Materials Science and Engineering, PhD

Program Overview

Materials Science and Engineering, PhD

Overview

The Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering offers a dynamic and interdisciplinary curriculum that prepares students to lead innovative research across a broad range of emerging fields. With strong foundations in both theoretical and experimental methods, the program is designed to train the next generation of materials scientists and engineers to tackle the complex technological and societal challenges of our time.

Research Areas

• Energy storage and conversion
• Catalysis
• Hard and structural materials
• Computational materials science
• Microelectronics
• Nuclear materials
• Polymers and soft materials
• Sustainable engineering
• Thermal spray technologies

Admission Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, or a closely related area from an accredited college or university
• A grade point average of at least B (i.e., 3.0/4.0) in all mathematics, engineering, and science courses
• 3 Recommendation Letters
• TOEFL 90, IELTS 6.5 (for international applicants) score is required
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test (Optional)
• Acceptance by both the Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering and the Graduate School

Degree Requirements

A. Plan of Work

• Before completion of one year of full-time residency, the student must have selected a research advisor who agrees to serve in that capacity
• The student will then prepare a plan of further coursework, which must receive the approval of the student’s advisor and of the Graduate Program Committee

B. Course Requirements

• An average grade of B or higher is required for all courses, and an overall grade point average of 3.0 out of 4.0 must be maintained
• A minimum of 60 graduate credits are required to graduate with a Ph.D. degree in Materials Science and Engineering
• Three core courses (ESM 511 - Thermodynamics of Solids; ESM 513 - Strength of Materials; and ESM 521 - Kinetics of Materials) for a total of 9 credits
• Additional five elective courses within the ESM program for a total of 15 credits are required
• All courses taken outside the Department require permission from the Graduate Program Director
• All students must complete ESM 501 - Teaching and Mentoring Techniques, ESM 514 - Technical Writing for Materials Scientist, and ESM 697 - Materials Science Colloquium for the duration of their coursework until graduation
• All full-time PhD students must act as teaching assistants for five semesters (regardless of support) and must register for ESM 698 - Practicum in Teaching in all five semesters
• All students must complete ESM 599 - Research for at least a total of 16 credits

C. Preliminary Examination

• A preliminary examination must be taken during the student’s fifth semester as a Ph.D. student once all of the above requirements are completed
• This is an oral examination designed to test the student’s ability to utilize his or her materials science and engineering background to carry out research in a chosen field of study, and to make clear written and oral presentations of research
• At least ten days prior to the examination, the candidate should submit a research proposal (10-15 pages) to the examiners that places the research in context and outlines a scenario for its completion
• The Preliminary examination committee must consist of a minimum of three (3) committee members, two (2) of whom must be core faculty members in the department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering

D. Advancement to Candidacy

• The preliminary examination committee approves the student upon completion of their written and oral presentation
• Upon successful completion, the department processes the student’s Advancement to Candidacy, confirming their passing of the prelims
• Upon “Advancement to Candidacy” the student must complete at least 18 credits (two semesters) of ESM 699 - Dissertation Research on Campus to fulfill the 60 credits minimum requirement to earn a Ph.D. degree in Materials Science and Engineering

E. Dissertation

• The most critical aspect of the Ph.D. degree is the successful completion of a dissertation
• This dissertation must entail an original scholarly investigation, making a significant contribution to the scientific literature
• Its quality must meet the publication standards of respected scholarly journals
• Furthermore, a minimum of two semesters should elapse between the preliminary exam and digital submission of the dissertation through Stony Brook University’s ProQuest/UMI ETD administrator site

F. Approval and Defense of Dissertation

• The candidate shall defend the dissertation before an examining committee appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School upon recommendation of the student’s thesis advisor
• The candidate must obtain approval of the dissertation from this committee to graduate
• The committee must consist of a minimum of four members:
  • A chairperson of the defense - a core faculty member in the department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering
  • The dissertation advisor(s) (at least one who is a faculty member in the department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering)
  • A member with no conflict of interest in relationship to the student (often, but not always, someone external to the program or university)
  • One additional member - either external to the department or a core faculty member in the department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering

G. Residency Requirement

• The student must complete two consecutive semesters of full-time graduate study
• Full-time study is 9 credits minimum per semester

H. Time Limit

• All requirements for the Ph.D. degree must be completed within seven (7) years after completing 24 graduate course credits and other requirements as needed to complete the program