FOR STUDENTS
PROGRAM DETAILS
As part of its focus to deliver exceptional education and pursue cutting edge research, the centre offers MTech and PhD degree programs in nanoscience and engineering to students.
Focus Research Areas: Materials, Electron-devices, MEMS/NEMS/Microfluidics, Nano-biotechnology, Quantum Technologies, and Photonics
i. M.Tech
M.Engg. in Semiconductor Technology
CeNSE is launching a one-year M.Engg in Semiconductor Technology from the Academic year 2024-25 (Aug’24). The objective is to align with the India Semiconductor Mission to cater to the fast-growing semiconductor ecosystem in the country in particular and in the world in general. The semiconductor industry is vast and has its requirements not just from the core subjects but from a vast range of fields. This program is designed be attractive to students from multiple streams & backgrounds while at the same time aligning with the current industrial relevance of semiconductor technology vis-a-vis the demand for skilled workforce and cutting-edge R&D in semiconductor technology.
Along with guidance from experts in the field, the selected students benefit from Industrial interactions at CeNSE, CeNSE and cutting-edge R&D facilities.
Selection
70% based on GATE score & CGPA >=8.0 (for students from CFTIs) + 30% based on interview
Duration
One year
Eligibility
• BE / B Tech or equivalent degree in any discipline or M Sc or equivalent degree in electronics engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials engineering, chemical engineering, instrumentation engineering, physics, applied physics, photonics, material science, chemistry, etc.
Approximately 20 students will be admitted each year. The candidates will be shortlisted based on GATE ranking and CGPA>=8.0 (for students from CFTIs) and will be called for an interview. Students appearing for the interview are expected to have a good grasp of the fundamentals in their respective subjects. The interview process tests the subject knowledge as well as the aptitude and interest to pursue interdisciplinary course work in nano science and engineering. The final selection will be made based on the performance at the interview.
For more course details click here
Joint M.Tech in Semiconductor Technology
A Joint Master’s degree between the Center for Nanoscience and Engineering, IISc and Taiwanese Universities being launched from the academic year 2024-25 (Aug’24) would enable a strong relationship between Indian academia and the semiconductor industry in Taiwan. This program enables students to access the semiconductor workplace during their Master’s program through academic/industry internships and projects. This helps India stay abreast in the cutting-edge semiconductor technology employment sector as per the India Semiconductor Mission. The collaborating Taiwanese universities include National Taiwan University and National Tsing Hua University.
Duration
Two years
Eligibility & Selection
• Same as IISc’s MTech in Semiconductor Technology when IISc is the parent institute.
• Same as Taiwanese University’s criteria when they are the parent institute.
Aproximately 1-2 students will be admitted each year for a collaborative program with each Taiwanese university. The selected candidates will spend one year in India and the other in the Taiwan university. Refer below to the course details under the M.Tech in semiconductor technology for more info.
M.Tech in Semiconductor Technology
CeNSE launched its M. Tech in Semiconductor Technology from the Academic year 2023-24 (Aug’23) with optional minors in the thematic areas of Nanoelectronics, Nano-bio, Photonics, Micro-systems & Packaging, Quantum Technology (in collaboration with Indian Quantum Science Initiative) and Materials (in collaboration with Department of Materials Engineering) . The objective is to align with the India Semiconductor Mission to cater to the fast-growing semiconductor ecosystem in the country in particular and in the world in general while retaining the multi-disciplinary flavor of the erstwhile M. Tech program in Nano Science & Engineering. The program is designed be attractive to students from multiple streams & backgrounds while at the same time aligning with the current industrial relevance of semiconductor technology vis-a-vis the demand for skilled workforce and cutting-edge R&D in semiconductor technology.
Along with guidance from experts in the field, the selected students benefit from Industrial interactions at CeNSE, CeNSE and Industrial fellowships, Industrial internships and cutting-edge R&D facilities.
