Program Requirements
Through courses already offered in the Faculties of Science, Engineering, and Medicine and Health Sciences, depending on the courses completed, undergraduate students will acquire knowledge in some of the following areas related to nanotechnology:
- Nanomaterial synthesis and processing approaches
- Physicochemistry and quantum behavior of nanomaterials
- State-of-the-art techniques for nanomaterial characterization and detection
- Applications of nanomaterials in engineered solutions
- Nanomaterials in medicine and pharmacology
- Nanomaterials in electronics and energy
- Environmental, health, and social impacts of nanomaterials
Minor program credit weight: 21-22 credits
Students must complete 21 credits of courses as indicated below. A maximum of 12 credits of courses in the student's major may double-count with the Minor.
Students who have not taken the listed prerequisites for any of these courses should ensure that they have the adequate background and/or meet with the instructor before registering for the course. Permission from the instructor and/or department may be required.
The program is open to undergraduate students that are in Year 2 or higher.
Complementary Courses (21-22 credits)
Group A
Students must complete a minimum of 3 credits from the following list of courses:
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BIEN 510 Engineered Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications (3 credits)
Overview
BIEN : Introduction to the interdisciplinary field of biomedical uses of nanotechnology. Emphasis on emerging nanotechnologies and biomedical applications including nanomaterials, nanoengineering, nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems, nano-based imaging and diagnostic systems, nanotoxicology and immunology, and translating nanomedicine into clinical investigation.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Kinsella, Matt; Sudalaiyadum Perumal, Ayyappasamy (Fall)
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BMDE 508 Introduction to Micro and Nano-Bioengineering (3 credits)
Overview
Biomedical Engineering : The micro and nanotechnologies that drive and support the miniaturization and parallelization of techniques for life sciences research, including different inventions, designs and engineering approaches that lead to new tools and methods for the life sciences - while transforming them - and help advance our knowledge of life.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Juncker, David (Fall)
(3-0-6)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
This course is intended for graduate and advanced undergraduate students having a biological/medical background or an engineering, physical sciences background. Engineering students enrolled in the Minor in Biomedical Engineering, or Honours in Electrical Engineering and Honours in Mechanical Engineering, should be particularly interested.
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CHEE 521 Nanomaterials and the Aquatic Environment (3 credits) *
Overview
Chemical Engineering : Environmental impacts and applications of nanomaterials. Topics: physicochemical characterization of nanoparticles in aquatic media, colloid chemistry for understanding nanoparticle aggregation and mobility in the environment, mechanisms of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by nanomaterials, nanomaterials for environmental remediation and water treatment, methodologies for assessing nanoparticle toxicity, novel research developments.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Tufenkji, Nathalie (Winter)
3-0-6
Offered each year, one year by the Department of Chemical Engineering and one year by the Department of Civil Engineering
Prerequisite(s): CHEE 315 or CIVE 225 or MIME 356 or equivalent; and CHEE 310 or CIVE 430 or CHEM 233 or equivalent; or permission of instructor.
Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken CIVE 521.
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CHEM 534 Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (3 credits) *
Overview
Chemistry : Topics discussed include scanning probe microscopy, chemical self-assembly, computer modelling, and microfabrication/micromachining.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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CIVE 521 Nanomaterials and the Aquatic Environment (3 credits) *
Overview
Civil Engineering : Environmental impacts and applications of nanomaterials. Topics: physicochemical characterization of nanoparticles in aquatic media, colloid chemistry for understanding nanoparticle aggregation and mobility in the environment, mechanisms of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by nanomaterials, nanomaterials for environmental remediation and water treatment, methodologies for assessing nanoparticle toxicity, novel research developments.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
3-0-6
Offered each year, one year by the Department of Chemical Engineering and one year by the Department of Civil Engineering
Prerequisite(s): CHEE 315 or CIVE 225 or MIME 356 or equivalent; CHEE 310 or CIVE 430 or CHEM 233 or equivalent; or permission of instructor.
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken CHEE 521.
