MSE is a field of Engineering - MSE stands for Materials Science and Engineering. The field encompasses the spectrum of materials: metals, ceramics, polymers (plastics), semiconductors, and combinations of materials called composites. Most fields of work or study have a bit of MSE in them!

     First, what are materials? That's easy. Look around. What do you see? Materials are everywhere! The clothes we wear are made from a variety of materials. Our home is made of materials - mostly manufactured. The glass in the windows, the vinyl siding, the ceramic dinnerware, the metal silverware, and everywhere we look we see products made from materials. Most products are made from many different kinds of materials to satisfy the needs of the product. One way to look at materials is to consider the various generic descriptions such as:
     Metals: Materials that are normally combinations of "metallic elements". These elements, when combined, usually have   electrons that are non localized and as a consequence have generic types of properties. Metals usually are good conductors of heat and electricity. Also, they are quite strong but malleable and tend to have a lustrous look when polished.
    Ceramics: Ceramics are generally compounds between metallic and nonmetallic elements and include such compounds as oxides, nitrides, and carbides. Typically they are insulating and resistant to high temperatures and harsh environments.
    Plastics: Plastics (or polymers) are generally organic compounds based upon carbon and hydrogen. They are very large molecular structures. Usually they are low density and are not stable at high temperatures.
Semiconductors: Semiconductors have electrical properties intermediate between metallic conductors and ceramic insulators. Also, the electrical properties are strongly dependent upon small amounts of impurities.
    Composites: Composites consist of more than one material type. Fiberglass, a combination of glass and a polymer, is an example. Concrete and plywood are other familiar composites. Many new combinations include ceramic fibers in metal or polymer matrix.

For more information about what Materials Science Engineering is please go to: http://www.crc4mse.org/what/Index.html

   
These are only a few of the many topics that can be undertaken for a two-term thesis or a term of independent work.

Very thin films on dissimilar substrates
Novel materials for mid-infrared photonics
On-the-fly laser modifications of materials
Durability of biomedical titanium alloys
Thermoplastic elastomer gels
Environmental control of polymer surfaces