In consultation with your research supervisor, students will successfully complete two electives. The courses available vary from year to year based on faculty availability and student demand. Courses may include topics in Solid State Theory, Computational Physics, Silicon Chemistry, Biomaterials as well as special topics in materials science. Students are also permitted to take one upper level undergraduate course as one of their elective courses by mutual agreement of their supervisor and the program director.
MTSC 6110H Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics of Materials
A comprehensive investigation of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics of materials. Including phase transitions, order-disorder phenomena, point defects in crystals, and the statistical thermodynamics of interfaces.
MTSC 6120H Theory of the Solid State
This course develops the theoretical foundations of a variety of condensed matter systems from a mathematical perspective. Prerequisite or co-requisite: MTSC 6010H, 6110H.
MTSC 6130H Surface science and catalysis
This course covers the fundamental science required to understand the atomic and electronic structure of surfaces and their chemical reactivity and the most common tools for surface characterization. Prerequisite: MTSC 6010H.
MTSC 6240H Biomaterials
An introduction to natural materials and their applications including properties of animal and plant originating materials as well as manipulation of naturally occurring materials to produce novel materials.
MTSC 6250H Polymer Science & Engineering
The course introduces the fundamental characteristics of polymers, visco-elasticity and non-Newtonian fluid mechanics. It describes the effects of temperature, crystallinity and diffusivity on polymer processing and properties. Prerequisite: MTSC 6010H.
MTSC 6260H Topics in Materials Science I
This course will focus on topics that may vary depending on the interests of the students and the availability of faculty. Some suggested topics are Nanotechnology, Optical Applications, Electrochemistry and Mass Transport in Fuel Cells.
MTSC 6270H Topics in Materials Science II
This course will focus on topics that may vary depending on the interests of the students and the availability of faculty. Some suggested topics are Nanotechnology, Optical Applications, Electrochemistry and Mass Transport in Fuel Cells.
Colloquia, Conferences and Workshops
An important part of the graduate experience is an introduction to the wider community of researchers who are participating in similar research. This will be facilitated by attendance at talks of the invited speakers in the regular OTU and Trent Science Colloquium and seminar series. Furthermore, the students will be encouraged to attend local conferences. If the student obtains significant original results, he or she will be encouraged to present a talk or a poster at a national or international conference and the supervisor of that student will be committed to help fund the travel costs.