Nanoscience and Nanoengineering Ph.D.
Contact InformationDr. Steve Smith
Nanoscience and Engineering PhD Program Director
(605) 394-5268
Steve.Smith@sdsmt.edu
Program Summary
The Nano Science and Engineering Ph.D. Program at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is an interdisciplinary Ph.D. program at the forefront of science and engineering. The goal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology is to manipulate matter at the atomic and “nano” length scales (dimensions from a few to 100’s of atomic radii), e.g. the molecular to mesoscopic levels, where new materials and phenomena have been discovered. The research required to engineer systems at these length scales will require professionals with a broad understanding of fundamental principles and the ability to cross-over into other fields. The Nano program provides the training to allow scientists and engineers to address these challenges, and the opportunity for students to engage in such research at the School of Mines while pursuing the Ph.D.
Program Description
The Nano Ph.D. program offers a research-intensive degree focused on nanoscience and nanotechnology, with an emphasis on nano-scale materials. A multi-disciplinary core curriculum is taken by students from diverse science and engineering backgrounds. These “core” courses are intended to introduce students to contemporary topics in nanoscience and nanotechnology, and to initiate a cross-disciplinary approach to research and learning. These courses can usually be completed in one, or at most two years. In addition to this core, students entering with an M.S. degree are required to take at least two electives outside the student’s traditional area of training. Students entering at the B.S. level will be expected to pursue, or take coursework equivalent to, an M.S. degree, in addition to the Nano standard curriculum.
Students from traditional science and engineering backgrounds enter the program with well-defined research interests and affiliate themselves with a research group and a faculty mentor. Current Nano program participants draw from the Departments of Chemistry and Physics, and Chemical, Electrical, Materials and Metallurgical, and Mechanical Engineering. Students with traditional training in these areas participate in cross-disciplinary research with a nano focus. Examples of active research areas are: synthesis and characterization of nanocomposite materials, photo-activated nano-inks for direct write applications, nano-energetic materials, polymer chemistry, theory of spintronic devices, high resolution electron microscopy, and nano-scale spectroscopy utilizing the near-fields of ultrafast lasers. The program has close ties with the School of Mines Center for Accelerated Applications at the Nanoscale (CAAN), a nanotechnology center with a focus on the development of nanocomposite materials, nano-scale electronic device failure analysis, and direct-write technology applications.
Nano-scale materials synthesized and characterized at the School of Mines
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| Carbon Nanotubes for improved composite materials | Al Nanoreactant for nano-energetic materials | Ag nanoparticles for Nano-inks used in direct-write |
