Doctor of Philosophy in Nanoengineering degree

About the Doctor of Philosophy in Nanoengineering

The Ph.D. program in Nanoengineering features coursework, laboratory rotations and extensive dissertation research involving engineering at the nanoscale. It’s designed for students with a strong academic track record who seek advanced-level education and training to pursue careers in academia, industrial or government organization that utilize nanotechnology. Students will have the opportunity to work in one or more of the following research areas: nanobiology, nanomaterials, nanometrology, nanobioelectronics, nanoenergy, and computational nanotechnology.

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Program Contacts

Title	Name	Email Address	Phone Number
Graduate Program Coordinator	Dr. Michael Curry	mlcurry@ncat.edu	(336) 285-2707
Department Chair	Dr. Emanuel Waddell	eawaddell@ncat.edu	(336) 285-2873
Executive Assistant	Karen Courtney	kcourtne@ncat.edu	(336)285-4458

Admission Requirements

In addition to the application materials required by NC A&T State University Graduate School, applicants must submit a personal statement indicating their interest in the program, research interests and potential faculty advisors, as well as a current Curriculum Vitae. Students may be admitted for the Fall term only. Applications will continue to be reviewed until June 30. The application deadline is February 28th for priority admission. Qualified applicants will have an engineering or science bachelor’s degree.

Total credit hours: 60 (post baccalaureate)

Core courses (15 credits): NANO 701, 702, 703, 704, 705.
Lab Rotations: Select 3 credit hours from NANO 851, 852, 853, 854, 855 or consortium course NAN 611 (UNCG).
Select 9 credit hours from: NANO 811, 812, 821, 823, 825, 827, 831, 841, 861, 885, 990, or consortium courses NAN 700–798 (UNCG) or other 800-level courses with approval of the advisor and graduate coordinator/department chair.
Select 9 credit hours from: NANO 711, 721, 731, 741, 811, 812, 821, 823, 825, 827, 831, 841, 861, 885, 990 or consortium courses NAN 600–798 (UNCG), excluding NAN 621, 622, 628, or other courses with approval of the advisor and graduate coordinator/department chair.
Supervised Research (6 credits): NANO 994.
Teach at least one semester.
Dissertation (18 credits): NANO 997.
Pass qualifying exam, preliminary exam, dissertation defense.
Attend all JSNN seminars.

Qualifying Examination

The Qualifying Examination is given to assess student competence in a broad range of relevant subject areas. The Qualifying Examination is given once each semester (Fall and Spring) and is held on two consecutive days. Only students with unconditional status and in good academic standing may take the Qualifying Examination. Students must take the Qualifying Examination by the end of the second semester of enrollment. In case of failure to pass in this first attempt, students will have the opportunity to take the exam in the following semester. Failure to pass the Qualifying Examination by the end of the third enrolled semester or the second attempt will result in termination from the program.

Preliminary Oral Examination

The Preliminary Oral Examination is conducted by the student’s dissertation committee and is a defense of the student’s dissertation proposal. Students must have successfully completed the qualifying examination to be eligible for the Preliminary Oral Examination. Passing this exam satisfies requirements for Ph.D. candidacy. Failure of the examination may result in dismissal from the doctoral program. The student’s Advisory Committee may permit one re-examination. At least one full semester must elapse before the re-examination. Failure on the second attempt will result in dismissal from the doctoral program.

Admission to Ph.D. Candidacy

A student will be admitted to candidacy upon successful completion of the Qualifying Examination and Preliminary Oral Examination.

Dissertation Research

A student may not register for dissertation credits before passing their Qualifying Examination. No more than 18 dissertation credits are counted toward the total credit hours requirement for the degree.

Final Oral Dissertation Defense

The Final Oral Dissertation Defense is conducted by the student’s dissertation committee. This examination is the final dissertation defense presentation that is scheduled after a dissertation is completed. The examination may be held no earlier than six months after admission to candidacy. Failure on the examination may result in dismissal from the doctoral program. The student’s Advisory Committee may permit one re-examination. At least one full semester must elapse before the re-examination. Failure on the second attempt will result in dismissal from the doctoral program.

Submission of Dissertation

Upon passing the Ph.D. Final Oral Dissertation Defense, the Ph.D. student must have the dissertation approved by each member of the student’s dissertation committee. The approved dissertation must be submitted to The Graduate College by the deadline given in the academic calendar, and must conform to the Graduate College’s guidelines for theses and dissertations.

Program-Specific Academic Policies

The qualifying exam must be attempted for the first time by the end of the second semester, and must be passed by the end of the third semester.
Assist the instructor in teaching a course or laboratory for at least one semester.

NANO 701: Simulation and Modeling Methods in Nanoscience and Nanoengineering

This course covers first principles quantum based methods, classical atomistic simulation methods interatomic potentials, modeling of bulk nanostructure metals, carbon nanotubes, soft matter and multiscale modeling techniques.

Prerequisite: NONE
3 (3:0)

NANO 702: Fundamentals of Nanoengineering: Physical Principles

This course is an introduction to physical principles involved at the nanoscale due to quantum size effects, and energy band structure engineering for nanoelectronic devices.

Prerequisite: NONE
3 (3:0)

NANO 703: Fundamentals of Nanoengineering: Chemical-Biochemical Principles

This course covers chemical and bio-chemical principles involved in design, synthesis, assembly, and performance of nanomaterials and devices. Also studied are the structure and function of biomolecules and their specific roles in nano-biomolecular interactions and signaling pathways, as well as application of chemical biological detection methods at the micro and nanoscales.

Prerequisite: NONE
3 (3:0)

NANO 704: Fundamentals of Nanomaterials

The course introduces fundamentals of nanomaterials, brings in knowledge on frontiers of the rapidly developing interdisciplinary field of nanomaterials and help to develop skills to understand and communicate in the field of nano-engineering.

