Quantum Materials Science and Engineering

Directors 
Sohrab Ismail-Beigi (Applied Physics)
Corey O’Hern (Mechanical Engineering)

Program Coordinator 
Emma Carley

Graduate Certificate in Quantum Materials Science and Engineering 

Quantum materials have played a key role in technologies with broad societal impacts (e.g., semiconductors, lasers, LEDs, and medical imaging). Their importance will increase with the growing research on harnessing quantum effects for computation and sensing (e.g., quantum computation and information research programs at leading technology companies). In addition, the role of data science and machine learning methods continue to grow in importance in all fields of science and engineering. The aim of this certificate program is to train Ph.D. students in the multidisciplinary field of quantum materials and associated data science methods to allow them to be at the cutting edge of research and engineering on understanding and using quantum matter that can lead to scientific and engineering breakthroughs.  

This certificate program is open to Ph.D. students in several graduate-degree granting programs in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, including the Departments of Applied Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, and Physics. Students can either choose to participate in the certificate program during the application process to the Graduate School or, if already enrolled in the graduate program of one of the above departments, apply to the certificate program by contacting its directors.

Core Requirements

In addition to the department-specific requirements for completing a Ph.D., this certificate program has the following requirements. For coursework, each student must successfully complete the six courses below (within the first two years of matriculating at Yale):

  1. QMSE 5010, Introduction to Quantum Materials Science and Engineering 
  2. CPSC 5530/CB&B 5555/GENE 5550 Unsupervised Learning for Big Data
  3. APHY 4480/PHYS 5480 Solid State Physics I 
  4. One of three choices for quantum mechanics: APHY 5060, Basic Quantum Mechanics; PHYS 5080, Quantum Mechanics I; or CHEM 570, Quantum Chemistry
  5. An elective course in materials science and engineering, statistical and many-body physics, or machine learning and data science. Examples include PHYS 6500, Theory of Solids I; MENG 8664, Forces on the Nanoscale; CPSC 5520, Deep Learning Theory and Applications; and MENG 8652, Solidification and Phase Transitions 
  6. Responsible Conduct of Research course (offered by each home department) 

Some exceptions and replacements for these course requirements are permitted with prior approval of the QMSE Directors. 

Certificate Requirements for Ph.D Students

To receive the certificate, students must:

  • Complete the QMSE curriculum
  • Meet with QMSE leadership at least once each year until the certificate is completed to discuss certificate progress
  • Present their research work in a public setting twice: once at Yale (research in progress, chalk talk, or departmental seminar) and once at a non-Yale conference. 
  • Participate in one QMSE outreach event organized by the directors. 
  • Complete four of the following professional development activities:
    • External Internship of at least ten weeks (fulfills 50 percent of the professional development requirement) 
    • Attend a workshop on a QMSE-related topic 
    • Attend a QMSE-hosted professional development event (held at least once per semester) 
    • Participate in the QMSE hackathon 
    • Help organize the QMSE symposium or hackathon 
    • Invite and host an external seminar speaker at Yale to present on QMSE-related research through student’s home department 
    • Meet with Yale alumni working in a QMSE-related field to learn about their career path
    • Have a career-advising appointment with the Yale Office of Career Strategy (OCS) 
  • Maintain a 60 percent attendance rate at all QMSE monthly cohort meetings until the certificate is completed. If a student receives stipend support from QMSE, 100 percent attendance is required.
  • Be admitted to candidacy in their home department or degree granting program

Certificate Requirements for Master’s Students

To receive the certificate, students must:

  • Complete the QMSE curriculum
  • Meet with QMSE leadership at least once each year until the certificate is completed to discuss certificate progress
  • Complete two of the following professional development activities:
    • Attend a workshop on a QMSE-related topic 
    • Attend a QMSE-hosted professional development event (held at least once per semester) 
    • Participate in the QMSE hackathon 
    • Help organize the QMSE symposium or hackathon 
    • Invite and host an external seminar speaker at Yale to present on QMSE-related research through student’s home department 
    • Meet with Yale alumni working in a QMSE-related field to learn about their career path
    • Have a career-advising appointment with the Yale Office of Career Strategy (OCS) 
    • Participate in a QMSE outreach event organized by the directors. 
  • Maintain a 60 percent attendance rate at all QMSE monthly cohort meetings until the certificate is completed.
  • Complete the course of study in their home department

For more information about the programming, coursework, and other enrichment activities available to QMSE students, see https://qmse.yale.edu. To contact the program email qmse@yale.edu.