The Unversity of Texas at Austin

MS & PhD Program

Thrust Areas

Job Opportunities after Graduation

Graduates of the MS&E Program at UT Austin have an exceptional range of job opportunities within the high technology sector, academia, or at national laboratories both in Austin and throughout the US and abroad.

Recent graduates are now empolyed in industries including Intel Corp., Freescale, Applied Materials, Hewlett Packard, Vanguard Composites, Cypress Semiconductor, General Motors, Jordon Valley Semiconductor, Samsung, Lucent, LG Chemicals, Honda, Wafertech, Ion America, and elsewhere.

Others are employed at national labs such as Los Alamos National Laboratories, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboroatories, CNEA (Argentina), CMET (India), and NUS (Singapore).

Still others are employed in academia at institutions such as UC Berkeley, Arizona State University, Chonam Univesity, Olin College, Dongeui University, and the University of Oregon.





Summer 2008

Luo, Qiang, M.S.E.
Battery Engineer, EnerDel Inc.
Indianapolis, IN

  Supervisor: Dr. Manthiram
  Thesis:
 SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SPINEL OXYFLOURIDE CATHODES FOR LITIUM ION BATTERIES
  Quote:
 [The MS&E Graduate Program] has a diverse research area and would meet most students' needs. Graduate classes are small sized, and each student is paid close attentions to, in many courses, the homework and exams are graded by the professors themselves rather than TAs, which I think is rare.





Spring 2008


Suenne Kim, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Researcher
The Li Lab, Physics Department, The University of Texas at Austin

  Supervisor: Dr. De Lozanne
  Thesis:
 I-V TRANSPORT MEASUREMENTS OF A SINGLE UNSUPPORTED MWCNT UNDER VARIOUS BENDING DEFORMATIONS
  Quote:
 The best thing in this UT MS&E program is the real interdisciplinary nature, I think.
I majored Physics and I chose my supervisor according to my taste..and it worked.
As you can see, I'm still connected to physics and I'm enjoying it.

Si Chon Lao, M.S.E.
Currently in Ph.D. Candidacy
Materials Science & Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin

  Supervisor: Dr. Moon & Dr. Koo
  Thesis:
 Mechanical, Thermal & Flamability Characterization of Flame Retardant Polyamide 11 and 12 Nanocomposites
  Quote:
 My supervisors and research group are great. They gave me lots of opportunity in attending conferences and publishing journals and conference papers.

Rotimi Ojifinni, Ph.D.
Senior Research Engineer
ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
Houston, TX

  Supervisor: C. Buddie Mullins
  Dissertation:
 The surface Chemistry of Atomic Oxygen Pre-covered Gold
  Quote:
 If I had to do it a million times over, I will come to UT MS&E for grad school. The nature of problem solving has evolved from looking at a single issue to understanding the interconnection between many complex issues. As such, interdisciplinary programs like here at UT develops students to solve problems and conduct research in multi-disciplinary teams. One will also learn to become both a specialist and a generalist at the same time. Combined with great people, it is the most conducive environment to learn.

Yan Wu, Ph.D.
Researcher, General Motors


  Supervisor: Dr. Manthiram
  Dissertation:
 Structural and Electrochemical Characterization and Surface Modification of Layered Solid Solution Oxide Cathodes of Lithium Ion Batteries
  Quote:
 I am working as a researcher at GM to develop lithium ion batteries for
automotive application. The best part I love about this job is the freedom
to do research and at same time to be able to work closely with the
industrial application.



Feng Zhou, M.S.E.
Electrical Engineer, Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
Currently in Doctoral Candidacy
Materials Science & Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin

   Supervisor: Dr. Shi
  Thesis:
 Electronic and Thermoelectric Transport Properties of Nanowires
  Quote:
 I strongly recommend MS&E program at UT because of the leading research,
especially in nano-science and technology. The graduate student can really have
chance to devolope your abiltiy both in theory and hands on instrumentation. As graduate students, we can get access to different kinds of very expensive
research tools after get trainning, such as TEM, SEM, FIB...



 


Fall 2007

Jin Ho An, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Mechanical Engineering Department, UT Austin

  Supervisor: Dr. Ferreira
  Dissertation:
 THERMAL STRESS INDUCED VOIDS IN NANOSCALE CU INTERCONNECTS BY IN-SITU TEM HEATING
  Quote:
 Studying at UT was great. Not only do you have great core facilities with knowledgable staff, there are also a large number of high tech companies around Austin that can support your work as well. Additionally, the professors are very open to collaboration, which was absolutely wonderful. All of it combined to make my studies at UT a memorable one.

