Lehigh’s Center for Photonics and Nanoelectronics operates successfully with the contribution of graduate students, postdoctoral research fellows, as well as undergraduate students.

Graduate Students

The CPN’s central mission is to produce first-rate and highly-competitive PhD graduates in the fields of photonics and nanoelectronics and applications of these core technologies, which are in high demand by Industry. Approximately 80 percent of CPN’s full-time researchers are graduate students. CPN provides these students excellent guidance from an early stage through recruitment, mentorship, and job placement to maximize their potential success.

Postdoctoral Researchers

About 20 percent of CPN full-time researchers are postdoctoral students. The postdoctoral research fellows are imperative in assisting faculty in carrying research programs to major universities. The collective strength of CPN allows the Center to secure excellent postdoctoral fellows to participate in our research programs.

Undergraduate Students

CPN promotes undergraduate students to participate in part-time research activities tied to the graduate program. This has resulted in a rising percentage of our students considering pursuing PhD opportunities following the completion of their studies. This program is fundamental in increasing the number of potential U.S.-based or U.S. citizen graduate students in the future.

Master in Photonics Program

The Master of Science Degree in Photonics is an interdisciplinary program designed to provide students with a broad training in the various aspects of photonics, including topics in electrical engineering, materials science, and physics. Admission to the program requires a B.S. or M.S. in either the engineering or physical sciences.

Applications should be directed to one of the three sponsoring departments (Electrical and Computer Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, or Physics). Procedures and admission criteria are the same as those followed by the home department. International students must satisfy minimum university language requirements.

Required Courses*(15 credits):

  • PHY 355 (3 Credits)   Nonlinear Optics
  • ECE 402 (3 Credits)   Advanced Electromagnetics (or PHY 421, Elec & Magnetism I)
  • ECE 451 (3 Credits)   Physics of Semiconductor Devices (or PHY 363, Physics of Solids)
  • ECE 450 (3 Credits)   Applied Quantum Mechanics for Engineers (or PHY 423: Advanced Quantum Mechanics I)
  • MAT 416 (3 Credits)  Optical Properties of Materials

Selected pre-requisites for the required courses may be waived by the program director for students with equivalent background.

A minimum of three courses must be selected from the following list:

  • ECE 448 (3 Credits)   Fundamentals of Photonics
  • ECE 450 (3 Credits)   Introduction to Photovoltaic Energy Systems
  • MAT 302 (3 Credits)  Electronic Properties of Materials
  • MAT 334 (4 Credits)  Electron Microscopy & Microanalysis
  • MAT 427 (4 Credits)  Advanced Scanning Electron Microscopy
  • MAT 333 (3 Credits)  Crystallography and Diffractions
  • PHY 422 (3 Credits)   Elec & Magnetism II
  • PHY 424 (3 Credits)   Quantum Mechanics II
  • PHY 446 (3 Credits)   Atomic and Molecular Physics
  • PHY 318 (3 Credits)   Computational Physics
  • PHY 352 (3 Credits)   Modern Optics (or PHY 482, Applied Optics)

In order to complete the MS degree requirements of the University, candidates must submit either a Master’s thesis or a report by enrolling in a thesis or independent course for up to 6 credit hours. Thesis or independent study courses should be at the 400 level.  The decision on a thesis or report should be made in consultation with a research advisor.