Stockton is home to a unique facility that is training the next generation for high-paying careers. The Eyes of Science display at Delta College recently held a free open house, allowing visitors to tour the facility. One of the main attractions of this facility is the electron microscopy program, which is the only one of its kind in the nation at a community college level. Jose Jimenez, an instructor at Delta College, explains that the program allows students to look into the atom’s cell structure, delving into the nanoworld.
Hitachi trained and mentored Jimenez to work on powerful microscopes known as the Eyes of Science, which are essential for critical research in various scientific fields. Students in the program, like Logan Gorham, didn’t initially expect to develop a passion for microscopy. Gorham, who was originally an art major, shares that finding the program close to home was a stroke of luck. With 20 students currently enrolled in the program, many of them local, there is a noticeable demand for skilled individuals in this field.
Cassidy Altimari, another student in the program, highlights the appeal of the program in terms of the wide range of job opportunities it offers. The job board at the facility lists numerous job opportunities in biological, pharmaceutical, and material science fields. Many students, like Nathaniel Sibayan and Alyssa Origer, have jobs lined up even before they graduate. Origer mentions that she already has a job in the microscopy department at QuantumScape in San Jose, working on electric batteries.
The success of the program has led to plans to expand it on campus. Rachaellien Trinh, the program’s director, shares that they are working to make the program bigger and fill more seats with eager students. School leaders note that those who complete the program see a significant increase in their earnings, with an average of 168%. The enthusiasm of the students and the promising job prospects in the field are driving the need for continued growth and development of the program at Delta College in Stockton.