Department of Nanotechnology & Engineering

Faculty

Professor Emeritus and Distinguished Service Professor
Hassaram Bakhru, Ph.D., Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics

Professors Emeriti
Alain C. Diebold, Ph.D., Purdue University
Eric Lifshin, Ph.D., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Professors
Robert Brainard, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Nathaniel Cady, Ph.D., Cornell University
Kathleen Dunn, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison
Harry Efstathiadis, Ph.D., City University of New York
Robert Geer, Ph.D., University of Minnesota
Mengbing Huang
Vincent LaBella, Ph.D., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Ji Ung Lee, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison
James Lloyd, Ph.D., Stevens Institute of Technology
J. Andres Melendez, Ph.D., University at Albany (Department Chair)
Serge Oktyabrsky, Ph.D., P.N. Lebedev Physics Institute-Moscow
Fatemeh (Shadi) Shahedipour-Sandvik, Ph.D., Northwestern University
Susan Sharfstein, Ph.D., University of California-Berkeley
Scott Tenenbaum, Ph.D., Tulane University
Bradley Thiel, Ph.D., University of Washington-Seattle
Yubing Xie, Ph.D., Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Associate Professors
Ben Boivin, Ph.D., University of Montreal
Gregory Denbeaux, Ph.D., Duke University
Eric Eisenbraun, Ph.D., University at Albany
Michael Fancher, M.A., University at Albany
Michael Fasullo, Ph.D., Stanford University
Spyros Gallis (Spyridon Galis), Ph.D., University at Albany
Janet Paluh, Ph.D., University of California-Berkeley
Unni Pillai, Ph.D., University of Minnesota
Woongje Sung, Ph.D., North Carolina State University
Carl Ventrice, Ph.D., Drexel University
Yongqiang (Alex) Xue, Ph.D., Purdue University

Professors of Practice
Thomas Murray, Ph.D., University of Virginia
Vadim Tokranov, Ph.D., Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences-St. Petersburg
Natalya Tokranova, Ph.D., Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences-St. Petersburg

Instructors/Lecturers
Vidya Kaushik
Miguel Rodriguez
Christophe Vallee

Academic Advisors
Ashley Corona

Teaching Assistants (estimated): 12

The Department of Nanoscale Science & Engineering (NSE) offers two undergraduate majors, Nanoscale Science and Nanoscale Engineering. The two programs are designed to educate students to explore, discover, and innovate, while ensuring their proficiency in one of the two pillars of nanotechnology. As such, NSE is committed to make certain that both programs meet or exceed the standards of scholarly excellence and academic quality required to graduate scientists, engineers, and professionals who can successfully navigate careers in nanotechnology and, in turn, deliver the innovations that are the lifeline of modern-day academic institutions, global corporations, and the business world. The two undergraduate degrees are synergistic and complementary in scope and objectives, and build on each other’s strengths to maximize return on investment and ensure paramount effectiveness in advancing the institution’s educational mission and overarching goals.

Bachelor of Science in Nanoscale Engineering

Nanoscale Science & Engineering is the application of nanoscale and quantum phenomena in developing solutions to address some of society’s most pressing challenges. It also addresses engineering challenges that arise from designing and manufacturing systems where the length-scales involved approach atomic dimensions. Our curriculum brings together foundational knowledge of physics, chemistry, biology, and materials science with a focus on how these converge at the atomic scale in order to help our students understand the origins of nanoscale phenomena and learn to design engineering solutions.  Our faculty and students are actively engaged in specialized research in areas as diverse as semiconductor engineering, fuel cell design, devices and algorithms for quantum computing, photonics, nano-bio applications, RNA engineering, plasmonic sensors, and advancing the design and manufacturing of next generation microelectronics. Our educational program, centered around our unique industrial research and development ecosystem, is designed to train high-achieving scientists, engineers, and professionals uniquely educated to pursue opportunities in emerging high technology industries – including nanoelectronics, nanomedicine, health sciences, and sustainable energy – or competitive graduate degrees in current and emerging engineering fields. 

The Nanoscale Engineering program offers students a world-renowned nanotechnology education in microchip technology and the semiconductor industry. This program equips students with access to leading edge tools in metrology, lithography - including EUV lithography - and front-end-of-line and back-end-of-line processing, as well as 200mm/300mm wafer facilities and bio-laboratories equipped for areas including molecular biology, biochemistry, toxicology and stem cell technology. 

