UNC Greensboro’s Ph.D. in Nanoscience with a concentration in Materials Science and Nanomaterials prepares doctoral students to conduct advanced research on the structure, synthesis, properties, characterization, and performance of materials at the nanoscale. Offered through the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (JSNN), the concentration combines the interdisciplinary foundations of nanoscience with focused doctoral study in areas such as nanomaterials chemistry, solid-state physics, materials modeling, spectroscopy, nanoscale reactions, biomaterials, and materials synthesis.
Students conduct original dissertation research while developing the theoretical, experimental, and analytical skills needed to investigate how nanoscale structure influences material behavior and how advanced materials can be designed for scientific and technological applications.
WhY Choose UNCG for Your PHd In Nanoscience, Frontier Materials
Materials research at the nanoscale requires expertise that crosses traditional boundaries among chemistry, physics, engineering, computation, and materials science. At JSNN, doctoral students study in an interdisciplinary environment where these fields come together to investigate the relationships among material structure, composition, processing, and performance.
JSNN supports research in nanomaterials, including the synthesis, processing, manufacturing, and characterization of nanostructured materials. Students also benefit from an environment with advanced materials-analysis, microscopy, characterization, and fabrication capabilities.
The Materials Science and Nanomaterials concentration allows Ph.D. students to build additional depth in materials-focused coursework while conducting original research within the broader Nanoscience doctoral program.
Materials Science and Nanomaterials PHD Curriculum
Students in the Materials Science and Nanomaterials concentration complete focused graduate coursework in addition to the interdisciplinary foundations, laboratory training, research, and dissertation requirements of the Nanoscience Ph.D.
Concentration coursework may include:
- Advanced quantum and solid-state physics
- Mathematical modeling of complex systems
- Nanomaterials chemistry
- Nanoscience laboratory and characterization techniques
- Macromolecular and supramolecular chemistry
- Spectroscopy methods
- Biomimetics and biomaterials
- Nanoscale reactions
- Materials synthesis and processing
- Computational quantum nanochemistry
These courses allow students to develop expertise in both the fundamental science of materials and the experimental or computational methods used to investigate nanoscale structure and behavior.
The concentration coursework is integrated into the broader Nanoscience Ph.D. curriculum, which also includes laboratory training, scientific communication, research ethics, doctoral research, and dissertation work.
“Integrating AI and nanoscience can produce an absolutely new paradigm that will help us better understand the nature of nanomaterials and use them in technological applications that we did not even imagine before.”
–Dr. Tetyana Ignatova, Nanoscience
Career Outcomes and Opportunities with PhD in Nanoscience, Frontier Materials
The Materials Science and Nanomaterials concentration prepares graduates for research-intensive careers involving advanced materials, nanotechnology, materials characterization, and scientific innovation.
Potential career paths include:
- Materials scientist
- Nanomaterials researcher
- Research scientist
- Materials characterization scientist
- Computational materials scientist
- Nanotechnology researcher
- Research and development scientist
- Government laboratory researcher
- Semiconductor or advanced materials researcher
- University researcher or faculty member
Graduates may work in academic institutions, government laboratories, research organizations, and industries involving advanced materials, electronics, energy, biotechnology, manufacturing, semiconductors, and other technology-driven fields.
Program Details
Degree Type: Doctoral
College/School: Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering
Program Type: Majors & Concentrations
Class Type: In Person
Catalog Name: Nanoscience, Ph.D. Frontier Materials Concentration