The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree is the most advanced research degree in the Faculty. Working under the direction of a supervisor, PhD students engage in original research that contributes to their field of study. Advanced course work accompanies the pursuit of the thesis.
As a PhD student, you’ll receive guaranteed base support funding for up to four years of study. Current graduate scholarship funding tables can be viewed here.
Admission Requirements
Successful completion of a research master's degree in engineering, with an overall average of at least B+ (78%+), from an accredited institution. Current MASc students within our department can apply to fast-track into the PhD program before completing the MASc degree requirements
View the full graduate studies admission requirements here.
Program Requirements & Time for Completion
The program of study normally includes 2.0 FCE (four half-courses), including the weekly Graduate Research Seminar, the Graduate Ethics Seminar, and a thesis.
In the PhD program, the departmental seminar comprises a minimum of two seminars presented to the academic staff/students of MSE.
Within 12 months of initial enrollment, all PhD students must pass a general Qualifying Examination based on the course material taken within the Department and on the background knowledge in the student's field of specialization.
The required thesis is based upon research work carried out in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering.
PhD candidates typically take between two and six years to complete the requirements of the degree. Only full-time study is available.
See all program requirements here: MSE Graduate Student Handbook
Research Areas & Affiliated Core Professors
Additive & Advanced Manufacturing
- Zou, Yu – Extreme mechanics & Advanced Manufacturing
- Naguib, Hani E. (MIE/MSE) – Smart & Functional Materials
- Hibbard, Glenn D. – Cellular Hybrid Materials
- Coyle, Thomas W. – Advanced Coating Technologies
- Thorpe, Steven J. – Surface Engineering & Electrochemistry
Advanced Characterization & Forensics
- Perovic, Doug D. – Electron Microscopy, Microelectronics & Forensics
- Howe, Jane –In situ & correlative microscopy group
- Zou, Yu – Extreme mechanics & Advanced Manufacturing
Biomaterials
- Sone, Eli D. (BME/MSE) – Composite Biological Materials
- Hatton, Ben – Functional & Adaptive Surfaces
- Matsuura, Naomi (BME/MSE) – Nanotechnology, Molecular Imaging & Systems Biology
- Naguib, Hani E. (MIE/MSE) – Smart & Functional Materials
Coatings & Surfaces
- Hatton, Ben – Functional & Adaptive Surfaces
- Nogami, Jun – Nanostructured Growth & Characterization
- Coyle, Thomas W. – Advanced Coating Technologies
- Thorpe, Steven J. – Surface Engineering & Electrochemistry
- Ruda, Harry E. – Advanced Nanotechnology & Semiconductors
- Lian, Keryn K. – Flexible Energy & Electronics
Computational Material & Data Analytics
- Singh, Chandra Veer – Computational Materials Engineering
- Zou, Yu - Laboratory for Extreme Mechanics & Additive Manufacturing
- Hattrick-SImpers, Jason – AUTOnomous DIscovery of ALloys (AUTODIAL)
- Thorpe, Steven J. – Surface Engineering & Electrochemistry
- Hibbard, Glenn D. – Cellular Hybrid Materials
- von Lilienfeld, Anatole – Professor & Clark Chair of Advanced Materials at the Vector Institute
Electronics, Photonics & Sensors
- Kherani, Nazir P. (ECE/MSE) – Advanced Photovoltaics & Devices
- Ruda, Harry E. – Advanced Nanotechnology / Semiconductors
- Matsuura, Naomi (BME/MSE) – Nanotechnology, Molecular Imaging & Systems Biology
- Lu, Zheng-Hong – Organic Optoelectronics
Energy Generation & Storage
- Lian, Keryn K. – Flexible Energy & Electronics
- Kherani, Nazir P. (ECE/MSE) – Advanced Photovoltaics & Devices
- Thorpe, Steven J. – Surface Engineering & Electrochemistry
- Barati, Mansoor – Sustainable Materials Processing
- Azimi, Gisele – Strategic Materials
- Naguib, Hani E. (MIE/MSE) – Smart & Functional Materials
- Ruda, Harry E. – Advanced Nanotechnology & Semiconductors
- Zou, Yu – Extreme mechanics & Advanced Manufacturing
- Singh, Chandra Veer – Computational Materials Engineering
Nano, 2D & Composite Materials
- Hibbard, Glenn D. – Cellular Hybrid Materials
- Nogami, Jun – Nanostructured Growth & Characterization
- Singh, Chandra Veer – Computational Materials Engineering
- Perovic, Doug D. – Electron Microscopy , Microelectronics & Forensics
- Zou, Yu – Extreme mechanics & Advanced Manufacturing
- Ruda, Harry E. – Advanced Nanotechnology & Semiconductors
- Howe, Jane –In situ & correlative microscopy group
- Matsuura, Naomi (BME/MSE) – Nanotechnology, Molecular Imaging & Systems Biology
- Lian, Keryn K. – Flexible Energy & Electronics
Smart Materials & Devices
- Naguib, Hani E. (MIE/MSE) – Smart & Functional Materials
- Lian, Keryn K. – Flexible Energy & Electronics
- Hatton, Ben – Functional & Adaptive Surfaces
Sustainable Materials Processing
- Barati, Mansoor – Sustainable Materials Processing
- Azimi, Gisele – Strategic Materials
- Ruda, Harry E. – Advanced Nanotechnology & Semiconductors
- Lian, Keryn K. – Flexible Energy & Electronics