Nanoscale Science and Engineering

University of California, Berkeley

This is an archived copy of the 2015-16 guide. To access the most recent version of the guide, please visit http://guide.berkeley.edu.

About the Program

The Graduate Group in Nanoscale Science and Engineering (NSE) administers the designated emphasis (DE). Faculty members associated with the group come from many engineering and physical science departments and share an interest in the growing body of research surrounding the synthesis, characterization, modeling, and fabrication of nanostructured materials and devices.

Doctoral students in associated departments who wish to pursue an emphasis in nanoscale research can add the designated emphasis to their PhD degree goals. The DE curriculum is designed to fulfill one of the required area emphases of the student's PhD program while providing additional opportunities for study and collaboration across the associated disciplines.

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Admissions

Applicants to the DE must be in a PhD program in one of the associated departments at UC Berkeley, in good standing, and should petition for the addition of the Designated Emphasis in Nanoscale Science and Engineering (DE NSE) to their degree goals before applying to take the qualifying examination. At least one, and preferably more, of the faculty on the exam committee should be in the NSE Graduate Group.

Two forms must be completed and submitted to the program office: the Graduate Petition to Change Degree Goal  and the DE NSE application form, available from the program office.

You are encouraged to contact the program office for more information about the Graduate Group in NSE's activities and opportunities, as well as to learn more about nanoscale research and teaching endeavors at UC Berkeley.

For further information regarding admission to graduate programs at UC Berkeley, please see the Graduate Division's Admissions website .

Designated Emphasis Requirements

Coursework/Curriculum

One core course, two elective courses, and participation in a one-unit seminar organized by the NSE Graduate Group are required. The elective courses are chosen from these areas: Nanoscale Synthesis and Processing, Nanoscale Characterization, Nanoscale Theory and Modeling, Nano Devices, and Systems and Applications. To meet the requirement each elective should be from a distinct area.

Students will meet with a group adviser to form a study plan, and periodically check on progress towards completion.

Qualifying Exam

The qualifying exam committee will include at least one faculty member of the graduate group.

Dissertation

The dissertation committee at least one and preferably two, to ensure that the thesis contributes in a significant manner to the field.

Conferral of Degree

Upon award of the doctoral degree, the transcript record of successful participants in the NSE DE will list "PhD in [major] with Designated Emphasis in Nanoscale Science and Engineering."

Courses

Nanoscale Science and Engineering

NSE C201 Introduction to Nano-Science and Engineering 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2015, Spring 2013, Spring 2012
A three-module introduction to the fundamental topics of Nano-Science and Engineering (NSE) theory and research within chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering. This course includes quantum and solid-state physics; chemical synthesis, growth fabrication, and characterization techniques; structures and properties of semiconductors, polymer, and biomedical materials on nanoscales; and devices based on nanostructures. Students must take this course to satisfy the NSE Designated Emphasis core requirement.

NSE C203 Nanoscale Fabrication 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015, Spring 2013
This course discusses various top-down and bottom-up approaches to synthesizing and processing nanostructured materials. The topics include fundamentals of self assembly, nano-imprint lithography, electron beam lithography, nanowire and nanotube synthesis, quantum dot synthesis (strain patterned and colloidal), postsynthesis modification (oxidation, doping, diffusion, surface interactions, and etching techniques). In addition, techniques to bridging length scales such as heterogeneous integration will be discussed. We will discuss new electronic, optical, thermal, mechanical, and chemical properties brought forth by the very small sizes.

NSE C237 Computational Nano-mechanics 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Fall 2014, Spring 2014
Basic mathematics foundations, physical models, computational formulations and algorithms that are used in nanoscale simulations and modelings. They include (1) cohesive finite element methods and discontinuous Galerkin methods; (2) meshfree methods, partition of unity methods, and the eXtended finite element methods (X-FEM); (3) quasicontinuum method; (4) molecular dynamics; (5) multiscale simulations; (6) Boltzmann method.

NSE C242 Computational Nanoscience 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2009, Spring 2008, Spring 2006
A multidisciplinary overview of computational nanoscience for both theorists and experimentalists. This course teaches the main ideas behind different simulation methods; how to decompose a problem into "simulatable" constituents; how to simulate the same thing two different ways; knowing what you are doing and why thinking is still important; the importance of talking to experimentalists; what to do with your data and how to judge its validity; why multiscale modeling is both important and nonsense.

NSE 290 Special Topics in Nanoscale Science and Engineering 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
Lectures and appropriate assignments on fundamental or applied topics of current interest in nanoscale science and engineering.

NSE 298 Group Studies, Seminars, or Group Research 1 Unit

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Advanced studies in various subjects through special seminars on topics to be selected each year. Informal group studies of special problems, group participation in comprehensive design problems, or group research on complete problems for analysis and experimentation.

Contact Information

Graduate Group in Nanoscale Science and Engineering

550 Sutardja Dai Hall

Phone: 510-643-6681

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Group Chair

Constance Chang-Hasnain, PhD (EECS)

263M Cory Hall

Phone: 510-642-4315

cch@eecs.berkeley.edu

Head Graduate Adviser

Gerard Marriott (BioE)

marriott1@berkeley.edu

Program Coordinator

Avi Rosenzweig

550 Sutardja Dai Hall

Phone: 510-643-6681

Fax: 510-643-6974

victorr@eecs.berkeley.edu

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