My name is Henrik Ng and I am an Electrical Engineering student entering my junior year at Georgia Tech. I was eager to gain both hands-on experiences and theoretical understandings in the realms of RF engineering, as inspired by my previous research project surrounding RFID energy harvesting. At the same time, I was also interested in gaining more insights to the semiconductor industry and the product development process. Saras Micro Devices stood out to me as a rare blend between the two fields, for its innovation in embeddable integrated passive devices.
Being a company that was founded in 2021, Saras combines the best of both worlds for both the dynamism and lack of red-tape of startups – allowing interns to gain experience across multiple disciplines – and also the maturity of established firms given the extensive industry experience of its managers. The fast-paced environment at Saras further allowed me to gain experience quickly within a limited, 9-week timeframe.
My Role and Projects
During my internship with the Research and Development department, specifically under the recently-established inductor team, I worked on the electrical characterization of various different types and batches of inductors, which aims to model for the inductors’ real life non-idealness through circuits containing a combination of resistors, capacitors and inductors.
What I Learned
I learned how to use a vector network analyzer (VNA), to collect electrical performance data (Impedance Magnitude, Rs, Q-factor, Loss Tangent, etc.) across a range of frequencies (100Hz – 50MHz), as well as to use precise probes and multimeters to test DC resistance. All of the data is then used to estimate parasitic resistance and capacitance of the inductors, with the help of LT spice and Excel mathematical estimations.
When I had more time, I also helped test a batch of capacitors using the VNA as well as traditional multimeters for DCR testing/ sample validation, and helped pick-and-place capacitor tiles into their respective containers. I am honored and grateful to be able to contribute to the initial development phase of Saras’s inductors under Carlos.
Key Highlights and Moments
My favorite memory at Saras was not defined by a single moment, but rather a culmination of day-to-day interactions with everyone around me. Within Saras, there exists a perfect blend of young minds and seasoned professionals, as well as people from diverse cultures and backgrounds.
I thoroughly enjoyed interacting and learning from colleagues across departments – whether it was through informal hallway conversations, collaborative project discussions, or engagement activities that brought the entire team together, such as the Atlanta Braves baseball game or the table tennis tournament, and many more.
Furthermore, I also had great rapport with the other two interns, Allen and Kevin, as we keep each other in company despite working on very different things. I also enjoy the weekly presentation opportunity I have with Carlos and the broader leadership team, where I routinely shared my test results and analysis with them, and got valuable feedback.
Parallel to that, my highlight manifests as the cumulative process of deliberate self-improvement and learning how to use different instruments, software and analytical methods to deliver concrete results.
I arrived with mostly textbook knowledge from my Georgia Tech courses, but came out with real insider knowledge about the semiconductor industry, in terms of how the research and development process, specifically the electrical testing workflow, is modulated and executed. I developed a true appreciation for the complexity of semiconductor supply chains; seeing how even a seemingly simple component like a capacitor or an inductor requires multiple process steps, involvement from various manufacturers, and rigorous rounds of testing before it can be qualified for actual use.
Advice for Future Interns
If you were to intern at Saras in the future, my first and foremost advice would be: ask questions! It is very natural to feel subjected to imposter syndrome, but don’t let that stop you from being curious and engaged. Everyone at Saras, from interns to senior leadership, is approachable and genuinely invested in your growth. Asking questions not only helps you learn faster, but also shows initiative and builds meaningful connections with your peers and mentors. Remember, you’re not expected to know everything from day one. What matters most is your willingness to learn and contribute.
Closing Thoughts
I am walking away with a much clearer sense of what I want to pursue in my future career. During my time at Saras, I developed a deeper appreciation for the semiconductor industry. I moved beyond a surface-level focus on utility to truly understanding and valuing the intricacies of the entire ecosystem. I’ve come to recognize the remarkable coordination behind every component: the people, the processes, the engineering challenges, and the collaborative effort across functions that bring an idea from concept to production. This experience has not only sharpened my technical understanding but also reinforced my interest in contributing meaningfully to this field in the long run. I am truly grateful for the opportunity Saras provided, and I truly recommend anyone with the opportunity to work for Saras to take it.
