Kurtis Wickey

Dr. Kurtis Wickey specializes in semiconductor R&D and strategic technology development, with expertise spanning lithography, AI-driven manufacturing analytics, quantum technologies, and advanced materials. At Natcast, he led the creation of synthetic datasets for OPC and ILT model training, authored a whitepaper on OPC co-optimization, and proposed national-scale initiative for hyper-NA EUV lithography. He also co-authored Natcast’s inaugural research agenda and coordinated multi-party industry collaborations to align technical strategy with national innovation goals. 

Prior to Natcast, Kurtis spent five years at Battelle Memorial Institute, where he led a manufacturing analytics team, secured multimillion-dollar contracts for AI and semiconductor consulting, and advised corporate strategy in advanced packaging and quantum sensing. He managed and mentored internal R&D efforts across quantum algorithms, UV sensors, and superconductivity, contributing to over 32 IP disclosures and three patent applications. 

Earlier in his career, Kurtis worked at Intel as a Senior Process Engineer in lithography, supporting 5 and 7 nm nodes. He installed and qualified lithographic tools, developed defect screening methods for EUV layers, and led EUV ARC materials development. 

Kurtis holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Physics from The Ohio State University, and dual B.A./B.Sc. degrees in Economics and Physics/Applied Math from Western Michigan University.