Director's Message
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Our department offers graduate study leading to
the degrees of Master of Science (M.S.) and
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Materials
Science and Engineering. Both programs provide
students with a broad and advanced understanding of
modern materials science, with an emphasis on the
manner in which fundamental science is applied in the design and synthesis of
new engineering materials.
The program produced its first M.S. in 1969 and its first Ph.D. graduate in 1971. From the start, the program has been an integrated one, rather than growing out of an older program in mining, metallurgy, or ceramics, as have many others. All types of materials are actively studied and researched at Stony Brook, which has the distinction of having two National Science Foundation-funded Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSECs) housed in a single department - only one other university matches this achievement. In addition, the department houses two major programs in crystal growth, including NASA-funded work on crystal growth in the microgravity environment provided by the Space Shuttle. While the graduate program has achieved distinction in a very broad range of areas, including thermal spray, polymers, crystal growth, surface science, thin films, electron microscopy, and X-ray topography, there is still a unifying theme to much of the work done here. Almost all of the research relates in some way to the science and engineering of surfaces or interfaces, and this provides a unique basis for collaborative research, crossing many of the traditional boundaries within the field. Brookhaven National Laboratory is located nearby, and adds many other opportunities for our students to enhance their research experience.
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 GRADUATE COURSES Learning how to view the growth and structural concurrence across an interface is just one of the things students can discover. |
 PERSPECTIVES Former students discuss their experiences, such as what it is like to operate an experiment in one of the department's many labs. |
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Our graduate students come from far and wide, and from a range of educational backgrounds that is almost as broad as their geographical diversity. Graduates from the program can be found in all types of technical employment, including universities, national labs, and large and small corporations. In their careers, they move rapidly to positions of high prominence, and we can count a number of full professors, senior managers, research directors, and company vice presidents among our alumni. Stony Brook is at the heart of a range of industry-enabling materials initiatives. We welcome your interest in rising to the challenges with us. |
 RESEARCH FACILITIES This water-stabilized plasma torch, which is used for processing materials, is just one of the many tools students use in the course of their studies. |
 PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The program offers students the opportunity to examine a variety of materials, including this layered "splat" structure of an alumina coating. Each splat is about 50æm in diameter. |
 To keep the department on top of the latest innovations, our faculty often meet to share ideas for new research projects. |
