From EPFL to semiconductor innovation in action: Naïla’s 6-month R&D internship at Comet
October 22, 2026
Finding an industrial internship that directly applies advanced physics can be a challenge for university students. When Naïla, a Master’s student in Applied Physics at EPFL (Swiss Federal Technology Institute of Lausanne), joined Comet for her internship, she stepped straight into real-world R&D. Over six months with the Design Verification Testing (DVT) team for RF-Generators, she characterized plasma chambers, debugged complex RF matchboxes, and discovered an unexpected scientific result in plasma dynamics. Here is her journey from campus theory to cutting-edge semiconductor engineering.
The accidental match: Bridging EPFL physics with industrial R&D
For students specializing in fields like plasma physics, securing an industry-focused internship isn't always straightforward. Many assume that high-level plasma research is confined to university laboratories. Naïla felt the same – until she visited the Comet booth at the Forum EPFL job fair.
"The fact that I was doing plasma physics made it really difficult to find a company working with plasma," Naïla recalls. "At first, I was resigned to not working directly with plasma during my internship because I just wanted industry experience. But then I met Comet at the EPFL job fair and was surprised to see a company working so closely with plasma technologies."
That chance encounter led to an internship within the Design Verification Team in the Plasma Control Technologies division, where theoretical plasma dynamics meets practical semiconductor manufacturing.
Inside the lab: Characterization of the plasma chamber and problem solving
At Comet, interns gain hands-on experience from the start. Naïla was tasked with characterizing one of Comet’s internal plasma chambers to ensure system stability and improve diagnostic parameters. Working with complex RF power hardware means encountering real engineering challenges – from system calibrations to components breaking under high power.
Engineering realities – when things don’t go as expected
When a matchbox sensor burned during testing, Naïla learned how cross-functional engineering teams collaborate to troubleshoot hardware. Supported by RF engineers and lab specialists, she analyzed the hardware failure, found the root cause, and repaired the system until it was fully operational again.
A surprising discovery
Her highlight came while attempting to reproduce experimental plasma modeling results. While performing measurements with an RF matching network, she was surprised to find that a sensor was installed in the matchbox that nobody was aware of. Using this DC bias sensor in her measurements, Naïla was able to capture key plasma dynamics.
«There was a DC sensor on the matchbox that we didn't know about at first. I was trying to reproduce a result, and when I found it, I realized it showed exactly what was happening in the plasma chamber dynamics. I was the first one to notice that! It was a nice accident.»
Naïla Haldy, R&D Intern
Culture & mentorship: Global scale, low hierarchy
One of the biggest shifts when moving from academic research to industrial R&D is the purpose of the work. In university, research often serves individual knowledge expansion; in an enterprise, R&D creates shared value for teams, products, and global semiconductor customers.
During her time at Comet, Naïla experienced firsthand how global engineering collaboration works:
- World-class mentorship: Together with her colleagues, she participated in an intensive 3-day technical seminar with Alexis de Chambrier, a leading US-based plasma expert, analyzing live data and exploring new process concepts.
- International alignment: Daily operations involved collaborating with cross-functional engineers across Switzerland, Germany, and the United States.
- Flat hierarchy: "In the cafeteria, everyone is at the same level," Naïla shares. "Whether speaking to senior managers or production specialists, everyone is approachable, hard-working, and ready to help."
Her advice? Don’t be shy as a newcomer
Stepping into a global semiconductor company can feel intimidating for students and recent graduates. Naïla’s biggest personal takeaway from her 6 months at Comet centers on mindset and confidence.
Naïla’s key takeaways for future applicants:
- Intimidation is just a feeling: "Remember that everyone is in the same pool. People who look extremely confident don't know everything – they just started earlier than you."
- Effort over expertise: "You are capable of learning anything with time and effort. If you don't know something, just ask. People in industry love to share their knowledge."
- Understanding the impact of the semiconductor industry: "We use smartphones every day without knowing what’s inside. Working in semiconductors lets you see how the technology behind modern life is actually made."
What does a typical day look like?
See how Naïla spends her day working in the Design Verification Testing (DVT) team for RF-Generators.
Watch the full story
Want to hear Naïla’s complete interview on plasma chamber characterization, RF hardware engineering, and life at Comet? Watch the full feature below.
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