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ECSE 535 Nanoelectronic Devices (3 credits) **
Overview
Electrical Engineering : Physical principles and modelling of nanoelectronic devices. Bandstructure and electronic density of states, Quantum wells, wires and dots. Ballistic electron transport, tunnelling and scattering mechanisms. Electrical and optical properties of nanostructures, fundamental performance limits. Research devices and materials.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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MIME 570 Micro- and Nano-Fabrication Fundamentals (3 credits)
Overview
Mining & Materials Engineering : Fundamentals of micro- and nano-fabrication technologies. Lithographic, etching, deposition, and implantation and various control parameters of these processes and their resulting effects on structure, materials quality, and conformality.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Quitoriano, Nathaniel (Fall)
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PHYS 534 Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (3 credits) *
Overview
Physics : Topics include scanning probe microscopy, chemical self-assembly, computer modelling, and microfabrication/micromachining.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Grutter, Peter H (Fall)
Fall
Restriction: U3 or graduate students in Physics, Chemistry, or Engineering, or permission of the instructor.
Group B
Students will be required to take up to 18-19 credits of courses from Group B, depending on how many courses from Group A were taken.^
Bioengineering
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BIEN 420 Biodevices Design for Diagnostics and Screening (3 credits)
Overview
BIEN : Design of analytical devices for high throughput screening (HTS) for genomics, proteomics and other “omics” applications; and for diagnostics for medical, veterinary, or environmental applications. Assessment of the specific requirements of each 'client' applications, followed by a review of specific regulations and guidelines. Theoretical and practical guidelines regarding the design of a specific micro- or nano-device, and comparison with the established state of the art in the chosen application.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Sudalaiyadum Perumal, Ayyappasamy (Winter)
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BIEN 550 Biomolecular Devices (3 credits)
Overview
BIEN : Fundamentals of motor proteins in neuronal transport, force generation e.g. in muscles, cell motility and division. A survey of recent advances in using motor proteins to power nano fabricated devices. Principles of design and operation; hands-on-experience in building a simple device.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Beaudet, Daniel (Fall)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
(3-1-5)
Chemical Engineering
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CHEE 380 Materials Science (3 credits) *
Overview
Chemical Engineering : Structure/property relationship for metals, ceramics, polymers and composite materials. Atomic and molecular structure, bonds, electronic band structure and semi-conductors. Order in solids: crystal structure, disorders, solid phases. Mechanical properties and fracture, physico-chemical properties, design. Laboratory exercises.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Girard-Lauriault, Pierre-Luc (Fall)
(3-1-5)
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CHEE 515 Interface Design: Biomimetic Approach (3 credits) *
Overview
Chemical Engineering : Investigation of the factors that cause biological surfaces to have superb functionalities; chemical and physical concepts responsible for the respective interfacial phenomena, such as surface tension, thermodynamics, kinetics, electrical double layers, surface wetting, adhesion and structural coloration; comparison of nature's solutions to engineering problems with synthetic approaches.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Kietzig, Anne-Marie (Fall)
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CHEE 543 Plasma Engineering (3 credits)
Overview
Chemical Engineering : Description of the plasma state and parameters, plasma generation methods, and of the related process control and instrumentation. Electrical breakdown in gases and a series of discharge models are covered. Plasma processing applications such as PVD, PECVD, plasma polymerisation and etching, environmental applications, nanoparticle synthesis, spraying and sterilization are treated.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Girard-Lauriault, Pierre-Luc (Fall)
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CHEE 582 Polymer Science and Engineering (3 credits)
Overview
Chemical Engineering : Application of engineering fundamentals to the preparation and processing of polymers emphasizing the relationship between polymer structure and properties. Topics include: polymer synthesis techniques, characterization of molecular weight, crystallinity, glass transition, phase behaviour, mechanical properties, visco-elasticity, rheology, and polymer processing for use in blends and composite materials.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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CHEE 585 Foundations of Soft Matter (3 credits)
Overview
Chemical Engineering : Introduction to soft condensed matter. Atomic and molecular origins of hydrodynamics and elasticity. Microscale order and disorder, phase transitions and dynamics. Polymer solutions, melts and gels. Surfactants, self-assembled structures, and fluid membranes. Colloidal dispersions, their dynamics, gels and crystals. Liquid crystals. Integration of the foregoing topics with modern experimental techniques in soft-matter research.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
(3-0-6)
Chemistry
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CHEM 334 Advanced Materials (3 credits)
Overview
Chemistry : Survey of the physical and chemical structure-function relationships defining advanced materials, including an introduction to basic materials science and characterization. Topics include supramolecular polymers, self-healing materials, advanced surfaces and adhesives, bio-inspired materials, shape memory materials, sensors and actuators, and photonic materials.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Harrington, Matthew (Winter)
Fall
Prerequisites: CHEM 110/CHEM 120 and PHYS101/PHYS 102 or PHYS 131/PHYS 142, or CEGEP Physics and Chemistry, or equivalent. Prerequisite or Corequisite: one of CHEM 203, CHEM 204, CHEM 213 and CHEM 273, or equivalent; or one of PHYS 230 and PHYS 232, or equivalent; or permission of the instructor.
