideas we explore. There are countless interesting areas to explore, but the most important question is always where we can have the greatest impact. We look closely at technology roadmaps, customer needs, and emerging industry trends to identify those opportunities. The next challenge is turning those opportunities into practical solutions.
From lab to fab
Changes in device architecture, scaling requirements, power and performance targets, and emerging applications all provide signals about where the industry is heading. When multiple roadmaps begin converging around the same challenge, it is often a clear indication that new materials and process innovations will be needed.
The journey from discovery to high-volume manufacturing is rarely straightforward. Promising ideas often face technical challenges before becoming production-ready. Success depends on collaboration across functions, persistence, and a shared commitment to finding solutions together.
One project that perfectly captures this journey is silicon channel epitaxy for gate-all-around (GAA). It was the first project I worked on after joining ASM in 2018. The initial solution was developed within R&D and then transferred to the Business Unit, where the process and hardware were further optimized to meet customer requirements. Today, that technology is running in high-volume manufacturing on ASM equipment. Seeing a technology evolve from a research concept to a production-ready solution remains one of the most rewarding parts of my job.
Shaping the future of semiconductors
Technologies such, advanced memory, logic, and advanced packaging all depend on materials innovation and precise atomic-scale control. As device architectures continue to evolve, the ability to engineer materials at the atomic level will play an even greater role in determining what is possible.
What excites me most is that many of today's breakthrough technologies once seemed impossible. Progress happens when talented people are willing to challenge assumptions, pursue ambitious ideas, and work together to turn them into reality.
That is what makes R&D such an exciting place to be. Every day brings an opportunity to explore what is next and turn bold ideas into technologies that will power the future of semiconductors.
