Polymer programs, anyone?

Graduate School
1

<p>Hi guys,</p>

<p>I'm currently a senior chemical engineering looking to switch fields to material science and focus on polymers. I was wondering whether any of you have a list or know of good polymer programs for graduate students. I don't want to limit myself to polymer specific programs (e.g Georgia Tech's School of Polymers, too narrow) but want to build a foundation in general material science while being able to take plenty of courses on polymers (Is this possible?). Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks</p>

2

<p>bump please.</p>

3

<p>I'll even take rumors or what you've heard about your school's polymer program.</p>

4

<p>I've heard akron and umass-amherst have great polymer programs, you may want to check them out. But i'm not sure if they are strong in material science.</p>

<p>MIT also has a unique program called "Program in Polymer Science and Technology" (<a href="http://web.mit.edu/PPST/)%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://web.mit.edu/PPST/)&lt;/a>. For this program you would enroll in the mat sci dept. (or mech, or chem, or chemistry depts.) and also apply for this program. </p>

<p>Also, what area of polymers are you interested in? Composites, nano-tech stuff, or fundamentals? </p>

<p>DMSE</a> - Graduate Academic Programs</p>

5

<p>I imagine your best bets would be looking into schools with strong chemical and materials engineering departments. Depending on the school it might be housed in either department, or split between the two of them.</p>

<p>Two of my friends from MSE undergrad went to UCSB to do polymers work, I haven't talked to them in about a year so I don't know how it's going for them. Our undergrad was at CMU where I think most all of the polymers work is done in the ChemE department. Here at Caltech I don't know any MSE professors doing polymers, though I'm sure it's an active field in ChemE and Chem.</p>

<p>Your best bet will be to find professors at your own school that do work in polymers and ask them for recommendations on schools that fit your description.</p>

6

<p>I don't recommend doing polymers as a major, since it will box you into those fields. I think your best bet is to find a chemE or materials science engineering (or better yet combined departments which is very common) and specialize in polymers research.</p>

7

<p>University of Illinois, urbana champaign</p>

8

<p>columbia's entire chem E department pretty much does polymers</p>