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Message from Dr. Harold Haugen, Chair of Engineering Physics
I would like to welcome you to this WEB site which describes the Department of Engineering Physics. We are a medium sized department with 14 full time Faculty Members, as well as several Adjunct Faculty, Associate Members, and Professor Emeriti. The Department has a strong dedication to teaching, as well as a very high level of research activity which incorporates effective connections with industry. This combination offers an excellent opportunity for students to obtain a solid foundation in the fundamentals of our discipline, while at the same time being exposed to an environment which makes strong connections with companies, and research and development. The moderate size of our Department allows us on the one hand to maintain a comprehensive coverage of our areas of emphasis, while on the other hand ensuring good communication between students and our instructors.
Engineering Physics is based on a broad scientific basis, but in contrast to the approach of science departments, brings these fundamentals to bear on a wide range of problems of current relevance to engineering and technology. Thus students will acquire a strong background in mathematics and basic science, as well as engineering principles, and will through the undergraduate program be able to apply this knowledge to a wide range of applications. We regard this interdisciplinary aspect of our discipline as one of its key strengths. Indeed, this has opened many doors for our graduates and allowed them to excel in diverse high-technology areas in a rapidly changing world.
Our current undergraduate program emphasizes a number of different, yet often interconnected areas. In terms of energy systems, our thrusts are in the domain of nuclear engineering and solar photovoltaics. The McMaster Nuclear Reactor (MNR) and new laboratory capabilities for solar cell fabrication and testing greatly enhance the experience of students in these areas. We also have a strong component in nanotechnology and microelectronic devices where our close connection with the Centre for Emerging Device Technologies (CEDT) contributes to the undergraduate education. A third area of emphasis involves photonics engineering for which there is a long-standing tradition in the department. Undergraduate laboratories provide an in-depth exposure to this area, and laser and optics-based research laboratories in the Department enhance the scope of potential experience. Biomedical engineering is also an emerging area of emphasis for our Department and is part of a broad effort within the Faculty of Engineering.
Our department has undergone a period of substantial renewal in recent years with the hiring of several faculty members. This has led to a strong enhancement of our research thrusts in areas of nuclear engineering and energy systems, nano- and micro-device engineering, and photonics. We anticipate that the process of renewal will continue in the next few years. Our graduate students experience a stimulating environment where our close connections with a number of McMaster research facilities provide the basis for cutting-edge R&D in our areas of specialization.
This WEB site is intended as a first introduction to our Department, and we hope that you find it interesting and informative. If you have questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you !