Prerequisite: NONE
3 (3:0)

NANO 711: Introduction to Nanoprocessing

This course introduces students to the field of nanoprocessing including basic fabrication and processing techniques to construct nanostructures and nanomaterials through both “bottom up” and “top down” strategies. Basic nanostructure characterization techniques are integrated as a start.

Prerequisite: NONE
3 (3:0)

NANO 721: Nanobioelectronics

This course introduces the emerging areas where biology, medicine, nanofabrication and electronics coverage. The course addresses fundamental concepts and current applications of biofabrication and bioelectronic devices such as biosensors, DNA electronics, protein based devices, analytical electrochemistry, biomolecular electronics, single molecule physics, BioNano machines, and biofuel cells. A special emphasis is placed on problem-based learning targeting current issues in nanobioelectronics.

Prerequisite: NANO 702 or NANO 703 or consent of instructor
3 (3:0)

NANO 731: Introduction to Nanomodeling and Applications

This graduate level course provides an introduction to nanomodeling and applications for students with background in engineering, physical, mathematical, and biological sciences focusing on atomistic and molecular dynamics modeling.

Prerequisite: NANO 701 or consent of instructor.
3 (3:0)

NANO 741: Colloidal and Molecular Self-Assembly

This course offers an introduction to self-assembly in soft matter and the associated thermodynamic and chemical principles. Topics are covered from a materials-oriented perspective and include colloidal crystals, liquid crystals, surfactants and micelles, polymers and block copolymers, and biomolecule assembly.

Prerequisite: NONE
3 (3:0)

NANO 761: Introduction of Nano Energy

The student will conduct advanced research of interest to the student and the instructor. A written proposal which outlines the nature of the project must be submitted for approval. This course is only available to project option students

Prerequisite: NONE
3 (3:0)

NANO 785: Special Topics in Nanoengineering

This course is designed to allow the introduction of potential new courses on a trial basis or special content courses on a once only basis at the Master’s level. The topic of the course and title are determined prior to registration.

Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor.
3 (3:0)

NANO 794: Master’s Supervised Research

This course is supervised research under the mentorship of a faculty member. It is not intended to serve as the project nor thesis topic of the master’s student

Prerequisite: Master’s level standing.
3 (3:0)

NANO 796: Master’s Project

Prerequisite: Master’s level standing with project option.
3 (3:0)

NANO 797: Master’s Thesis

Master of Science thesis research will be conducted under the supervision of the thesis committee chairperson leading to the completion of the Master’s thesis. This course is available only to thesis option students and can be repeated.

Prerequisite: NONE
3 (3:0)

NANO 799: Continuation of Master’s Thesis

This is a continuation of NANO 797. This course is for master’s students who have completed all required credit hour requirements.

Prerequisite: Completion of all Thesis Credits.
3 (3:0)

NANO 811: Polymeric Materials Engineering

This course introduces polymer fundamentals, synthesis, structure and properties, and processing with an emphasis on applying basic knowledge in nanoengineering applications.

Prerequisite: NONE
3 (3:0)

NANO 812: Process Modeling in Composites

This course provides an overview of composites, composite manufacturing processes followed by transport equations, constitutive laws and their characterization in composite processing. Process modeling applications to specific composite manufacturing processes involving short fibers, continuous and woven fibers for processing with thermoplastic and reactive thermoset resin systems are discussed. Transport issues in the processing of polymer nanocomposites are briefly discussed.

Prerequisite: NANO 701 or consent of instructor.
3 (3:0)

NANO 821: Advanced Nanosystems

This course is designed to teach advanced nanosystems, which are a result of hierarchical assembly and integration of diverse and heterogeneous components including materials, molecules and components at the nanoscale. This course discusses the fundamental concepts and current trends in such advanced nanosystems with examples from nanoelectronic/photonic devices, organic-inorganic assemblies, biomimetic devices, bio-nano machines, biofuel cells etc. A special emphasis is placed on problem-based learning targeting current issues in nanosystem integration.

Prerequisite: NANO 721 or consent of instructor.
3 (3:0)

NANO 823: Compound Semiconductor and Nanostructure Devices

This course covers physics of compound semiconductors, application of Schrodinger equation to nanoscale structures; heteroepitaxy layered and self-assembled nanostructures. The course also discusses strain and bandgap engineering, materials and device options for advanced optoelectronic devices at the nanoscale.

Prerequisite: NANO 702 or consent of instructor.
3 (3:0)

NANO 825: Thin Film Technology for Device Fabrication

The course provides a fundamental understanding of the thin film deposition techniques and epitaxial growth of semiconductor materials. High vacuum technology and application of the deposition processes to the fabrication of heterostructure devices are also covered

Prerequisite: NANO 702 or consent of instructor.
3 (3:0)

NANO 831: Advanced Nanomodeling and Applications

This graduate level course is an advanced level treatment of atomistic and molecular modeling at nanoscale with a focus on the principles and background theory of the modeling methods and applications of relevance to crystalline, amorphous, ceramic, cementitious, and bio systems.

Prerequisite: NANO 731 or consent of the instructor.
3 (3:0)

NANO 841: Intermolecular and Surface Forces

This course covers the theory and principles of forces between molecules, particles, and surfaces typically relevant at micrometer and nanometer length scales. Topics include: detailed treatment of dispersion, polar, and electrostatic interactions; solvation, hydration and steric forces; adhesion and surface tension; and relevance to real material systems.

Prerequisite: Basic courses in thermodynamics recommended.
3 (3:0)

NANO 851: Computational Nanoscale Modeling Laboratory

This is a laboratory rotation course to expose and educate the students on computational modeling analysis and enabling technologies available for nanoscale modeling.