2009-2010 Bulletin – PDF - SEAS Bulletin - Columbia University

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measurements, X-ray photoelectron
spectroscopy, inelastic light scattering,
luminescence, and nonlinear optics to
understand electrical, optical, and magnetic
properties on a quantum mechanical
level. Such methods are used to
investigate exciting new types of structures,
such as two-dimensional electron
gases in semiconductor heterostructures,
superconductors, and semiconductor
surfaces and nanocrystals.
Current Research Activities
Current research activities in the materials
science and engineering program at
Columbia focus on thin films and electronic
materials that enable significant
advances in information technologies.
Specific topics under investigation include
interfaces, stresses, and grain boundaries
in thin films; lattice defects and electrical
properties of semiconductors; laser processing
and ultrarapid solidification of
thin films; nucleation in condensed systems;
optical and electric properties of
wide-band semiconductors; synthesis of
nanocrystals, carbon nanotubes, and
nanotechnology-related materials; deposition,
in-situ characterization, electronic
testing, and ultrafast spectroscopy of
magnetoelectronic ultrathin films and
heterostructures. In addition, there is
research in surface and colloid chemistry
involving both inorganic and organic
materials such as surfactants, polymers,
and latexes, with emphasis on materials/
environment interactions.
The research activities in solid-state
science and engineering are described
later in this section.
Laboratory Facilities
Facilities and research opportunities
also exist within the interdepartmental
Materials Research Science and
Engineering Center (MRSEC), Nanoscale
Science and Engineering Center (NSEC),
and Energy Frontier Research Center
(EFRC), which focus on complex films
formed from nanoparticles, molecular
electronics, and solar energy conversion,
respectively. Modern clean room facilities
with optical and e-beam lithography, thin
film deposition, and surface analytical
probes (STM, SPM, XPS) are available.
More specialized equipment exists in individual
research groups in solid state engineering
and materials science and engineering.
The research facilities in solidstate
science and engineering are listed in
the sections for each host department.
Facilities, and research opportunities, also
exist within the interdepartmental Materials
Research Science and Engineering Center,
which focuses on complex films composed
of nanoparticles.
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
IN MATERIALS SCIENCE
AND ENGINEERING
This program provides the basis for
developing, improving, and understanding
materials and processes for electronic,
structural, and other applications. It
draws from physics, chemistry, and
other disciplines to provide a coherent
background for immediate application in
engineering or for subsequent advanced
study. The emphasis is on fundamentals
relating atomic- to microscopic-scale
phenomena to materials properties
and processing, including design and
control of industrially important materials
processes. Core courses and electives
combine rigor with flexibility and provide
opportunities for focusing on such areas
as electronic materials, polymers, ceramics,
biomaterials, structural materials, and
metals and mineral processing. There
are also opportunities for combining
materials science and engineering with
interests in areas such as medicine,
business, law, or government.
The unifying theme of understanding
and interrelating materials synthesis,
processing, structure, and properties
forms the basis of our MSAE program
and is evident in the undergraduate curriculum
and in faculty research activities.
These activities include work on polycrystalline
silicon for flat panel displays;
high-temperature superconductors for
power transmission and sensors; semiconductors
for laser and solar cell applications;
magnetic heterostructures for
information storage and novel computation
architectures; electronic ceramics for
batteries, gas sensors, and fuel cells;
electrodeposition and corrosion of metals;
and the analysis and design of hightemperature
reactors. Through involvement
with our research groups, students
gain valuable hands-on experience and
are often engaged in joint projects with
industrial and government laboratories.
The materials science and engineering
undergraduate curriculum requires
sixteen courses in the third and fourth
years, of which four are restricted electives.
This program allows students to
specialize in a subdiscipline of MSAE if
they so choose. Students must take
twelve required courses and four electives.
At least two electives must be in
the Type A category, and at most two
may be in the Type B category. The Type
B electives are listed under different
materials subdisciplines for guidance.
Still, some courses listed under different
categories may appeal to students interested
in a given area. For example,
CHEE E4252: Introduction to surface
and colloidal chemistry should also be
considered by students interested in biomaterials
and environmental materials.
Type A electives are:
CHEE E4530: Corrosion of metals
MSAE E4207: Lattice vibrations and crystal defects
MSAE E4250: Ceramics and composites
ELEN E4944: Principles of device microfabrication
Type B electives are:
BIOMATERIALS
BMEN E4300: Solid biomechanics
BMEN E4301: Structure, mechanics, and
adaptation of bone
BMEN E4501: Tissue engineering, I: biological
tissue substitutes
ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
APPH E3100: Introduction to quantum mechanics
APPH E3300: Applied electromagnetism
APPH E4100: Quantum physics of matter
APPH E4110: Modern optics
ELEN E4301: Introduction to semiconductor
devices
ELEN E4411: Fundamentals of photonics
ENVIRONMENTAL MATERIALS
EAEE E4001: Industrial ecology of Earth resources
EAEE E4160: Solid and hazardous waste
management
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS
ENME E3114: Experimental mechanics of solids
ENME E4113: Advanced mechanics of solids
ENME E4114: Mechanics of fracture and fatigue
MECE E4608: Manufacturing processes
SOFT MATERIALS AND SURFACES
CHEE C3443: Organic chemistry (note that
C3444 is not allowed)
CHEE E4252: Introduction to surface and
colloid chemistry
APMA E4400: Introduction to biophysical modeling
SEAS 2009–2010