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CHEM 531 Chemistry of Inorganic Materials (3 credits)
Overview
Chemistry : Structure, bonding, synthesis, properties and applications of covalent, ionic, metallic crystals, and amorphous solids. Defect structures and their use in synthesis of specialty materials such as electronic conductors, semiconductors, and superconductors, and solid electrolytes. Basic principles of composite materials and applications of chemistry to materials processing.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Winter
Prerequisite: CHEM 381
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CHEM 582 Supramolecular Chemistry (3 credits)
Overview
Chemistry : Introduction to supramolecular organization will be followed by discussions on the nature of interactions and methodologies to create ordered aggregates of high complexity. Potential of supramolecular chemistry in fabricating smart materials will be explored using specific topics including inclusion chemistry, dendrimers, molecular self-assembly and crystal engineering.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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CHEM 585 Colloid Chemistry (3 credits)
Overview
Chemistry : Principles of the physical chemistry of phase boundaries. Electrical double layer theory; van der Waals forces; Brownian motion; kinetics of coagulation; electrokinetics; light scattering; solid/liquid interactions; adsorption; surfactants; hydrodynamic interactions; rheology of dispersions.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: van de Ven, Theo (Winter)
Electrical Engineering
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ECSE 423 Fundamentals of Photonics (3 credits)
Overview
Electrical Engineering : Introduction to the fundamentals of modern optical and photonic engineering. Topics covered include the propagation of light through space, refraction, diffraction, polarization, lens systems, ray-tracing, aberrations, computer-aided design and optimization techniques, Gaussian beam analysis, micro-optics and computer generated diffractive optical elements. Experiments on physical and geometric optics.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Kirk, Andrew (Winter)
(3-2-4)
Prerequisite: ECSE 354
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ECSE 430 Photonic Devices and Systems (3 credits)
Overview
Electrical Engineering : Introduction to photonic devices and applications. Semiconductor lasers, optical amplifiers, optical modulators, photodetectors and optical receivers, optical fibers and waveguides, fiber and waveguide devices. Photonic systems (communications, sensing, biomedical). Experiments on characterizing photonic devices and systems. Optical test-and-measurement instrumentation.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Liboiron-Ladouceur, Odile (Fall)
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ECSE 433 Physical Basis of Transistor Devices (4 credits)
Overview
Electrical Engineering : Quantitative analysis of diodes and transistors. Semiconductor fundamentals, equilibrium and non-equilibrium carrier transport, and Fermi levels. PN junction diodes, the ideal diode, and diode switching. Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJT), physics of the ideal BJT, the Ebers-Moll model. Field effect transistors, metal-oxide semiconductor structures, static and dynamic behaviour, small-signal models. Laboratory experiments.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Szkopek, Thomas (Winter)
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ECSE 519 Semiconductor Nanostructures and Nanophotonic Devices (3 credits) **
Overview
Electrical Engineering : Physics, design, synthesis, and fundamental properties of semiconductor nanostructures, quantum dots, nanowires, and nanotubes. Nanoscale confinement of radiation, properties of microcavities, whispering gallery modes, photonic crystals, strong vs. weak coupling, and Purcell effect. Quantum dot lasers, nanowire LEDs, and photonic crystal lasers. Nonclassical light sources. Solar cells and thermoelectric devices.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Zhao, Songrui (Fall)
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ECSE 536 RF Microelectronics (3 credits) **
Overview
Electrical Engineering : Introduction to Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits and wireless transceiver architectures. Modelling of passive/active integrated devices. Design of monolithic bipolar and CMOS LNAs, mixers, filters, broadband amplifiers, RF power amplifiers, VCOs, and frequency synthesizers. Analysis of noise and non-linearity in RFICs. Project using modern RFIC simulation/layout CAD tools.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Bensalem, Roufaida (Winter)
(3-3-3)
Prerequisite: ECSE 335 and permission of the instructor.