The Bachelor of Science in Nanoscale Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

General Program B.S. (combined major and minor sequence):

A minimum of 101 credits as follows: 

Math and Science (38 credits)

  • I NEN/I NSC 114 Chemical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering I 
  • I NEN/I NSC 115 Chemical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering Laboratory I 
  • I NEN/I NSC 116 Chemical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering II 
  • I NEN/I NSC 117 Chemical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering Laboratory II 
  • I NEN/I NSC 126 Physical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering I 
  • I NEN/I NSC 127 Physical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering Laboratory I 
  • I NEN/I NSC 128 Physical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering II 
  • I NEN/I NSC 129 Physical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering Laboratory II 
  • I NEN/I NSC 140 Physical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering III 
  • I NEN/I NSC 141 Physical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering Laboratory III 
  • A MAT 112 Calculus I 
  • A MAT 113 Calculus II 
  • A MAT 214 Calculus of Several Variables 
  • A MAT 215 Ordinary Differential Equations 
  • A MAT 220 Linear Algebra 

Nanotechnology Survey Courses (6 credits)

  • I NEN/I NSC 101 Nanotechnology Survey
  • And chose one of:
    • I NEN/I NSC 102 Societal Impacts of Nanotechnology
    • I NEN/I NSC 103 Economic Impacts of Nanotechnology
    • I NEN/I NSC 104 Disruptive Nanotechnologies

Engineering Design and Skills Electives (6 credits)

  • I NEN/I NSC 201 Introduction to Nanoscale Engineering Design and Manufacturing
  • And chose one of:                 
    • I NEN 202 Introduction to Computer Programming for Engineers
    • I NEN/I NSC 203 Introduction to Nanoengineering Electronics

Core Nanoscale Engineering Courses (36 credits)

  • I NEN/I NSC 301 Thermodynamics, Kinetics, and Statistical Mechanics of Nanoscale Systems 
  • I NEN 302 Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Properties of Nanomaterials 
  • I NEN 303 Mechanics of Nanomaterials 
  • I NEN 304 Fluid Mechanics and Transport Processes 
  • I NEN 405 Micro and Nano Materials Processing Technology 
  • I NEN 406 Fundamentals of Nanoelectronics 
  • I NEN 407 Thin Film and Nanomaterials Characterization 
  • I NEN 408 Industrial Nanomanufacturing 
  • I NEN 390 Capstone Research I 
  • I NEN 490 Capstone Research II. Team Research and Project Review 
  • I NEN 492 Capstone Research III. Team Research and Final Report 

Nanoscale Science or Engineering Topical Electives (6 credits)

Six credits of any 400 level Nanoscale Science or Nanoscale Engineering courses

Nanoengineering Concentrations (9 credits)

Choose one of these concentrations: 

1. Nanoelectronics 

  • I NEN 412 Micro and Nano Devices and Circuits
  • I NEN 413 Nanoscale Optical and Optoelectronic Devices 
  • I NEN 414 Applications of Fields and Waves to Nanoscale Systems
  • I NEN 415 Nanoelectronic Devices

2. Nanoscale Engineering for Energy & Environment Applications

  • I NEN 421 Introduction to Solar Cell Nanotechnology
  • I NEN 422 Introduction to Fuel Cell Nanotechnology 
  • I NEN 423 Renewable and Alternate Energy Nanotechnologies 
  • I NEN 424 Nanoscale Chemical and Biological Sensors 

3. Nanobiosystems Engineering

  • I NEN 424 Nanoscale Chemical and Biological Sensors 
  • I NEN 431 Advanced Materials Processing for NEMS/MEMS
  • I NEN 435 Nanobiological Systems
  • I NEN/I NSC 445 Introduction to Pharmaceuticals and Biomanufacturing 

4. Nanoscale Lithography

  • I NEN 441 Nanoscale Patterning
  • I NEN 442 Light Optics for Nanoengineering
  • I NEN 443 Charged Particle Optics for Nanoengineering

Bachelor of Science in Nanoscale Science

The Nanoscale Science program imparts a broad-based, basic and applied scientific understanding of atomic scale phenomena, behaviors, and properties of matter in order to achieve deliberate control over nanometer-scale atomic and molecular systems. The program also enables a quantitative mastery of the fundamental nature of nanoscale interactions that can be effectively used to characterize and measure the behavior and structure of nanometer scale assemblies and systems.

Our educational program, centered around our unique industrial research and development ecosystem, is designed to train high-achieving scientists, uniquely educated to pursue scientific, technical, or professional careers in emerging nanotechnology-enabled fields or competitive graduate degrees in current and emerging nanoscale science or nanoscale engineering, biotechnology and related fields, and other physical sciences such as materials science, physics, and chemistry. The Nanoscale Science program aims to equip our students with a liberal education in the foundational physical sciences, chemical sciences, mathematics, and applied science concepts, and to prepare them to demonstrate the technical and professional proficiencies necessary to enable the identification, description, discovery, experimental investigation, and theoretical interpretation of nanoscale phenomenon and, as a result, become highly successful scientists, educators, and leaders in the global “innovation economy” of the 21st century.

