Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering
Program Overview
The PhD in Materials Science and Engineering at this institution offers in-depth study of metals, polymers, and ceramics, with a focus on research areas including nanomaterials, functional thin films, and biomaterials. Students engage in hands-on research utilizing state-of-the-art facilities, leading to a dissertation and oral defense. The program prepares graduates for careers in research and development, teaching, and leadership roles in academia and industry.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Materials Science and Engineering department offers a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE). The program focuses on the sub-fields of metals, polymers, and ceramics, along with composites, electronic, photonic, bio, and functional materials.
Research Focus Areas:
- Additive manufacturing
- High temperature and lightweight alloys
- Shape memory alloys
- Functional thin films
- Magnetic materials
- Polymer structures and interfacial properties
- Scattering theory and experiments
- Conducting polymers and composites
- Biomaterials
- Nanomaterials and nanophotonics
- Carbon nanotubes and graphene
- Smart materials
- Soft matter
- Energy materials
- Nano biomedicine
Metallurgical and Ceramic Science and Engineering Research:
- Phase transformations
- Microstructure evolution
- Mechanical properties (fatigue, creep, fracture, wear)
- Impact of processing on mechanical properties
- Gas-phase alloying and sintering kinetics of 3D printed metallic materials
- In-situ monitoring of sensitization and environmental cracking mechanisms of aluminum alloys
- Advanced mechanical surface treatment effects on mechanical properties, corrosion, and stress corrosion cracking of lightweight, high temperature, and nuclear alloys
- Design of alloys for extreme environments
- Thermodynamic and computational modeling
- Powder metallurgy
- Ceramic sintering
- Thin film deposition
- Solidification
- Additive manufacturing processes (e.g., laser powder bed fusion)
Polymer Materials Research:
- Synthesis
- Processing
- Structure and property characterization
- Advanced functional polymeric materials with structural hierarchy
- Applications in extreme conditions (high pressure, temperature, corrosion, dynamic stresses)
- Hierarchically-organized materials with different structural dimensions, characteristic length scales, and unique properties
- Nanoparticle interfaces with metals/ceramics, soft matter, and biological cells
- Novel processing of nanomaterials to create new composite materials with improved properties
Assessment:
- A written qualifier exam is required in four topical areas associated with the student's area of specialization.
- A research proposal is presented for qualification.
- The degree culminates in a dissertation and oral defense.
Careers:
- Research and development
- Teaching
- Leadership and director roles in research at major international corporations, national labs, and universities
Other:
- Students generally publish one first-author peer-reviewed paper per year.
- Students present their work at one national conference per year.
- Advanced processing equipment
- Mechanical testing systems
- Scanning and transmission electron microscopy
- Compositional analysis
- Small-angle and wide-angle X-ray diffraction
- Raman scattering
- Infrared and X-ray photoelectron infrared spectroscopy
- The program is a four to six-year program with two years of coursework and research, followed by a focus on a specific research project.
