Department History
History and Degree Establishment
- 1989: Establishment of the Master's Program in the Department of Materials Science.
- 1992: Establishment of the Ph.D. Program in the Department of Materials Science.
- 1997: Establishment of the Undergraduate Program in the Department of Materials Science.
- 2004: Relocation to the Engineering Building 6 (over 5,000 square meters).
- 2010: Integration of the Nano Institute.
In 1987, the "Materials Science and Engineering Institute Preparation Committee" was established, with President Chang Jun-Yan and Professor Liu Zeng-Feng serving as the convener and deputy convener, respectively. In 1989, the Master's Program in Materials Science and Engineering was officially established, and in 1993, the Ph.D. program began enrolling students. In 1997, the Department of Materials Science and Engineering was approved by the Ministry of Education for establishment. Initially, faculty expansion was insufficient, but under the active efforts of Director Liu Zeng-Feng, 16 additional faculty positions were allocated to the department in 1998. In 2002, the Nano Technology Research Institute was founded, and in 2009, it merged with the Department of Materials Science and Engineering to form a single department with two institutes. The research fields of the department encompass metals, ceramics, electronics, and polymer materials. In addition to studying the fundamental physical and chemical properties of materials, the department is engaged in the development of novel materials and processing technologies, as well as advanced applications in electronics, optoelectronics, nanotechnology, biomedical fields, energy, and computational simulations.
Establishment and Relocation to Engineering Building 6
In 1997, the department officially submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Education for the construction of the Engineering Building 6. However, due to the aftermath of the 921 Earthquake, securing funding proved difficult. After multiple negotiations between Dean Liu Zeng-Feng and Director-General Huang Shi-Chang with the Ministry of Education, the project was approved with the highest rating in 1999. In 2005, the department relocated to the newly built Engineering Building 6, which was meticulously planned to provide comprehensive teaching and research resources. The department's facilities include classrooms equipped with complete audiovisual equipment, spacious undergraduate teaching laboratories, and a valuable instrument center. The Instrument Center houses over a hundred valuable analytical instruments and processing equipment, such as TEM, SEM/EDX, AES, XRD, FIB, and more. The equipment resources are among the best in the country, and the department continues to actively expand its facilities. All faculty members have their own independent laboratories, equipped with materials processing and property analysis tools across various fields, ensuring that students receive ample training and learning opportunities. The well-established research and learning environment is reflected in the faculty's outstanding research achievements. Over the past five years, the department has published nearly 400 SCI papers, all in top 20% journals within their respective fields, many of which have been widely cited. In 2006, each faculty member averaged 9.6 publications per year, setting a record for the highest quantity and quality among materials science departments in the country.
Full-time Faculty and Research Areas
All full-time faculty members in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering hold Ph.D. degrees from prestigious universities both domestically and internationally, ensuring that they are well-equipped to teach the foundational subjects of the department with ease. The academic research fields of the faculty are diverse, covering high-tech materials such as electronics, optoelectronics, and nanomaterials. Additionally, the department’s research encompasses emerging areas such as biomedical materials, energy materials, and computational simulations. The department will continue to hire outstanding faculty members from various fields to achieve its goal of fostering interdisciplinary and diverse expertise.
Achievements of Graduates and Alumni Connections
More than half of the undergraduate graduates from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering continue their studies in graduate programs at major universities in Taiwan. Our alumni have an excellent reputation across the industry, academia, and research institutions, with many achieving outstanding success. Notable examples include alumni who have held prominent positions such as Vice Plant Manager at TSMC, Senior R&D Specialist at Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE), and Director of R&D at National Pingtung University of Science and Technology. The department has established an alumni association and an alumni committee as a platform for communication. The department's website also features an alumni section to strengthen connections with graduates. Additionally, faculty members regularly collect information on the employment status of their graduates and forward it to the department assistant for coordination. The department periodically invites alumni working in industry, government, academia, and research sectors to return and give talks, sharing their educational and career experiences. These events also provide valuable input for adjusting the department's curriculum to better meet industry needs.