General Program B.S. (combined major and minor sequence):

A minimum of 101 credits as follows: 

Math and Science (38 credits)

  • I NSC/I NEN 114 Chemical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering I
  • I NSC/I NEN 115 Chemical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering Laboratory I 
  • I NSC/I NEN 116 Chemical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering II 
  • I NSC/I NEN 117 Chemical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering Laboratory II 
  • I NSC/I NEN 126 Physical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering I 
  • I NSC/I NEN 127 Physical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering Laboratory I 
  • I NSC/I NEN 128 Physical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering II 
  • I NSC/I NEN 129 Physical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering Laboratory II 
  • I NSC/I NEN 140 Physical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering III 
  • I NSC/I NEN 141 Physical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering Laboratory III 
  • A MAT 112 Calculus I 
  • A MAT 113 Calculus II 
  • A MAT 214 Calculus of Several Variables 
  • A MAT 215 Ordinary Differential Equations 
  • A MAT 220 Linear Algebra 

Nanotechnology Survey Courses (6 credits)

Choose from:

  • I NSC/I NEN 101 Nanotechnology Survey
  • I NSC/I NEN 102 Societal Impacts of Nanotechnology
  • I NSC/I NEN 103 Economic Impacts of Nanotechnology
  • I NSC/I NEN 104 Disruptive Nanotechnologies

Nanoscience Skills Electives (6 credits)

Choose from:

  • I NSC/I NEN 201 Introduction to Nanoscale Design and Manufacturing
  • I NSC 202 Computer Control of Instrumentation
  • I NSC/I NEN 203 Introduction to Nanoengineering Electronics
  • I NSC 210 Introduction to Nanobioscience
  • I NSC 250 Mechanisms: Organic Chemistry

Core Nanoscience Competencies Courses (30 credits)

  • I NSC 300 Integrated NanoLaboratory I
  • I NSC/I NEN 301 Thermodynamics, Kinetics, and Statistical Mechanics of Nanoscale Systems (3)
  • I NSC 305 Integrated NanoLaboratory II 
  • I NSC 340 Structure of Matter 
  • I NSC 350 Introduction to Quantum Theory for Nanoscale Systems 
  • I NSC 360 Nanoscale Molecular Materials and Soft Matter 
  • I NSC 410 Quantum Origins of Material Properties 
  • I NSC 390 Capstone Research I 
  • I NSC 490 Capstone Research II. Team Research and Project Review 
  • I NSC 492 Capstone Research III. Team Research and Final Report

Nanoscale Science or Engineering Topical Electives (9 credits)

Six credits of any 400 level Nanoscale Science or Nanoscale Engineering courses

Nanoscale Science Concentrations (12 credits)

Choose one of these concentrations: 

1. Materials

  • I NSC 310 Nanoscale Surfaces and Interfaces
  • I NSC 320 Advanced Physical/Chemical Concepts for Nanoscale Science
  • I NSC 420 Electronic Properties of Nanomaterials
  • I NSC 421 Nanoscale Electronic Devices
  • I NSC 431 Growth of Nanostructured Materials
  • I NSC 434 Nanostructural Characterization Techniques

2. Nanobioscience

  • I NSC 240 Biochemical Principles for Nanoscale Science
  • I NEN 424 Nanoscale Chemical and Biological Sensors
  • I NEN 435 Nanobiological Systems
  • I NSC 441 Nanobiology for Nanotechnology Applications
  • I NEN/I NSC 445 Introduction to Pharmaceuticals and Biomanufacturing
  • I NSC 447 Introduction to Cellular Signaling
  • I NSC 448 Nanotoxicology

Honors Programs in Nanoscale Engineering and Nanoscale Science

A. Admission
The Department of Nanoscale Science and Engineering offers the distinction of graduating with honors in the major for high achieving students who wish to challenge themselves. Students are evaluated in the junior year and must have an earned overall GPA of 3.25, and a 3.50 for all courses attempted in the major, at the time of admission to the honors program. Applicants must have a faculty research supervisor who is willing to support their honors project and provide as part of the completed application a written statement of purpose which explains the reasons and motivation for wanting to undertake the honors in the major program and a description of the project.

B. Requirements
Students admitted to the Honors Program in Nanoscale Engineering or Nanoscale Science will take all of the same coursework as students following the Nanoscale Engineering major or Nanoscale Science major, respectively, except that Honors students take I NEN 491 or I NSC 491 Capstone Research II. Team Research and Project Review (Honors) in lieu of I NEN 490 and I NSC 490; and I NEN 493 or I NSC 493 Capstone Research III. Team Research and Final Report (Honors) in lieu of I NEN 492 or I NSC 492. Students must also submit a thesis from the work performed during their capstone project. The honors thesis is written in the senior year, under the supervision of a faculty member in the department and is publicly defended in front of a panel of faculty members. The capstone projects are typically conducted within research groups comprised of faculty, industry mentors, graduate students, and other undergraduates.

C. Graduating with Honors in Nanoscale Engineering or Nanoscale Science
When a student who is admitted to the honors program completes all requirements, earns an overall GPA of 3.25 and a major GPA of 3.50, presents an acceptable honors project or thesis (I NEN 493 or I NSC 493) then, upon recommendation of the project advisor and honors director to the department chair, the chair will direct that the student graduate with “Honors in Nanoscale Engineering” or “Honors in Nanoscale Science” and that the appropriate designation be placed on the student’s transcript.