What does an Entegris employee look like? What do they do all day, and what do they like about their jobs? This blog begins a series that will take a deep dive into a variety of careers at Entegris. We’ll highlight several employees and their valuable contribution to the organization. What do they do, how are they succeeding, and why do they think Entegris is a great place to work?  

What did you do before working at Entegris?

Before joining Entegris, I worked as a chemical engineer and research scientist. After receiving my doctorate in polymer chemistry from Clemson University in Clemson, SC, I started my postdoctoral research work on the development and fabrication of new polymer composites. These included photonic crystals, along with piezoelectric and pyzoelectric materials, and their real-world applications.

How did you end up working at Entegris?

In 2005, I joined a company called ATMI, which was later acquired by Entegris in 2014. I started as a research scientist and then became a research and development manager. I worked on several different projects, including the development of wet etch and clean chemicals for semiconductor processes, wafer reclamation, and precious metal reclamation from electronic waste.

Since 2018, I’ve been a part of the CTO office and have been working on establishing and operating our China Technology Center to support our customers and help grow our business. During my time at Entegris, I’ve enjoyed creating new products and technologies, as well as supporting our customers using our synergized expertise.

Why did you start pursuing a leadership role?

My manager gave me the opportunity to pursue leadership training after I was assigned as a project leader on several engagements. I really enjoyed the leadership training because it helped me discover my potential. Before working at Entegris, I had envisioned myself working as a scientist for my entire career.

We learned systematically as part of the leadership program. I received real-life examples of how to be a leader in my everyday work. I was also inspired by several individuals. My manager trusted me, led by example, and provided opportunities for team and personal growth. Meanwhile, my mentors and colleagues influenced my leadership abilities and work ethic – I learned a lot from them!

Lastly, Entegris PACE values are a big attraction. That’s because they create a great culture, a great team, and a great community. People respect each other, they’re creative, and they inspire each other to get better.

Tell us about woman in leadership at Entegris.

Entegris has many women leaders working in different functional groups, and they are all very talented. I feel very comfortable here in a leadership role. I don’t see the difference between men and women here. There are similar attitudes and many of the same opportunities with potential for growth for individuals throughout the organization. There is a focus on bringing out the best from the people to achieve organizational goals.

What’s a big project that you’ve worked on during your tenure?

One of my first big projects as an Entegris leader was the establishment of the China Technology Center. I was in charge of building the laboratories for metrology, microcontamination, materials handling, and more. My responsibilities included selecting the location and developing the blueprint for the facility, along with hiring and training staff. We were supported by many different teams across Entegris, and with their help we completed basic construction at the end of 2018 and moved in shortly thereafter.

As part of construction and operation, I worked on a team of five people. We were sent to multiple labs at multiple sites for training and learning. As a result, we were able to begin performing the testing work for internal and external customers as early as the second half of 2019. 

We then began adding more capabilities, starting with materials handling and clean chemistry, then moving on to life sciences testing and method development capability. The China Technology Center is not just equipped with the state of art instruments and experienced engineers, but also with technical experts from our different business units to support our customers with solutions.

What are you looking forward to in the future?

We’re still working on improving our sustainability models at Entegris. Right now, I’m helping with a project that will help us reduce waste in our products, increase recyclability, and ensure that as little as possible reaches the landfill or escapes into the environment. 

Thanks to Ping for sharing this great information about her leadership role at Entegris. Learn more about careers at Entegris!