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In the business of --- Collaborative learning Interdisciplinary research Professional training -----Since 1885
"I started out in mechanical engineering, toured the Materials Science and Engineering facilities, and transferred the next day. It's a great program. The faculty work well together, and they are always willing to help you even if you're not their student. I had an excellent education. I was able to step into a new job and start contributing within a week." ---2001 graduate
"The faculty want you to succeed--they treat you as their own sons and daughters. That was true twenty years ago, and it's still true today" ---1982 graduate
"People who get things done get ahead. I've worked with Tech grads all over the country, and Tech grads get things done." ---Edward C. Dowling Jr., senior vice-president, Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc.
"When Tech grads go out into industry, they have the hands-on experience to hit the ground running." ---1977 graduate
AcademicsInstructional Resources | Undergrad Program | Grad Program | Student Orgs | Undergrad Facilities | ICE Graduate Program—OverviewOverview—Highlights—Program—Research—Opportunities—Financial—Stature—Area—Faculty | Curriculum Requirements | How to Apply 
Highlights
Program—MS and PhD in Materials Science and EngineeringMichigan Tech's tradition as a leader in the field of materials science and engineering began in 1885 when the University was founded. The discipline focuses on the synthesis, processing, design, manufacture, properties, and applications of engineering materials-ranging from production of primary metals to development of microelectronics nanomaterials having novel properties. Our nationally recognized graduate program provides an outstanding foundation for careers in research, academia, materials production, and manufacturing. Research EmphasisThe department supports approximately 30 graduate students each year, mostly on research assistantships. Recent research sponsors include the National Science Foundation, US Department of Energy, US Department of Defense, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the automotive, aerospace, and microelectronics industries, and a number of research institutes and foundations. Graduate students have the opportunity to study composite materials, ceramics, metals and alloys, electronic and optical materials, and polymers. Research topics include synthesis and processing of primary materials, thermodynamics and kinetics of microstructural evolution, and material properties and performance. Recent research projects have focused on the following topics:
Additional OpportunitiesMichigan Tech encourages interdisciplinary research in manufacturing and materials processing. Graduate students may have the opportunity to collaborate with scientists in other departments, as well as in the following research institutes: The Institute of Materials Processing The Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Processing Financial AidIn addition to research assistantships, the department offers teaching assistantships and fellowships to qualified applicants. All students admitted to the Graduate School are considered for financial aid. StatureThe program is rigorous, and the competition for acceptance is keen. Typically five to ten new graduate students are admitted each year, and the ratio of graduate students to faculty is about 2:1. Graduate students generally develop a close working relationship with faculty members who are nationally and internationally recognized for their teaching, research, and professional service. All departmental faculty have doctoral degrees (PhD or DSc) in their fields. The department has excellent facilities and instrumentation for synthesis, processing, testing, and characterization of materials, as well as a modern computational laboratory. About Michigan Tech and HoughtonMichigan Tech was founded in 1885 and has gained world-wide recognition for innovative education, scholarship, and research. Our faculty strive to be mentors, and our graduate students receive intensive, advanced instruction and the opportunity to pursue research in a wide range of academic programs. Houghton lies in the heart of Upper Michigan's scenic Keweenaw Peninsula. The campus overlooks Portage Lake and is just a few miles from Lake Superior. Houghton has a population of 7,400 residents. The University's more than 6,600 students from many states and foreign countries make the area a vibrant multicultural community. Houghton is the safest college town in Michigan and the eighth-safest in the nation. It also has been called one of the nation's top ten summer sports meccas, and one of the top ten best places in the country to live. FacultyDrelich, J.W. PhD, Univ. of Utah. Surface chemistry; colloid science applied to mineral/material processing and recycling Hackney, S. A. PhD, Univ. of Virginia. Surface and interface dynamics; thin films and nanostructures; thermodynamics; ceramic battery materials; magnetic materials; applications of electron microscopy Lee, J. K. PhD, Stanford Univ. Phase transformations; computer modeling of structure, defects and kinetic problems; coherency strain in crystalline materials Levy, Miguel PhD, The City University of New York. Magneto-optics, ferroelectricity, integrated photonics, materials science Milligan, W. W. PhD, Georgia Institute of Technology. Mechanical behavior of materials Moran, P. D., PhD, Univ. of Wisconsin. Electronic and photonic heterostructures, water-bonding, X-ray diffraction analysis Pletka, B. J. PhD, Case Western Reserve Univ. Fracture of brittle materials, high temperature deformation, solidification of ceramics, plasma spray processing Plichta, M. R. PhD, Michigan Technological Univ. Phase transformations and microstructural stability in metals and ceramics; electron microscopy Rundman, K. B. PhD, Northwestern Univ. Austempering of gray and ductile irons, microsegregation and its effects on structure-property relationships in ductile cast irons, ausforming-austempering of ductile cast iron, structure-property relationships in cast and heat treated alloys Swenson, D.J. PhD, Univ. of Wisconsin. Thermodynamics and phase diagram modeling, diffusion and solid-state reaction kinetics and the application of these principles to the solution of mterials problems Wang, H. PhD, Univ. of Pennsylvania. Structure and dynamics in soft materials; Carbon-nanotube/polymer composites; biomimetic lipids systems; phase transformations and morphology in polymers; polymer thin films, surfaces and interfaces; Scattering methods White, C. L. PhD, Michigan Technological Univ. Interfaces, interfacial segregation, interfacial fracture, materials joining, intermetallic compounds Research/Emeritus Faculty Heckel, R. W. PhD, Carnegie-Mellon Univ. Analysis of interdiffusion in engineering materials systems, analysis of educational trends in engineering colleges and departments Heldt, L. A. PhD, Univ. of Pennsylvania. Environmental effects on mechanical properties, corrosion Hellawell, A. DPhil, Oxford Univ. Microstructural evolution during solidification Lu, S.Z., PhD, Michigan Technological University. Solification processing, numerical characterization of complex microstructures in materials Mikkola, D.E., PhD, Northwestern Univ. Structure-property-processing relationships, deformation and strengthening mechanisms, intermetallics, shape memory alloys, composites, materials characterization with diffraction and microscopy Smith, D.W., PhD, Case-Western Reserve Univ. Powder metallurgy processing, influence of porosity on mechanical and physical properties of crystalline solids Thayer, D.C., PhD, Michigan Technological Univ. Fine particle flotation, fine particle characterization, reclamation of metallurgical and chemical wastes Adjunct Faculty Bergstrom, P.L., PhD, Univ. of Michigan. Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technologies, micromachining materials and process technologies, inertial, pressure, chemical, and optical sensors, integration of MEMS devices in high density CMOS McKimpson, M.G., PhD Ohio State University, mechanical alloying, powder metallurgy processing, materials for energy conversion systems, metal matrix composites, thermomechanical processing Miller, M.H., PhD North Carolina State University, machining of ceramics, grinding wheel wear, precision engineering, optical micro-electromechanical systems Subhash, G., PhD, Univ. of California-San Diego. Micromechanics, materials, experimental mechanics, ceramics, fracture mechanics, wave propagation Wright, D.D., PhD, Northwestern Univ. Orthopedic composites, polymers, composites, polymer physics, biomaterials Yap, Y.K., PhD Osaka University, synthesis and characterization of carbon and nitride thin films, nanotubes, nanostructures, nitride single crystals, nonlinear optical crystals |
