Although the Jonsson School does not offer a bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering, undergraduates from other disciplines are encouraged to investigate opportunities to participate in the department’s research activities or opt for a minor in nanoscience and technology. Students are also welcome to take the graduate-level Introduction to Materials Science course or a nanotechnology course. Please contact any of the faculty listed below to discuss research opportunities within their areas of expertise.
Materials Science & Engineering Courses
NANO 3310/ECS 3310 Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering
This course provides an intensive overview of materials science and engineering and includes the foundations required for further graduate study in the field. Topics include atomic structure, crystalline solids, defects, failure mechanisms, phase diagrams and transformations, metal alloys, ceramics and polymers as well as their thermal, electrical, magnetic and optical properties. (3 semester hours)
NANO 3301 Introduction to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Introduction to the underlying principles and applications of the emerging field of nanotechnology and nanoscience. Intended for a multidisciplinary audience with a variety of backgrounds. Introduces tools and principles relevant at the nanoscale dimension. Discusses current and future nanotechnology applications in engineering, materials, physics, chemistry, biology, electronics and energy. (3 semester hours)
Research Opportunities
Nano Explorer Program
On a rainy day in 1959, a teenage Ray Baughman had an experience that changed his life. Completely drenched, he showed up unannounced at Professor George Jeffrey’s lab door at the University of Pittsburgh and asked for a job.
“The wonderful opportunity that he gave me – to do original research when I was in the 10th grade – was so important for my entire life,” said Dr. Baughman, director of the NanoTech Institute at The University of Texas at Dallas. The experience had a profound effect, setting in motion an inevitable series of events.
In the spirit of his mentor, the NanoTech Institute initiated the George A. Jeffrey NanoExplorers program. The program promotes nanotechnology-based education for the next generation of scientists and is funded by the Robert A. Welch Chair grant Dr. Baughman received in chemistry.The NanoExplorers program was launched in the summer of 2002, when about a dozen high school students were invited to work on original research in the institute’s labs.
To get involved, students must contact the institute and volunteer to work in the research labs. The program does not involve grades or credits. It is truly science for science’s sake. Click here to learn more about the Nano Explorer program.
Academic Bridge Program
The Academic Bridge Program (ABP) seeks to attract, support, and retain students who graduate from Dallas-area urban high schools with high class rankings without having completed the full university-track curriculum. This summer scholarship program is offered to selected entering freshmen and gives students the opportunity to begin their university education immediately following their high school graduation. UTD believes strongly in the capabilities of these students and fosters the Bridge Program as a supportive introductory environment for those who choose to attend The University of Texas at Dallas. To listen to more information regarding the ABP program and its success please go to the following link: Click here.
The Academic Bridge Program provides:
- Free on-campus housing for the months of June and July, including a weekly meal stipend
- Tuition and fees for up to 9 semester hours of courses, including college-level Mathematics, Rhetoric, and introduction to Engineering / Computer Science.
- Small class sizes (20 or less students)
- Tutoring and supplemental instruction
- Campus orientation activites
- Extra-curricular activities and field trips
- The Bridge Builders Award, a $1,000 scholarship awarded to excellent Summer Bridge Program students
To learn more about the Academic Bridge Program, click here
The Eugene McDermott Scholars Program
Established by Mrs. Eugene McDermott in support of her husband's dream, the McDermott Scholars program provides select UTD students with a rigorous and personalized education as well as intensive extracurricular activities. To learn more about The Eugene McDermott Scholars Program, click here.
MS&E Faculty
Dr. Yves Chabal, Department Head, Professor, Ph.D., Cornell University
In our laboratory, we use (and in some cases develop) optical spectroscopic and imaging techniques to explore elementary processes at surfaces and interfaces of technologically important electronic, photonic, organic and more recently biological heterostructures. For instance, we have been leading the implementation of infrared absorption spectroscopy to develop a detailed mechanistic understanding of semiconductor surface cleaning (both by wet and dry techniques), passivation, and chemical functionalization. In particular, we have devised sensitive, in-situ methods to probe the interaction of chemical species and the formation of thin dielectric films in a variety of environments, including liquids, ultra-high vacuum (UHV), and gaseous ambients. We are also probing the interaction of hydrogen in a variety of environment, most recently in storage materials for the hydrogen fuel economy.
Dr. KJ Cho, Professor, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Research interest: computational modeling study of nanomaterials with applications to nanoelectronic devices and renewable energy technology. For materials modeling study, his research group has developed atomistic modeling method to simulate atomic structures of nanomaterials and tight binding method to calculate electronic structures and quantum transport properties of nanoelectronic devices. Advanced first principles quantum simulations methods (density functional theory) are used to investigate the nanomaterials with quantitative accuracy and fundamental understanding of structure-property relationship.
Dr. Bruce Gnade, Professor, Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology
Current research interests focus on materials, processes and devices for flexible applications, as well as a nano-structure material for biological applications.
Dr. Jiyoung Kim, Associate Professor, Ph.D., the University of Texas at Austin
Nano-scale materials, process, characterization and device applications including scaled CMOS devices and processing; non-volatile memory applications (FeRAM, PRAM, ReRAM, MRAM etc.); atomic layer deposition; ultra-thin inorganic and organic film coating and characteristics; applications of nanotubes, nano-particles, nano-dots and nano-patterning; flexible electronics, display devices and 3-D devices; self-assembled monolayer applications and molecular electronics.
Dr. Moon Kim, Professor, Ph.D., Arizona State University
Atomic structure and chemistry of materials; phase transformations in solids; heterogeneous materials integration by UHV wafer bonding; nano-electronics; flexible electronics; nano-structured materials; advanced characterization: high-resolution TEM, analytical TEM/STEM and in-situ microscopy, FIB, XRD and surface analytical tools.
Dr. Padmakumar Nair, Research Professor
Functional nanostructured ceramics and hybrid materials: ceramics processing, solar energy and optical materials, and porous nanostructured materials. Other areas of interest are innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership in relation to organizational performance and effectiveness.
Dr. Eric Vogel, Professor, Ph.D., North Carolina State University
Pursuing a dynamic and cross-disciplinary research program exploring devices, materials, and processes for extending, replacing and complementing CMOS III-V MOS, grapheme-based devices, biosensors based on nanoscale silicon and neuro-inspired computing.
Dr. Robert Wallace, Professor, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh
Advanced materials for device scaling; semiconductor materials; dielectric materials; surface science; ion beam characterization; molecular beam epitaxy; field-emission display materials; self-assembled monolayers; first-principles materials computations.
Prof. Manuel Quevedo, Research Professor
Novel materials and device structures for hybrid organic-inorganic CMOS devices. Organic and Inorganic Solar cells, functional materials and sensors.
Prof. Husam N Alshareef, Research Professor
Functional thin films and devices, especially targeting energy harvesting, energy storage and flexible electronics applications. The functional materials of interest include piezoelectric, ferroelectric, thermoelectric, and photovoltaic (solar cell) films and nanocomposites.
Prof. Wiley P Kirk, Research Professor
Materials for nanoscale quantum electronic devices, multi-junction solar cells, semiconductor devices, using molecular-beam epitaxy. Other interests include experimental transport and magnetoconduction in mesoscopic systems, semiconductors in low-dimensional configurations, quantum Hall effect, macroscopic quantum effects, many-body effects in quantum solids/liquids, and cryogenics.
