Areas of Specialization

Biomedical Engineering
The application of light (photonics), and nano- and micro-devices, in health and medicine.
Our department specializes in biophotonics and biosensors. The term biophotonics denotes a combination of biology and photonics. Photonics is the science and technology of the generation, manipulation, and detection of photons, which are the quantum units of light. Biophotonics is the development and application of optical techniques, particularly imaging, to the study of biological molecules, cells and tissue. One of the main benefits of using optical techniques is that they preserve the integrity of the biological cells being examined. Biophotonics has therefore become the established general term for all techniques that deal with the interaction between biological items and photons. This refers to emission, detection, absorption, reflection, modification, and creation of radiation from biomolecules, cells, tissues, organisms and biomaterials. Our faculty are also involved in the development and application of micro- and nano-sensors for the detection of DNA, proteins, viruses, and other biological materials.

Related Faculty

Prof. Qiyin Fang
Professor and Canada Research Chair in Biophotonics
biophotonics, microscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy & imaging, intelligent sensing for point-of-care, aging-in-place, & environmental monitoring

Dr. Leyla Soleymani
Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Miniaturized Biomedical Devices
biosensing, point-of-care diagnostics, lab-on-a-chip, DNA detection, health monitoring, nanofabrication, wrinkling, rapid prototyping

Dr. Chang-qing Xu
Professor
bacterial sensors; biomedical lasers for diagnosis and treatment; periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN); PPLN related devices; lasers (solid, fibre, semiconductor); optical sensors and sub-systems; laser applications
Related Courses
Code | Title | Instructor | Outline | Info |
---|---|---|---|---|
A brief summary of technical electivesTechnical Elective | Technical Electives Technical Elective List 1 | More Info. | ||
ENG PHYS 733Graduate | Research Project in Engineering Physics (M.Eng) |
Sessional: Various
|
More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 2A04Undergraduate | Electricity and Magnetism | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 2E04Undergraduate | Analog and Digital Circuits | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 2NE3Undergraduate | Thermal Systems Design | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 2P04Undergraduate | Computational Mechanics: Statics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 2QM3Undergraduate | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3BA4Undergraduate | Electronics I: Circuits with Non-Linear and Active Components | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3BB4Undergraduate | Electronics II: Embedding and Programming a Micro-Controller | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3E04 / PHYSICS 3N04Undergraduate | Fundamentals of Physical Optics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3F03Undergraduate | Principles of Solid-State Materials and Devices | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3H04Undergraduate | Research Project in Engineering Physics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3L04Undergraduate | Engineering Metrology | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3PD3 Undergraduate | Photonic Devices | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3PN4Undergraduate | Semiconductor Junction Devices | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3W04Undergraduate | Signals and Systems for Engineering | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4A06Undergraduate | Design and Synthesis Project | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4H04Undergraduate | Research Project in Engineering Physics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4I03 / 6I03Undergraduate / Graduate | Introduction to Biophotonics IBEHS Technical Electives | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4MD3 / 6MD3Undergraduate / Graduate | Nanoscale Semiconductor Devices | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4S03 / 6S03Undergraduate / Graduate | Lasers and Electro-Optics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4UB2Undergraduate | Biosensor Design & Fabrication Laboratory | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4UM2Undergraduate | Solar Cell Design & Fabrication Laboratory | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4UN2Undergraduate | Advanced Nuclear Engineering Laboratory | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4UP2Undergraduate | Photonics Design & Fabrication Laboratory | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4X03 / 6X03Undergraduate / Graduate | Introduction to Photovoltaics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4Z03 / 6Z03Undergraduate / Graduate | Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology | Outline | More Info. | |
_ENG PHYS 704Graduate | Selected Topics in Engineering Physics (Not offered in 2021-2022) |
Sessional: Various
|
More Info. |

Interdisciplinary Engineering
Customize your program to suit your own interests.
Interdisciplinary area where new and advanced materials, devices and systems are engineered based on a fundamental understanding of physics.
Our faculty and students push the envelope of new technologies. Research in the Engineering Physics Department emphasizes new engineering disciplines that have emerged in recent years. In these high technology areas the link between basic science and engineering application is particularly important. Research activities stress the fundamental physics that relates to the new technologies, as well as its application to practical engineering problems.
Through strong ties to industry, government, and other centres of excellence, our researchers work with others around the world to create knowledge and find engineering solutions to many of society’s problems and challenges.