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ECSE 571 Optoelectronic Devices (3 credits) **
Overview
Electrical Engineering : Physical basis of optoelectronic devices including Light Emitting Diodes, semiconductor optical amplifiers, semiconductor lasers, quantum well devices, and solid state lasers. Quantitative description of detectors, optical modulation, optical logic devices, optical interconnects, and optomechanical hardware. Throughout the course, photonic systems applications will be addressed.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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ECSE 596 Optical Waveguides (3 credits) **
Overview
Electrical Engineering : An in-depth analysis to guided-wave propagation. Dielectric waveguides (slab, 2D, nonlinear, spatial solitons), optical fibers (modes, dispersion relations, propagation in dispersive, nonlinear fibers, temporal solitons), beam propagation method, coupled mode theory, waveguide devices (couplers, gratings, etc.). Selection of current research topics of interest (e.g., photonic crystals, optical signal processing, etc.).
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
(3-0-6)
Prerequisite: ECSE 354
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MIME 262 Properties of Materials in Electrical Engineering (3 credits) *
Overview
Mining & Materials Engineering : Properties of a material continuum and crystalline state; properties of atoms in materials; conduction electrons in materials; electronic properties of semiconductors and metals; magnetic and thermal properties of materials; applications of electronic materials in semiconductor technology, recording media and transducers.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Bevan, Kirk H. (Fall)
(3-1-5)
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking ECSE 212.
Mechanical Engineering
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MECH 500 Selected Topics in Mechanical Engineering (3 credits) ***
Overview
Mechanical Engineering : A course to allow the introduction of new topics in Mechanical Engineering as needs arise, by regular and visiting staff.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Cao, Changhong (Fall) Higgins, Andrew J (Winter)
(3-0-6)
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MECH 553 Design and Manufacture of Microdevices (3 credits)
Overview
Mechanical Engineering : Introduction to microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Micromachining techniques (thin-film deposition; lithography; etching; bonding). Microscale mechanical behaviour (deformation and fracture; residual stresses; adhesion; experimental techniques). Materials- and process-selection. Process integration. Design of microdevice components to meet specified performance and reliability targets using realistic manufacturing processes.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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MECH 556 Microfluidics and BioMEMS (3 credits)
Overview
Mechanical Engineering : Fundamentals of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) and microfluidic devices (also called lab-on-a-chip devices), and their applications to biology and medicine. Topics include: microfabrication techniques, MEMS sensing and actuation principles, microfluidics theories, microfluidic device design, packaging and characterization of MEMS and microfluidic devices, bioanalytical techniques in microfluidics. Students will have the opportunity to conduct two term designs in microfluidics and bioMEMS.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Note: (3-0-6)
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MIME 260 Materials Science and Engineering (3 credits) *
Overview
Mining & Materials Engineering : Structure properties and fabrication of metals, polymers, ceramics, composites; engineering properties: tensile, fracture, creep, oxidation, corrosion, friction, wear; fabrication and joining methods; principles of materials selection.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Lee, Jinhyuk; Paray, Florence (Fall) Yue, Stephen; Paray, Florence (Winter)
(2-2-5)
Materials Engineering
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MIME 261 Structure of Materials (3 credits) *
Overview
Mining & Materials Engineering : Classification of materials, electrons in atoms, molecules and solids, bonding in solids, elements of crystallography, common crystal structures, atoms positions, directions and planes in crystal structures, defects in crystalline solids, point defects, dislocations, structure of polycrystalline materials, grains, grain boundaries, non-crystalline solids.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Paray, Florence; Amegadzie, Mark (Fall)
(3-2-4)
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MIME 467 Electronic Properties of Materials (3 credits)
Overview
Mining & Materials Engineering : Electrons as particles and waves, Schrodinger's Equation, electrical and thermal conductivity, semiconductors, semiconductor devices, fundamentals of magnetism, superconductivity and superconductive materials, dielectric materials, optical properties of materials, LASERs and waveguides. Advanced materials and their technological applications. An introduction to quantum mechanics will be included which will be the foundation upon which energy band diagrams will be built and understood.