Selection
70% based on GATE score & CGPA >=8.0 (for students from CFTIs) + 30% based on interview
Duration
Two years
Eligibility
• BE / B Tech or equivalent degree in any discipline (with GATE paper in EC,EE,ME,IN,XE-C,MT) OR M Sc or equivalent degree in Electronics or Physics (with GATE paper in PH, IN, EC).
Approximately 20 students will be admitted each year. The candidates will be shortlisted based on GATE ranking and CGPA>=8.0 (for students from CFTIs) and will be called for an interview. Students appearing for the interview are expected to have a good grasp of the fundamentals in their respective subjects. The interview process tests the subject knowledge as well as the aptitude and interest to pursue interdisciplinary course work in nano science and engineering. The final selection will be made based on the performance at the interview.
For more course details click here
Industry Sponsored fellowships for CeNSE, IISc 2nd Year MTech students
About the fellowship
The Centre for Nano Science and Engineering is launching the “MTech Fellowship Program” with the objective of attracting talent from traditional areas of engineering and science to the emerging electronics and semiconductor manufacturing industry, and supporting them to undertake research in the fields of Advanced Materials, Semiconductor Fabrication & Packaging, Semiconductor Wafer Fabrication Equipment (WFE), etc. This program will help students to efficiently bridge the gap between the foundation they have acquired in their undergraduate courses in mechanical, electrical, materials and chemical engineering or physical and chemical sciences and the job requirements of companies in this area. The benefits to Industry include access to this talent pool, an opportunity to shape the MTech curriculum and to collaborate with faculty members at CeNSE.
As part of the CeNSE MTech fellowship programme, there will be various engagements planned between the students and industry sponsors to enhance knowledge exchange and foster stronger collaboration. The fellowship will encourage students to think of challenges faced by the industry, research solutions, and open up internship opportunities for students to join the sponsoring companies. The students will get an opportunity to interact, learn, work, and get mentored by industry leaders from across the globe.
Entitlements of the Fellowship
• Enhanced fellowship of INR 24,800 per month for 12 months
• Attending conferences shall be supported
• Engagement with sponsors including opportunities for internships, placement & career guidance.
Eligibility
• All 2nd Year MTech students of Centre for Nano Science & Engineering (CeNSE)
How to Apply
• Call for applications for 2024 fellowships will be sent via email to all the second-year MTech students of CeNSE in July-2024 and the selection will be completed before 1st week of August.
Selection Process
• Applications are reviewed & selection for the fellowship is made by CeNSE faculty committee based on the information provided in the application form as well as inputs from the Industry Sponsor.
Our Sponsors
Lam Research
Lam Research is a global supplier of innovative wafer fabrication equipment and services to the semiconductor industry. Lam’s equipment and services allow customers to build smaller and better performing devices; nearly every advanced chip is built with Lam technology.
Areas of Interest: Semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment (WFE)
Given to two students with background in Mechanical & Electrical Engineering. See flyer for details.
MacDermid Alpha
MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions, a business of Element Solutions, Inc., is a global leader enabling electronics interconnection at all steps of device and systems manufacturing, through the innovative specialty chemicals and materials from our Alpha, Compugraphics, Electrolube, Kester, and MacDermid Enthone brands. We serve all global regions and every segment of the electronics supply chain.
Areas of Interest: Advanced Materials, Semiconductor Fabrication & Packaging
Given to two students with background in Materials Science, Electrical and Chemical Engineering. See flyer for details.
Applied Materials
Applied Materials is a leader in materials engineering solutions used to produce virtually every new chip and advanced display in the world. Our expertise in modifying materials at atomic levels and on an industrial scale enables customers to transform possibilities into reality. At Applied Materials, our innovations Make Possible® a Better Future.
Areas of Interest: Materials engineering solutions and semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment
Given to two 2nd Year MTech (CeNSE) students. See flyer for details.
Tokyo Electron
Tokyo Electron (TEL) is a leading global company of innovative semiconductor production equipment. Semiconductors are critical to the advancement of society and industry, and almost all semiconductor chips in the world today go through TEL’s equipment as part of the production process. It means that on an invisible yet vital level, TEL’s technologies are helping to shape the future of the world.
