HIGHLIGHTS ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES | MARCH 2026 60 collaborate extensively and partner closely with tool vendors to redefine what advanced node debug looks like. What’s a challenge or obstacle that taught you the most? One of the most challenging issues I’ve faced is working on stuck-at-reset failures. Because these failures are insensitive to voltage, frequency, and temperature— and occur across all patterns—debugging requires dissecting the boot sequence and managing extremely long laser-voltage-probing loops. Solving them forced me to try multiple angles and think far beyond standard FA methods. The insights from those challenges shaped my analytical approach, and some of the solutions were even published at the International Symposium for Testing and Failure Analysis (ISTFA). It taught me that the toughest problems often push you to innovate the most. Describe a collaboration or mentorship that significantly impacted your career. Collaboration has shaped nearly everything I know today. As an intern in 2020, I learned the foundations of FA from the experts in the NXP lab, and those early experiences set the tone for my career. One of the most influential mentors I’ve had is Kris Dickson. From the very beginning, working with him on diverse projects deepened my understanding of electrical failure analysis and pushed me to think more creatively and analytically. Our conversations exposed me to entirely new problem spaces, industry- shaping challenges, and the broader context behind the work we do. That perspective—seeing both the technical detail and the bigger picture—continues to guide how I approach problems, learn, and collaborate today. Last book read: “Grit” by Angela Duckworth. Favorite motto: Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Tell us about your involvement with ASM. I’ve been an active ASM and EDFAS member since 2023, and the community has become an important part of my professional journey. Over the past two years, I’ve organized Women in Electronics Failure Analysis (WEFA) sessions at ISTFA, contributed to EDFA magazine, and stayed involved through the EDFAS Student and Young Professional group and Lone Star Chapter events. I’ve also presented FA and EFA seminars at Texas State University as part of the EDFAS workshop initiative, served as an ISTFA reviewer from 2024, and am now part of the ISTFA 2026 organizing committee. I choose to be a member because these communities create the space to learn, share, mentor, and help shape the future of failure analysis—together. Do you know someone who should be featured in an upcoming Face of Materials Engineering profile? Contact Vicki Burt at vicki.burt@asminternational.org. CHAPTERS IN THE NEWS Gujarat Hosts Manjooran During a recent visit by ASM Immediate Past President Navin Manjooran, FASM, to India, the ASM Gujarat Chapter conducted several key events. A Gujarat Mat-Talk Session was held at the New Age Makers’ Institute of Technology (NAMTECH), in Gandhinagar on December 9, 2025. Manjooran, chairman of Solve, delivered the Mat-Talk on real-world applications of materials technology, global leadership, and innovation-driven thinking. During his trip, he also visited the materials library set up by Chapter, which features books collected through donations from ASM Vice President T.S. Sudarshan, FASM. Another Mat-Talk at Ahmedabad University was followed by a roundtable discussion on “Accelerating Advanced Materials Innovation” held at IIM Ahmedabad Ventures. The event created a platform for idea exchange between early-stage startups and materials experts. Manjooran shared insights on scaling technology ventures, leadership development, and fostering sustainable innovation. Gujarat Chapter leaders with Navin Manjooran (second from right) at the NAMTECH site. CHAPTERS IN THE NEWS Navin Manjooran (fourth from left) with Gujarat Chapter leaders and Ahmedabad University faculty.
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