Chemical Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering (Nanotechnology)

The University of Waterloo offers the first Master of Applied Science (MASc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs in Nanotechnology of its kind in Canada. The interdisciplinary research programs, jointly offered by three departments in the Faculty of Science and four in the Faculty of Engineering, provide students with a stimulating educational environment that spans from basic research through to application. The goal of the collaborative programs is to allow students to gain perspectives on nanotechnology from a wide community of scholars within and outside their disciplines in both course and thesis work.

The MASc degree collaborative program provides a strong foundation in the emerging areas of nano-science or nano-engineering in preparation for the workforce or for further graduate study and research leading to a doctoral degree.  Four key areas of research strengths have been identified: nanomaterials, nano-electronics design and fabrication, nano-instruments and devices, and nano-biosystems. The objective of the PhD program is to prepare students for careers in academia, industrial R & D and government research labs. Students from Science and Engineering will work side-by-side in world class laboratory facilities namely, the Giga-to-Nano Electronics Lab (G2N), Waterloo Advanced Technology Lab (WatLAB) and the new 225,000 gross sq. ft. Nano-Quantum Center expected to be completed in early 2011.

There are nearly 50 faculty members involved in nanotechnology research at the university with many who are internationally renowned leaders in their fields. Among them are seven Canada Research Chairs and two NSERC Industrial Research Chairs.

Admission requirements are the same as home department programs. The home department in which the applicant intends to pursue graduate study must approve the application. Interested students should apply directly to one of the following departments via the regular university application process:

Biology

Chemical Engineering

Chemistry

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering

Physics and Astronomy

Systems Design Engineering

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements are the same as those for MASc and PhD in Chemical Engineering. Please refer to the following website: https://uwaterloo.ca/chemical-engineering/current-graduate-students/

Degree Requirements

• 4 courses (0.50 unit weight per course), including 2 required NANO core courses and 2 elective courses from approved list:
  • At most 1 of this group: 500 level or held with.
  • At most 2 courses may be taught by supervisor(s).
  • At most 1 reading course.
• MASc seminar presentation.
• MASc Thesis, required to do an informal oral examination prior to completion of degree.
• Seminar attendance.

• 3 courses (0.50 unit weight per course, including 2 required NANO core courses and 1 elective course from approved list:
  • At most 1 of this group: 500 level or held with.
  • At most 1 course may be taught by supervisor(s).
  • At most 1 reading course.
• PhD Comprehensive Exam.
• PhD Nanotechnology seminar presentation (Defense).
• PhD Thesis.
• Seminar attendance.

• 7 courses (0.50 unit weight per course), including 2 required NANO core courses and one elective from approved list:
  • At most 2 of this group: 500 level or held with).
  • At most 2 course may be taught by supervisor(s).
  • At most 1 reading course.
• PhD Comprehensive Exam.
• PhD Nanotechnology seminar presentation (Defense).
• PhD Thesis.
• Seminar attendance.

Required Nanotechnology Core Courses

Core courses are designed to provide the base knowledge and skill set required to prepare students for more specialized courses and to conduct interdisciplinary nanoscale research. Generally, students are required to take two core courses and complete the Nanotechnology seminar. All core courses will have written examinations. 

• NANO 701 Fundamentals of Nanotechnology (take two 0.25 modules to be equivalent to 0.50 total credit weight).
• NANO 702 Nanotechnology Tools (take two 0.25 modules to be equivalent to 0.50 total credit weight).

Core Course Exemptions

• 2 core courses for MASc
• 2 core courses for PhD students with a MASc
• 4 core courses for PhD students without a MASc

The number of courses taught by supervisor(s) and reading courses taken towards credit are the same as outlined above.

• Full time MASc students should attend 12 seminars (including eight nanotechnology WIN seminars) and PhD students should attend 24 seminars (including eight nanotechnology WIN seminars) over the course of their degree program (seminars in Chemical Engineering, WIN and from units in the approved list only). Attendance is taken at Chemical Engineering Seminars, students must fill out attendance form and get it signed for WIN Seminars and other approved seminars.
• All regular students must achieve a minimum cumulative average of 70% AND a minimum grade of 65% in any individual course (except for core courses which require 70%). Students are responsible for monitoring their academic records. Any inadequate grade or average should be brought to the immediate attention of the Graduate Coordinator. Note that the constraints on crediting of courses taught by supervisor (s) are the same as in regular Chemical Engineering MASc and PhD programs.

Nanotechnology Seminar

This seminar is a forum for student presentation of research results or proposals. Invited speakers from academia and industry will also present results of research from time to time. The range of topics that will be addressed in the seminar crosses all areas of research in the collaborative program. Each student is required to present at least one research seminar. To receive credit, students are required to attend at least eight seminars other than their own before completing their program.

Faculty Advisors/Thesis Supervisors

Current listing of thesis supervisors and their home departments can be found at the following link: http://chemeng.uwaterloo.ca/nano/

For more information, please contact:

Judy Caron
Graduate Studies Office, Chemical Engineering
Email: j2caron@uwaterloo.ca
(519) 888-4567 ext 32620