Dr. Naznin Akter

Biography:

Dr. Naznin Akter is a dynamic and results-driven engineering leader with over seven years of experience spanning semiconductor manufacturing, advanced-node R&D, data-driven operational excellence, telecom project management, and strategic volunteer leadership. She brings a rare combination of deep technical expertise, strategic execution, and ecosystem leadership across industry, academia, and global professional organizations.

Dr. Akter has held critical technical roles at leading semiconductor companies, including Intel and Micron, where she contributed to FEOL process integration, module development, yield ramp, and manufacturing scale-up. She has a proven track record of driving process stability, improving yield and reliability, and transitioning technologies from development to high-volume manufacturing. She currently serves as a Consultant at NextGen SemiBuzz, advising on semiconductor manufacturing trends, analytics-driven decision-making, and emerging technologies. Holding a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Dr. Akter’s technical foundation spans nano/micro-fabrication, device characterization, advanced data analytics, and the application of Machine Learning and Generative AI in manufacturing and engineering workflows. She complements her technical depth with strong governance and execution capabilities, supported by PMP and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certifications, enabling her to guide organizations through complex, cross-functional, and high-stakes initiatives.

In addition to her work in industry, Dr. Akter is known for her technical expertise and leadership roles in IEEE and PMI. She is recognized for her ability to bridge technical innovation with strategic oversight, offering a balanced perspective on technology strategy, engineering management, operational risk, talent development, mentoring, technical publishing and long-term value creation. She brings a system-level mindset, strong ethical leadership, and a commitment to advancing inclusive, sustainable, and high-impact engineering ecosystems. She currently serves in multiple senior leadership roles, including IEEE Entrepreneurship Liaison for IEEE Women in Engineering, Co-Chair of the IEEE-USA Career & Professional Development Committee, Co-chair of IEEE Women in Engineering Global Ambassador subcommittee, IEEE Region 6 (Western USA) Women in Engineering Chair, Region 6 Representative for IEEE Women in Electron Devices Society, IEEE Young Professional (YP) Region 6 Experience Specialist, Chair of IEEE Women in Engineering Oregon Section Affinity Group, Vice-Chair of IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Society (TEMS) Oregon Section Chapter, Associate Editor of IEEE Reliability Newsletter, and Editor for IEEE Women in Engineering Magazine. She also serves as Assistant VP of Marketing Communications at the Project Management Institute Portland Chapter. Previously, she served as Graduate Student Sub-Committee member for IEEE Eta Kappa Nu (IEEE-HKN) and Treasurer for Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society.