Materials Science and Engineering

Program Information
Program and Course Offerings

Candidates may be accepted for graduate work leading to the M.A.Sc. degree in Materials Science and Engineering, or for the Ph.D. degree in Materials Science and Engineering on a regular or part-time basis.

Enquiries: 905 525-9140 Ext. 26626
Website: https://www.eng.mcmaster.ca/materials

Faculty / Fall 2024

Distinguished University Professors

J.D. Embury: FRSC, FTMS, Doc Hon.Causa (NTNU Norway) / Emeritus
G.R. Purdy, M.Sc. (Alberta), Ph.D. (McMaster), D.H.C. (Grenoble), F.C.I.M., F.A.S.M., F.T.M.S., F.R.S.C., P.Eng./Emeritus
D.S. Wilkinson, M.A.Sc. (Toronto), Ph.D. (Cambridge), FRSC, FCAE, FACerS, FCIM, P.Eng / Emeritus

Professors

N. Bassim, B.S., (University of South Florida), M.Sc, Ph.D, (University of Florida), P.Eng
G. Botton, B.Eng., Ph.D. (École Polytechnique), F.M.S.A, F.R.S.C
J. Kish, B.Eng., Ph.D. (McMaster), P.Eng
A. Kitai, B.Eng. (McMaster), Ph.D. (Cornell), P.Eng. / Joint appointment with Engineering Physics
D.V. Malakhov, B.Sc. (Moscow), Ph.D. (Novosibirsk)
J. McDermid, B.Sc. (Queen’s), M.Eng., Ph.D. (McGill), P.Eng, NSERC/Stelco Industrial Research Chair in Advanced Coated Steels
M. Niewczas, M.Sci., M.Sc., Ph.D. (Krakow), P.Eng
A. Phillion, B.Eng., (McMaster), MASc, Ph.D. (UBC), P.Eng, ArcelorMittal Dofasco Chair in Ferrous Metallurgy
G. Xu, M.Sc., Ph.D. (Pittsburgh), D.E.S. (Columbia), F.C.A.E., P.Eng
I. Zhitomirsky, M.Sc. (Kalinin), Ph.D. (Moscow), P.Eng, Canada Research Chair in Micro-nanotechnology
H. Zurob, B.Eng., Ph.D. (McMaster), P.Eng

Associate Professors

K. Grandfield, B.Eng., M.A.Sc. (McMaster), Ph.D. (Uppsala), P.Eng, Canada Research Chair in Microscopy of Biomaterials and Biointerfaces / University Scholar
M. Lagos, B.S., M.Sc., Ph.D. (The State University of Campinas)
O. Rubel, M. Eng., Ph.D (Zaporozhye State Technical University), P.Eng
L. Tafaghodi Khajavi, B.Sc. (Sharif), M.A.Sc., Ph.D. (Toronto), P.Eng

Assistant Professors

B. Lee, B.Eng.BioSci, Ph.D. (McMaster)
N. Ofori-Opoku, B.Eng., M.A.Sc., Ph.D (McMaster)
K. Sask, B.Sc. (Queen’s), Ph.D. (McMaster)

Associate Members

N. Hildebrandt (Engineering Physics), Dipl. Ing. FH, University of Applied Sciences Berlin (Germany), Ph.D., University of Potsdam (Germany)
A. P. Hitchcock/(Chemistry) B.Sc. (McMaster), Ph.D. (British Columbia), F.C.I.C.
M. Jain/(Mechanical Engineering) B.E.(IIS), M.A.Sc. (Windsor), Ph.D. (Washington)
G. Kolhatkar (Engineering Physics), B.Sc., M.Sc (Ottawa), Ph.D. (Sherbrooke)

Emeritus Professors

G. Irons: P.Eng, FCIM, FCAE, Honorary Member ISIJ
J. J. Hoyt: B.Sc. (Cornell), M.Sc., Ph.D. (Berkeley)
G. Johari: FRSC, Doc Hon. Causa (Lyon), Sc.D (h.c.Dublin)
W. Lu: B.S. (Cheng-Kung), Ph.D. (Minnesota), F.C.I.M.
A. Petric: B.A.Sc., M.A.Sc, (University of Toronto), Ph.D. (École Polytechnique) P.Eng

The general requirements of the School of Graduate Studies must be met by all candidates. Additional Departmental requirements are described. All of the graduate degree programs in this Department involve course work, comprehensive examinations and research leading to a thesis. All graduate students must attend seminars arranged by the Department as part of MATLS 701 and MATLS 702 .