Related Faculty

Dr. Jonathan Bradley
Assistant Professor and Barber-Gennum Chair in IT
silicon photonics, integrated optics, lasers, photonic materials, optical communications, sensors, microphotonic systems

Dr. Adriaan Buijs
Associate Chair, Graduate
reactor core physics, reactor modelling, reactor design, Monte Carlo methods, data analysis

Prof. Qiyin Fang
Professor and Canada Research Chair in Biophotonics
biophotonics, microscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy & imaging, intelligent sensing for point-of-care, aging-in-place, & environmental monitoring

Dr. Adrian Kitai
Professor
fundamental luminescent materials, new luminescent devices, new avalanche injection devices, optical fibre liquid crystal display technology

Prof. Rafael Kleiman
Department Chair
solar energy: photovoltaics and solar thermal, concentrator photovoltaics, solar testing and instrumentation, solar materials; silicon, III-V, hyperspectral imaging, device modelling, advanced light trapping, device fabrication

Dr. Ray LaPierre
Professor
solar cells (photovoltaics), photodetectors, quantum information processing (quantum computers)

Dr. Ryan Lewis
Assistant Professor
Self-assembly of semiconductor nanostructures, molecular beam epitaxy, III-V semiconductors, III-V on Si, optoelectronic materials and devices

Dr. John Luxat
Professor and NSERC/UNENE Senior Industrial Research Chair
Nuclear Safety Analysis Methodology, Experimental Studies in Nuclear Safety Thermalhydraulics, Severe Accident Modelling & Analysis, Advanced Fuel Cycles, Small Modular Reactors, Risk Analysis, Automatic Control

Dr. Peter Mascher
Professor
Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy; Point Defects in Materials; Thin Film Technology; Silicon Nanostructures; Silicon Photonics; Luminescence; Rare Earth Doping; PECVD; Optical Characterization; Ellipsometry

Dr. Matthew Minnick
Associate Undergraduate Chair
MEMS; Robotics; Micromachining; Resonance; Fluid-Structure Interactions; FEM; Automation

Dr. Shinya Nagasaki
Professor
radioactive waste management, nuclear fuel cycle, safety assessment of repository and nuclear fuel cycle facilities, migration of actinides, fission products and heavy metals in geosphere and biosphere, nuclear technology in society, nuclear proliferation and security

Dr. Dave Novog
Professor and NSERC Industrial Research Chair
nuclear safety, reactor physics, thermalhydraulics, multiphysics reactor analysis, nuclear fuel and fuel cycles, severe accident modelling, emergency accident response and mitigation

Dr. John Preston
Professor
Pulsed Laser Deposition, Self-Assembly of Epitaxial Nanostructures, Photovoltaics

Dr. Leyla Soleymani
Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Miniaturized Biomedical Devices
biosensing, point-of-care diagnostics, lab-on-a-chip, DNA detection, health monitoring, nanofabrication, wrinkling, rapid prototyping

Dr. Ayse Turak
Associate Professor
nanoparticle synthesis;perovskites;degradation at interfaces in organic electronics; classification of spatial order for 2D objects; modelling and tailoring of organic thin film morphology; photovoltaics; sensors; water splitting; lasers; surface and interface physics

