MATSC-PHD - Materials Science and Engineering (PhD)

Graduate programs lead to the degrees of Master of Science, Engineer, and Doctor of Philosophy. Graduate students can specialize in any of the areas of materials science and engineering.

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering is committed to providing academic advising in support of graduate student scholarly and professional development. When most effective, this advising relationship entails collaborative and sustained engagement by both the adviser and the advisee. As a best practice, advising expectations should be periodically discussed and reviewed to ensure mutual understanding. Both the adviser and the advisee are expected to maintain professionalism and integrity.

Faculty advisers guide students in key areas such as selecting courses, designing and conducting research, developing teaching pedagogy, navigating policies and degree requirements, and exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways.

Graduate students are active contributors to the advising relationship, proactively seeking academic and professional guidance and taking responsibility for informing themselves of policies and degree requirements for their graduate program.

For a statement of University policy on graduate advising, see the "Graduate Advising" section of this bulletin.

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) is committed to providing academic advising in support of its Ph.D. students’ education and professional development. When most effective, this advising relationship entails collaborative engagement by both the adviser and the advisee. As a best practice, advising expectations should be discussed and reviewed to ensure mutual understanding. Both the adviser and the advisee are expected to maintain professionalism and integrity.

Faculty advisers guide students in key areas such as selecting courses, designing and conducting research, developing teaching pedagogy, navigating policies and degree requirements, and exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways. The MSE Graduate Handbook provides information and suggested timelines for advising meetings in the different stages of the doctoral program, and this timeline is reviewed in the MSE Orientation held at the start of a student’s doctoral program and at the annual MSE Graduate Updates meeting in September.

During their first two-quarters of study, incoming Ph.D. students have the opportunity to connect with any member of the Ph.D. Advising Team. These faculty members provide initial guidance in course selection, assist students in exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways, and aid in identifying doctoral research opportunities. MSE does not require formal lab rotations, but students are strongly encouraged to explore research activities in two or three labs during their first academic year. MSE faculty have established a required, one-unit seminar (MATSCI 231) in the Autumn quarter of first-year. The course is intended to help students identify an adviser and initiate their new advising/mentoring relationship.

Students identify their doctoral research adviser prior to the end of February of their first year of study. This research supervisor assumes primary responsibility for the future direction of the student, taking on the roles previously filled by the program adviser, and ultimately directs the student’s dissertation. Most students find an adviser from among the primary faculty members of the department. However, the research adviser may be a faculty member from another Stanford department who is familiar with supervising doctoral students and able to provide both research advising and funding for the duration of the doctoral program. When the research adviser is from outside the department, the student must also identify a department co-adviser from the department's primary faculty to provide guidance on departmental requirements, core coursework, and opportunities.

The faculty Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) meets with all the doctoral students during the MSE Orientation at the start of the first year and is available during the academic year by email and/or appointment. The DGS or research adviser/co-adviser may initiate a meeting with any student they feel could be in academic or research distress.

The MSE student services team is also an important part of the doctoral advising team: they inform students and advisers about University and department requirements, procedures, and opportunities, and they maintain the official records of advising assignments and approvals. Students are encouraged to talk with the DGS and the student services office as they consider adviser selection, or for guidance in working with their adviser(s). Student services can discuss how a student can change program/research adviser(s), declare their Dissertation Reading Committee/Oral Exam Committee, and process for filing important paperwork.

The department's doctoral students are active contributors to the advising relationship, proactively seeking academic and professional guidance and taking responsibility for informing themselves of policies and degree requirements for their graduate program. As such the department expects students to read the monthly MSE Updates newsletter which provides deadlines, web links, and other valuable information on graduate degree progress.

The Ph.D. is conferred upon candidates who have demonstrated substantial scholarship and the ability to conduct independent research. Through course work and guided research, the program prepares students to make original contributions in Materials Science and Engineering, and related fields.