Research in Materials Science and Engineering

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering provides opportunities for research in a broad range of fundamental and applied topics across materials science and engineering including, but not limited to, materials processing and recycling, nanotechnology and nanoscale materials science, electronic materials, and structural materials. Detailed descriptions of research activities can be found in the web pages for each faculty member and are briefly listed below: structure-property relationships in electronic, optical, bio and nanoscale materials, electron microscopy, focussed ion beam microscopy and atom probe tomography techniques (N. Bassim); microstructure and interfaces in nanoscale functional materials, electronic structure and spectroscopy of complex oxides and alloys, electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy and atom probe tomography techniques (G. Botton); biomaterials development for orthopedics, dentistry and tissue engineering, multi-scale characterization of biominerals and biomaterials, in situ electron microscopy, electron and atom probe tomography (K. Grandfield); corrosion and environmental degradation of materials (J. Kish); vibrational spectroscopy of electronic, thermal, biological and quantum materials, electronic structure of advances materials, Structure-properties of nanoscale functional materials, Electron microscopy, Electron energy loss spectroscopy (M. J. Lagos); biomaterials, surface characterization, cell-material interface, sustainable development goals (B. Lee); computational thermodynamics, measurement, analysis and modelling of texture, thermo-mechanical treatment of aluminum alloys, experimental and numerical simulation of solidification processes (D. Malakhov); physical metallurgy of advanced high strength steel, selective oxidation, reactive wetting, continuous galvanized coatings (J. McDermid); crystallographic and kinetic aspects of phase transformations and electron microscopy in materials, magnetic and electrical properties of materials and nanomaterials, molecular dynamic and finite element modelling of the molecular structure of metals (M. Niewczas); computational materials science and modelling of phase transformations and microstructure evolution (N. Ofori-Opoku); mathematical modelling of materials and processes, 3D materials science, solidification and casting of engineering metals (A. Phillion); crystallographic and kinetic aspects of phase transformations (G. Purdy); computational modelling of optoelectronic, quantum, and energy materials (O. Rubel); biomaterials, surface modification, protein and cell interactions, blood contacting medical devices, polymers (K. Sask); sustainable high temperature extraction of metals, process metallurgy, reutilization and recycling of waste materials in metals and minerals industries (L. Tafaghodi Khajavi); microanalysis and mechanical property measurements applied to studies of mechanisms of strengthening, creep and fracture in metals and ceramics (D. Wilkinson); organic electronics, polymer fuel cells, nanostructures (G. Xu); electrodeposition of ceramics, metals, polymers and composites, nanostructured materials, nanofibres, photonic crystals, quantum dots, ferroelectric and magnetic materials, biomaterials, fuel cells (I. Zhitomirsky); microstructure evolution and its effect on mechanical properties of metals (H. Zurob).

Facilities for Research

Additional research facilities to individual laboratories in the Department include the Canadian Centre for Electron Microscopy (CCEM), The Centre for Automotive Materials and Corrosion (CAMC), and the Steel Research Centre (SRC). At the CCEM, McMaster University’s world-leading electron, ion and X-ray microscopy centre, students have access to over fifteen transmission electron, scanning electron, ion beam, atom probe and X-ray microscopes, as well as related instruments for materials characterization. The CAMC houses a state-of-the-art metallographic sample preparation lab, a mechanical properties lab with tensile, compression and fatigue testing frames, a corrosion lab with conventional and scanning electrochemical techniques and cyclic corrosion chambers, a metal forming lab with gas, liquid and solid forming frames and a high temperature lab with a quench dilatometer and various tube and box furnaces.

Programs

Master

Materials Science and Engineering, M.A.Sc.

Doctoral

Course Offerings

Materials Science and Engineering Courses