This course allows graduate students an opportunity to independently investigate, under faculty supervision, topics related to microsystems engineering. Proposals for independent study activities and assessment are subject to approval by both the supervising faculty member and the department head.

Graduate-level research by the candidate on an appropriate topic as arranged between the candidate and the research advisor.

Internship is designed to enhance the educational experience of PhD students through full-time employment.

Research in an appropriate topic as arranged by doctoral candidate and dissertation adviser in fulfillment of the dissertation requirement.

This course focuses on photonic integrated circuits (PICs) - an emerging technology where photonic chips (consisting of waveguides, lasers, detectors, modulators and more) are manufactured using integrated circuit technology and closely integrated with microelectronics. The circuits are finding applications in high performance communication, computing and sensing systems. The technology is rapidly growing in complexity and demand, and as the advantages of using photons are realized and the manufacturing hurdles are overcome, photonic circuits will become ubiquitous in future microsystems. Course topics include, fundamental concepts (waveguides, interference, light-matter interaction), PIC component modeling, schematic and layout driven design, PIC fabrication techniques, and PIC testing to round out the students understanding of integrated photonics.

This course introduces nonlinear concepts applied to the field of optics. Students learn how materials respond to high intensity electric fields and how the materials response: enables the generation of other frequencies, can focus light to the point of breakdown or create waves that do not disperse in time or space solitons, and how atoms can be cooled to absolute zero using a(laser. Students will be exposed to many applications of nonlinear concepts and to some current research subjects, especially at the nanoscale. Students will also observe several nonlinear-optical experiments in a state-of-the-art photonics laboratory.

This course will introduce first year Microsystems Engineering students to microsystems and nanotechnology. Topics include, micro and nano systems; MEMS, bioMEMS, MOEMS, and NEMS; nanomaterials; nanopatterning; characterization and analytical techniques; self-assembly approaches; nanoelectronics and nanophotonics; nanomagnetics; organic electronics; and microfluidics. The course will be taught by faculty in the individual fields of nanotechnology and microsystems.