postgraduate prospectus - The University of the West Indies, St ...
postgraduate prospectus - The University of the West Indies, St ...
postgraduate prospectus - The University of the West Indies, St ...
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T h e f a C u l T Y o f<br />
Science & Agriculture<br />
DeParTmenT <strong>of</strong> PhYSiCS<br />
<strong>The</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Physics <strong>of</strong>fers opportunities for <strong>postgraduate</strong> studies leading<br />
to M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees by research and <strong>the</strong>sis.<br />
<strong>The</strong> research in progress, or research areas where activity is planned include:<br />
<strong>The</strong> Physics and Technology <strong>of</strong> materials<br />
<strong>The</strong> humidity characterisation and stabilisation <strong>of</strong> local timber.<br />
• Ceramics and Refractories: Syn<strong>the</strong>sis <strong>of</strong> ceramics and refractories for a<br />
wide range <strong>of</strong> applications using regional non-metal materials. Current<br />
research includes characterisation <strong>of</strong> raw materials, compositional studies,<br />
Micro-structure/property relationship.<br />
• Fuel Cells & Lithium Batteries: Development <strong>of</strong> new and novel electrolyte<br />
materials for applications in fuel cells & lithium batteries. Current research<br />
includes development <strong>of</strong> nanocomposites, ternary systems, ionic liquids,<br />
acid-base systems. Characterisation <strong>of</strong> develop materials using differential<br />
<strong>the</strong>rmal analysis (DTA), <strong>the</strong>rmal gravimeteric analysis (TGA), differential<br />
scanning calorimeter (DSC), x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron<br />
microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electrochemical<br />
impendence spectroscopy (EIS) and fuel testing.<br />
medical Physics and Bioengineering<br />
• Recordings <strong>of</strong> mass potentials as well as signals from neurons to determine<br />
<strong>the</strong> manner in which <strong>the</strong> brain with its neural network functions.<br />
• EEG <strong>St</strong>udies.<br />
• Blood flow studies for photoplethysmography.<br />
• Magnetocardiography using a superconducting quantum interference device<br />
(SQUID).<br />
• Nuclear medicine studies using radio pharmaceuticals.<br />
• Human motion analysis<br />
• Ergonomics<br />
astronomy<br />
• <strong>The</strong>oretical Astronomy<br />
• <strong>St</strong>atistical analysers and model building in areas <strong>of</strong> large scale structure<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> universe and studies <strong>of</strong> quasars.<br />
observational astronomy<br />
• This project utilises <strong>the</strong> 40-cm Meade Telescope on <strong>the</strong> Natural Sciences<br />
Building Ro<strong>of</strong>top. It is in conjunction with Tuorla Observatory in Finland.<br />
<strong>St</strong>udies involve monitoring <strong>the</strong> variability <strong>of</strong> BL Lac objects.<br />
astrobiology<br />
• Astrobiology with investigations at <strong>the</strong> mud volcanoes and pitch lake.<br />
Solar energy <strong>St</strong>udies<br />
<strong>The</strong> design, construction and testing <strong>of</strong> low and high temperature flat plate<br />
collectors for use with:<br />
• Solar crop dryers, solar cookers, solar water heaters and solar distillation<br />
units.<br />
• Solar air-conditioners, refrigerators and solar powered heat engines<br />
• Solar timber dryers (This area <strong>of</strong> research is conducted jointly with o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
departments)<br />
• Quantium Dots and Materials for <strong>the</strong> Photovoltaic<br />
• Solar water disinfection<br />
• Geo<strong>the</strong>rmal Energy <strong>St</strong>udies<br />
earth materials <strong>St</strong>udies<br />
• Various aspects <strong>of</strong> Mineralogy and Petrology <strong>of</strong> Trinidad & Tobago<br />
including resources <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> continental shelf.<br />
• Investigation <strong>of</strong> Electrical Resistivity and o<strong>the</strong>r properties <strong>of</strong><br />
Geo<strong>the</strong>rmal Rocks.<br />
environmental Physics<br />
• Environmental monitoring with respect to sound and aerosols in<br />
certain work environments.<br />
• Use <strong>of</strong> sea surface temperatures for <strong>the</strong> Caribbean region in<br />
environmental studies.<br />
• Climate change studies.<br />
quantum optics<br />
• <strong>The</strong>oretical modelling <strong>of</strong> entangled states <strong>of</strong> light, optical<br />
parametric oscillators, squeezed states.<br />
• Applications <strong>of</strong> entangled states in quantum imaging, quantum<br />
communication and quantum computing.<br />
fibre-optics, optoelectronics<br />
• Development <strong>of</strong> fibre optic sensors sensitive to diverse<br />
environmental and o<strong>the</strong>r measurands such as temperature, strain,<br />
seismic, and chemical<br />
• Transceivers for use in photoplethysmography<br />
• <strong>St</strong>eelpan analysis via optoelectronic.<br />
• Fibre Optic Lasers<br />
• Communications<br />
Signal Processing and VlSi (Very large Scale integration)<br />
• Communication Signals Processing.<br />
• VLSI solutions for speech recognition and ultra wide band (UWB)<br />
communication systems.<br />
• Data communication.<br />
<strong>The</strong> M.Phil. and Ph.D. programmes are essentially research degrees.,<br />
but nine credits <strong>of</strong> M.Sc. level taught courses are also required.<br />
<strong>St</strong>udents with a B.Sc. degree normally register for an M.Phil.<br />
programme and may, if progress is satisfactory, be considered for<br />
upgrade to <strong>the</strong> Ph.D. level after about two years. <strong>St</strong>udents may select<br />
<strong>the</strong> topic for <strong>the</strong>ir project from one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> research areas <strong>of</strong> interest<br />
in <strong>the</strong> Department. <strong>The</strong>se include materials science, medical physics,<br />
environmental physics, solar energy, quantum optics, astronomy,<br />
acoustics and electronics.<br />
Dr. Shirin haque (head)<br />
mrs. C. Charles (administrative assistant)<br />
mrs. V. Sadd-nagim (Secretary)<br />
Tel: 1 (868) 662-2002 ext 2051, 2050, 3846<br />
Fax: 1 (868) 662-9904<br />
Email: shirin.haque@sta.uwi.edu<br />
www.sta.uwi.edu t h e u n i v e r s i t y o f t h e w e s t i n d i e s – s t . a u g u s t i n e c a m p u s > page 55