Zhejiang University has appointed semiconductor expert Chen Ye as a Qiushi Distinguished Professor at its College of Integrated Circuits, the institution announced recently. Chen brings more than 16 years of experience in advanced chip manufacturing and quality control, primarily gained at leading firms in the United States.

Chen’s appointment comes as Zhejiang University achieved a significant milestone by surpassing Harvard University in the 2026 Nature Index rankings, ending Harvard’s 11-year streak as the top academic institution worldwide. The university is located in Hangzhou, China.

Chen’s career in the semiconductor industry began after he earned his bachelor’s degree and PhD in electronics and information engineering from Zhejiang University, completing his doctorate in 2008. That year, he joined Anchor Semiconductor, a company known for its hotspot management and analysis software designed to enhance manufacturing efficiency at foundries and integrated device manufacturers. Chen advanced through roles from senior software engineer to principal engineer and director of advanced research and development.

Following Anchor Semiconductor’s acquisition by KLA, a global leader in wafer fabrication equipment and process control, in 2021, Chen continued as a research scientist. His work frequently took him to integrated circuit fabrication facilities across mainland China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. According to his professional profile, he made over 30 visits to such facilities, where he collaborated with teams using confidential manufacturing data to develop customized software solutions.

In 2024, Chen returned to China to join Semitronix Corporation in Hangzhou as chief scientist. There, he spearheaded the development of ConVision, an intelligent inspection platform covering the entire semiconductor manufacturing process—reported as the first of its kind in China. The tools and systems Chen has developed have reportedly been adopted at major wafer foundries, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), Samsung Electronics, and Intel.

Zhejiang University has recognized Chen as a key contributor to national scientific and technological innovation. His expertise is expected to strengthen the university’s efforts to advance semiconductor research and development amid global competition in the chip industry. Efforts to reach Chen for comment have not been successful.