Matthias Pleil

Matthias Pleil, Ph.D., is a Research Professor and Senior Lecturer III in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at The University of New Mexico. He serves as Director of the Manufacturing Engineering Program and Director of the Manufacturing Training and Technology Center (MTTC), where he supports semiconductor and microsystems education, workforce development, research, and external users.

Dr. Pleil's work focuses on semiconductor and microsystems manufacturing, micro- and nanofabrication, manufacturing engineering, and experiential engineering education. He develops and teaches hands-on courses in semiconductor and MEMS fabrication, engineering design, Lean manufacturing, design for manufacturability, quality, statistical process control, and design of experiments.

For more than two decades, Dr. Pleil has led and contributed to National Science Foundation initiatives in semiconductor, microsystems, and micro/nano technology education. His work has included the Southwest Center for Microsystems Education and the Support Center for Microsystems Education, along with newer workforce-development efforts involving community colleges, universities, industry, and national laboratories. A continuing emphasis of this work is expanding access to hands-on semiconductor manufacturing education and strengthening pathways into the advanced manufacturing workforce.

Prior to joining UNM, Dr. Pleil taught at Central New Mexico Community College and spent more than 12 years in the semiconductor industry with Texas Instruments and Philips Semiconductors. His industry experience included photolithography, process and equipment engineering, yield, metrology, process control, and engineering management. This background informs his emphasis on practical, project-based learning and industry-relevant engineering education.