The program offers research opportunities over a broad range of areas including synthesis and characterization of thin films, fullerenes and nanotubes, molecular templates, self-organizing nanostructures, polymers and polymer nanoparticles, using scanning probe microscopy, physical and chemical vapor deposition methods, micromechanics, molecular beam mass spectrometry, and computational methods.

Admission to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degree programs is based upon a strong undergraduate record. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required, but undergraduate students with exceptional experience or other mitigating factors will also be considered. Except under special circumstances, applicants must submit current scores (within five years) from the general test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Since materials science is an interdisciplinary field, students from mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and other engineering- and science-related disciplines will be considered, however, at least one undergraduate introductory course in materials science should be completed before entering the program. The applicant’s undergraduate program should also include, as a minimum, two semesters of calculus and preferably an additional course in differential equations. Members of the faculty are available to evaluate each student’s undergraduate curriculum. A series of appropriate courses will be required for those students with deficiencies in their undergraduate program.