Bin Li, Ph.D.
Packaging Engineer
Intel Corporation

  Supervisor: Dr. Ho
  Dissertation:
 FABRICATION OF SILICON-BASED NANO-STRUCTURES AND THEIR SCALING EFFECTS ON MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
  Quote:
 


James Ma, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Northrop Grumman

Supervisor: Dr. Kovar
Dissertation:
 Laser Processing of TB0.3DY0.7FE1.92 Films
Quote:
  I have so many fond memories of UT. Austin is a wonderful city with small town charm but metropolitan culture. The MS&E program mirrors Austin by providing a safe environment to learn and grow while exposing one to the forefront of science and technology.


Jin-Hong Shin, Ph.D.
Research Engineer
Intel Corporation

  Supervisor: Dr. Ekerdt
           
  Dissertation:
 Fabrication of Silicon-Based Nano-Structures and their Scaling           
  Quote:
 
           




Summer 2007

Abraham Arceo, Ph.D.

  Supervisor: Dr. Green & Dr. Manthiram
               
  Dissertation:
 Thermally Induced Transitions in Polymer Thin Films
               
  Quote:
                 


Roman Caudillo, Ph.D.
Research Scientist, Intel Corporation

  Supervisor: Dr. Jose-Yacaman & Dr. Goodenough
  Dissertation:
 Magnetic, Thermoelectric, and Electronic Properties of Layered Oxides and Carbon Materials
  Quote:
  I have wonderful memories of my time spent in the Materials Science and Engineering program at UT. The research facilities are world-class, and the great diversity of research projects truly opens your eyes to the many different research topics that are available in materials science while at the same time giving you the best preparation in the one of your choosing. Above all, the people, both professors and students alike, are what make this one of the best place to pursue a graduate degree in MS&E.


Min Ding, Ph.D.
Engineer, Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.

  Supervisor: Dr. Ho
  Dissertation:
 Investigation of Electromigration Reliability of Solder Joint in Flip-Chip Packages
  Quote:
 


Shreyas Rajasekhara, Ph.D.
Engineer, Exponent Inc.

  Supervisor: Dr. Kovar
  Dissertation:
 Development of Nano/Sub-Micron Grains Structures in Metastable Austenitic Stainless Steels
  Quote:
 


Ryan Scott Smith, Ph.D.
Tech Staff Assistant II

  Supervisor: Dr. Ho
  Dissertation:
 The Effect of Ultra-Violet Light Curing on the Molecular Structure and Fracture Properties of an Ultra Low-K Material
   Quote:  


Arun Kumar Tiruvannamalai, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Meta Materialia
Columbus, OH

  Supervisor: Dr. Manthiram
  Dissertation:
 Chemical, Structural, and Electrochemical Characterization of 5 V Spinel and Complex Layered Oxide Cathodes of Lithium Ion Batteries
  Quote:
 I work as a research scientist in MetaMateria exploring the application of nanomaterials in advanced rechargeable lithium ion batteries. I enjoy working in a field that helps the world to meet the energy needs of the future. Thanks in large to the diverse courses offered through the MS&E program that inspired and trained me to unlock and understand the material world.






Spring 2007




Andre Albert, Ph.D.
Senior Process Engineer, Intel Corporation

  Supervisor: Dr. Kovar
  Dissertation:
 Nanostructured Ag Produced by LAMA
  Quote:
 "I am enjoying my time as a Senior Process Engineer at Intel. Besides a background in the relevant science, experience working with a diverse group of people and using a variety ofcharacterization techniques have both proven very helpful in my professional career."


Won Chang Choi, Ph.D.
Samsung, South Korea

  Supervisor: Dr. Manthiram
  Dissertation:
 Understanding the Capacity Fade Mechanisms of Spinel Manganese Oxide Cathodes and Improving their Performance in Lithium Ion Batteries
  Quote:
 

Yongzhu Fu, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Lynntech, Inc

  Supervisor: Dr. Manthiram
  Dissertation:
 Development of New Membranes Based on Aromatic Polymers and Heterocycles for Fuel Cells
  Quote:
 I am doing research on new polymer materials for fuel cells and lithiun-ion battery, I really like it. My experience at MS&E provided me strong background in knowledge and skills for my current research.


Jung Woo Pyun, Ph.D.
Senior Engineering, Samsung Electronics

 Supervisor: Dr. Ho
 Dissertation:
 Scaling and Process Effect on Electromigration Reliability for Cu/Low K Interconnects
 Quote:
  


Claudia Torres Garibay, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Materials Science & Engineering, University of Michigan

  Supervisor: Dr. Kovar
  Dissertation:
 Manufacturing of Intermediat-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Using Novel Cathode Compositions
  Quote: