The Materials Science and Engineering Program at the University of Houston is an interdisciplinary program with faculty from Mechanical, Chemical and Electrical Engineering Departments. In addition, significant collaboration occurs with the materials faculty in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The principal objectives of the materials science and engineering program may be summarized as follows: to study the mechanical, optical, electrical and electronic behavior of engineering and engineered materials used in all engineering applications. The specific areas covered by this program range from metallic alloys, polymers, ceramics and composites for advanced mechanical/aerospace engineering applications to thin films and coatings for electronics and superconducting ceramics for energy-related applications. For more information on the program, contact the program manager, Dr. Chrisdolyn Dawson.
Background
Recent technological and economic developments, emphasized by the urgent need for new energy sources, have led to increasing demands for materials, which have unusual engineering properties and applications. From both the technical and economic points of view, it is recognized that the controlling factor in these developments is frequently a materials problem. These concerns are further compounded by growing difficulties in assuring continuous availability of various strategic materials. For these reasons, the need for research and graduate education in materials engineering has never been greater.
Because of its broad interdisciplinary nature, and its strong relationship with many engineering disciplines, the Materials Science and Engineering Program leads to an interdisciplinary degree in the Cullen College of Engineering. Relevant research and teaching facilities, however, are developed by individual engineering departments, where continuous efforts are made to expand and to strengthen materials engineering research and graduate programs.