Terms: Summer 2025
Instructors: Quitoriano, Nathaniel (Summer)
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MIME 515 (Bio)material Surface Analysis and Modification (3 credits) *
Overview
Mining & Materials Engineering : Material surface properties and how they affect their real-world applications, with emphasis on biologically relevant applications. Material surface modification techniques. Material surface characterization techniques.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Cerruti, Marta (Winter)
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MIME 542 Transmission Electron Microscopy (3 credits)
Overview
Mining & Materials Engineering : Comprehensive study of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Theory, principles and practical application of imaging, analysis and advanced sample preparation relevant to biological and non-biological materials.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
(2-2-4)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
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MIME 558 Engineering Nanomaterials (3 credits)
Overview
Mining & Materials Engineering : Aspects of manufacturing bulk-nanostructured materials. Fabrication of nanosized and nanostructured precursors (metals, ceramics, intermetallics, CNT). Reactivity, handling and safety of nano-particles. Processes developed to fabricate bulk nanostructured materials (pressing and sintering, hot pressing and extrusion, ECAP, electrodeposition, spray forming, shockwave compaction). Characterisation of nanostructures. Physical and mechanical properties of nanomaterials.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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MIME 569 Electron Beam Analysis of Materials (3 credits)
Overview
Mining & Materials Engineering : Emphasis on operation of scanning and transmission electron microscopes. Topics covered are electron/specimen interactions, hardware description; image contrast description; qualitative and quantitative (ZAF) x-ray analysis; electron diffraction pattern analysis.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Gauvin, Raynald (Fall)
(2-3-4)
Prerequisite: MIME 317
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MIME 571 Surface Engineering (3 credits)
Overview
Mining & Materials Engineering : Surface science. Surface characterization. Surface modification. Coatings and thin films. Tribology. Surface engineering and control of surface properties.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
(3-0-6)
Prerequisite: MIME 362
Pharmacology
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PHAR 504 Drug Discovery and Development 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Pharmacology and Therapeutics : Nobel Prize-winning discoveries as a basis for drug development.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Multhaup, Gerhard (Winter)
Physics
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BIOL 319 Introduction to Biophysics (3 credits) *
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Emerging physical approaches and quantitative measurement techniques are providing new insights into longstanding biological questions. This course will present underlying physical theory, quantitative measurement techniques, and significant findings in molecular and cellular biophysics. Principles covered include Brownian motion, low Reynolds-number environments, forces relevant to cells and molecules, chemical potentials, and free energies. These principles are applied to enzymes as molecular machines, membranes, DNA, and RNA.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Reisner, Walter (Winter)
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PHYS 319 Introduction to Biophysics (3 credits) *
Overview
Physics : Emerging physical approaches and quantitative measurement techniques are providing new insights into longstanding biological questions. This course will present underlying physical theory, quantitative measurement techniques, and significant findings in molecular and cellular biophysics. Principles covered include Brownian motion, low Reynolds-number environments, forces relevant to cells and molecules, chemical potentials, and free energies. These principles are applied to enzymes as molecular machines, membranes, DNA, and RNA.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Reisner, Walter (Winter)
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PHYS 346 Majors Quantum Physics (3 credits)
Overview
Physics : De Broglie waves, Bohr atom. Schroedinger equation, wave functions, observables. One dimensional potentials. Schroedinger equation in three dimensions. Angular momentum, hydrogen atom. Spin, experimental consequences.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Vachon, Brigitte (Fall)
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PHYS 558 Solid State Physics (3 credits)
Overview
Physics : Properties of crystals; free electron model, band structure; metals, insulators and semi-conductors; phonons; magnetism; selected additional topics in solid-state (e.g. ferroelectrics, elementary transport theory).
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Hilke, Michael (Fall)
Fall
3 hours lectures
Restriction: U3 Honours students, graduate students, or permission of the instructor
* Students can take only one course from each set of the following courses:
- MIME 260, MIME 261, MIME 262 or CHEE 380
- CHEE 515 or MIME 515
- CHEE 521 or CIVE 521
- CHEM 534 or PHYS 534
- BIOL 319 or PHYS 319
^ A research-based course (maximum 4cr) with the focus on nanotechnology taken at McGill University may be considered for credits towards this Minor; students must obtain the approval of the research project from the Minor adviser prior to taking the course in order for the course to be counted as part of the Minor credits.
** A 3.0 or higher CGPA is required in order to take these courses.
*** When topic is appropriate, with approval from the Minor Adviser.
