Robert Pearson retires from microelectronic engineering program

Robert Pearson helped make history when RIT began its microelectronic engineering program in the early 1980s. An RIT alumnus of the electrical engineering program and MicroE’s first faculty hire, Pearson reflected on some of that history—and his place in it—before retiring this summer after more than 40 years.

Pearson started his RIT story with highlights that included following in the footsteps of his father, Milton ’64 (Imaging science), combining electrical engineering and imaging science and coming to campus in 1976 as a student-athlete. He took advantage of early co-op experiences at Fairchild Semiconductor International in Maine and later its R&D center in California. He eventually worked for the company after graduation, before bringing a combination of academics and industry skills to teaching.

He saw great potential in the degree program, in the growing semiconductor industry, and RIT’s commitment to building what he would describe as a first-of-its-kind program, recognized by peer universities and industry for its skilled semiconductor graduates.

How did you come to teach in the microelectronics engineering program?

I started here in fall ’76 and played soccer. Before my first co-op I didn’t have a resume and went over to see sports information director, Roger Dykes. I made copies, sent it out, and got a co-op at Fairchild in Maine because Roger typed up my resume.

When I came back, I had classes with Lynn Fuller in semiconductor physics and thick film integrated circuits. He said, ‘I’ve got some equipment here, do you want to try to make some transistors? Just come in and start working. But you’ve got to write it up as lab reports.’ A buddy and I made the first photo masks, capacitors, solar cells, and transistors in 1979. My master’s thesis was a formalized version of all those lab reports. It is basically what we teach in our sophomore course, Integrated Circuit Technology now. It has survived the test of time.

I was working at Fairchild Semiconductors after graduation. When I visited RIT at Thanksgiving ’82, they had just started the microelectronics engineering program in September. Lynn Fuller, founder of the program, said, ‘I don’t have any faculty—it’s just me and 60 freshmen. Would you like to be a teacher?’ I asked, ‘When?’ He said, ‘January.’ So I went back to Maine, quit my job and moved back home with my wife.

What are some significant milestones in the program you were involved with since it began?

When I started teaching, we were in a couple of crowded rooms on the third floor of the engineering building. People were interested in the semiconductor field, and the country was very much interested in re-shoring—just like now. Lynn put together a proposal for a new building. I think the projected cost at the time was a measly $5 million. By 1985, we were ready to open the building, and who do we invite—Jack Kilby, inventor of the integrated circuit. And we gave him an honorary Ph.D. even before he was awarded the Nobel Prize.

What are some of the similarities and differences of the industry and students, then and now?

The industry in the early days of our program was very much aware of what decisions they made and how it affected their bottom line. If they found they were getting good hires from RIT, and it was helping them, they did their best to encourage us. That kept us on track for teaching what they wanted. When the semiconductor industry was still emerging, it was exciting. It was one of the obvious roots to success. The students were eager, and they worked hard. They still do. Our alumni said their careers took off because of RIT. They traveled internationally, managed big departments and projects, started their own companies. It just amazes me what all our students have done.

What personal and academic accomplishments are you most proud of?

Motorola was set to build a fab in Virginia. I thought, I would love a teaching experience at a place that had a fab right next door. We did get industry support at RIT, but not in the way of having it right there. Ironically, I went to Virginia after 14 years teaching at RIT and developed a microelectronic engineering program at Virginia Commonwealth University. It’s interesting that people thought they could do what RIT did, like it was no big deal, and they could not. The uniqueness of this program is immense. I returned to teaching at RIT in 2003 and became program director in 2008.

Outside of the college, I’ve been a steering committee member of two large conferences—the University Industry Government Microelectronic Symposium since 1985 and the Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Conference (founded by Lynn Fuller) since 1992. It was good advertising for our programs at RIT and what we are doing. It earned us the respect of other universities, and I’m very proud of that. I wrote the history of both of the conferences so that people would know how they began—again this is my interest in history. I should teach a history class!

Academically, winning the IEEE Outstanding Teaching Award in 2023 was great and I’m proud that Ivan Puchades, a former student and now an RIT engineering faculty member, nominated me for that. I’ve also been involved in the funding and creation of three different RIT scholarship awards for our microelectronic engineering students, and I’d like to start some more.

What will you be doing in retirement?

Helping coach my grandkids’ soccer teams. I’ll be doing some gardening, woodworking, I like wood carving and getting back into kayaking. I haven’t done much but now will be able to get out more and do this. I’ll have more time to ride my bike—if my knee still works—those old soccer injuries. I live in Henrietta and will probably still be on campus, I can’t seem to stay away.