Areas of interest:Electronics, Material Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering.
Given to two 2nd year MTech CeNSE students. See flyer for the details
ii. Ph.D.
The Centre offers a doctoral degree program that involves rigorous course work followed by thesis research in the various research fields in the centre. For conducting their research, the PhD scholars have access to some of the best resources in the nation.
The duration of PhD completion varies between 4 and 6 years, with an average of 4.5 years for students joining after a Masters. There have been exceptional instances where the Ph.D thesis have been successfully defended in 2.5 years.
An undergraduate student with a high GPA from a Centrally Funded Technical Institute (CFTI) can have direct entry to the PhD program at CeNSE through an initiative by IISc.
Eligibility for the PhD programs:
• M.E./M.Tech. or equivalent in any discipline.
• B.E. / B.Tech. or equivalent in any Engineering discipline with a valid score in a recommended GATE paper (See list of papers for M.Tech)
• M.Sc. or equivalent in any Science discipline with a valid score in a recommended GATE paper (See list of papers for M.Tech)
• Qualification in one of the following national exams: INSPIRE, Joint CSIR UGC NET for JRF, DBT JRF, UGC NET for JRF and JEST.
Duration
Variable (typically four to six years) although there have been exceptional instances where PhD thesis have been successfully defended under 2.5 years
How to Apply
M Tech program: Admission to the M Tech program is offered only for the July session.
Ph. D program: Admissions to the PhD program is typically done for the July session. However, a limited number of topic/field specific admissions may be made for the January session as well.
The admission process starts with filing the online applications at the IISc admissions website. Candidates are shortlisted for interview based on either the scores in one of the national exams or qualification. The detailed eligibility criteria can be found here. The background of students admitted to CeNSE in the past have been mostly from ECE, Physics, Mechanical, Materials disciplines, although there are students pursuing PhD/ MTech at CeNSe whose undergraduate degrees are in areas as diverse as biotechnology or biomedical instrumentation. Shortlisted candidates have to appear for an interview at CeNSE for selection. The interview typically consists of two to three sections, namely math and analytical questions such as plotting functions, basic calculus, differential equations etc, questions related to courses taken during their UG and PG degrees, and questions probing their research aptitude. Admission is based primarily on the performance in the interview and the results are generally announced 2-3 weeks after the interview.
Post Admission M Tech
M Tech students typically spend most of their first year in taking courses. The course structure consists of a combination of core courses offered at CeNSE, and electives which the student may take from any department at IISc. Towards the end of the first semester, the students need to choose an M Tech thesis project which is an indispensable part of the successful completion of the M Tech program. Work related to the thesis starts during the 2nd semester and should result in a well-documented report culminating in the award of the M Tech degree.
Post Admission Ph.D
The most important activity after joining the Ph. D program is the selection of your research advisor. At CeNSE we give absolute freedom to choose a research advisor based on the mutual interest of the student and the faculty member. In order to make a well thought out choice of research advisor, you are encouraged to talk to the faculty members whose work interest you and spend some time in their labs and attend the group meetings to get a good idea of what research in the group involves. Students typically take between 4-8 courses depending on the prior preparation to gain a solid background in their topic of research. They should maintain a minimum CGPA of 7 throughout the course program. A major step towards the completion of a successful PhD is to pass the comprehensive exam which is held before completing two years in the PhD program. The comprehensive exam is evaluated by a committee of examiners from inside and outside the department. The committee evaluates if sufficient progress has been made towards the research goal. The exam also tests your grasp of the material discussed in your course work. After successfully passing the comprehensive exams, students focus on the research problem intensively leading to the successful defense of the PhD thesis typically within 5 years of joining the program.
Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) Scheme
For details check https://pmrf.in
The Prime Minister’s Research Fellows (PMRF) Scheme was designed in 2018-2019 for improving the quality of research in various higher educational institutions in the country. With attractive fellowships, the scheme seeks to attract the best talent into research thereby realizing the vision of development through innovation. The candidates will be selected through a rigorous selection process and their performance will be reviewed suitably through a national convention.