Dr. Chang-qing Xu
Professor
bacterial sensors; biomedical lasers for diagnosis and treatment; periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN); PPLN related devices; lasers (solid, fibre, semiconductor); optical sensors and sub-systems; laser applications
Related Courses
Code | Title | Instructor | Outline | Info |
---|---|---|---|---|
A brief summary of technical electivesTechnical Elective | Technical Electives Technical Elective List 1 | More Info. | ||
ENG PHYS 733Graduate | Research Project in Engineering Physics (M.Eng) |
Sessional: Various
|
More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 2A04Undergraduate | Electricity and Magnetism | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 2CM4Undergraduate | Computational Multiphysics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 2E04Undergraduate | Analog and Digital Circuits | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 2NE3Undergraduate | Thermal Systems Design | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 2P04Undergraduate | Computational Mechanics: Statics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 2QM3Undergraduate | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3BA4Undergraduate | Electronics I: Circuits with Non-Linear and Active Components | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3BB4Undergraduate | Electronics II: Embedding and Programming a Micro-Controller | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3E04 / PHYSICS 3N04Undergraduate | Fundamentals of Physical Optics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3ES3Undergraduate | Introduction to Energy Systems | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3F03Undergraduate | Principles of Solid-State Materials and Devices | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3H04Undergraduate | Research Project in Engineering Physics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3L04Undergraduate | Engineering Metrology | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3NM4Undergraduate | Numerical Methods for Engineering | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3PN4Undergraduate | Semiconductor Junction Devices | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3SM3 Undergraduate | Statistical Mechanics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3W04Undergraduate | Signals and Systems for Engineering | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4A06Undergraduate | Design and Synthesis Project | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4H04Undergraduate | Research Project in Engineering Physics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4MD3 / 6MD3Undergraduate / Graduate | Nanoscale Semiconductor Devices | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4PP3 / 6PP3Undergraduate / Graduate | Plasma Physics Applications | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4QC3 / 6QC3Undergraduate / Graduate | Introduction to Quantum Computing | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4S03 / 6S03Undergraduate / Graduate | Lasers and Electro-Optics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4UB2Undergraduate | Biosensor Design & Fabrication Laboratory | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4UM2Undergraduate | Solar Cell Design & Fabrication Laboratory | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4UN2Undergraduate | Advanced Nuclear Engineering Laboratory | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4UP2Undergraduate | Photonics Design & Fabrication Laboratory | Outline | More Info. | |
_ENG PHYS 704Graduate | Selected Topics in Engineering Physics (Not offered in 2021-2022) |
Sessional: Various
|
More Info. |

Nanotechnology and Micro-Systems Engineering
Nanotechnology and micro-systems are the technological core of the current computer and communications revolution.
Devices that are constructed on the nanometer or micrometer scale are the technological backbone of modern society. Since the invention of the transistor in 1947 and the introduction of the integrated circuit in the early 1960’s, device components have continuously decreased in size and cost at an exponential rate, while increasing in speed and capabilities. The invention of fibre optic communications, essential for the internet, also relies on the development of optoelectronics, which is the study and application of electronic devices that generate, detect and control light. More recently, the fabrication techniques developed for the integrated circuit industry have also been extended to micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) which create tiny moving mechanical parts such as beams, gears, diaphragms, and springs that are used in inkjet-printers, accelerometers, inertial sensors, micro-mirrors, optical scanners, fluid pumps, and sensors. Novel micro-fluidic devices are also being developed for integration with lab-on-a-chip systems for biomedical and health care applications. The department is also developing nanotechnology to grow integrated circuits and systems directly on a chip.

Related Faculty

Dr. Jonathan Bradley
Assistant Professor and Barber-Gennum Chair in IT
silicon photonics, integrated optics, lasers, photonic materials, optical communications, sensors, microphotonic systems

Prof. Qiyin Fang
Professor and Canada Research Chair in Biophotonics
biophotonics, microscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy & imaging, intelligent sensing for point-of-care, aging-in-place, & environmental monitoring

Dr. Adrian Kitai
Professor
fundamental luminescent materials, new luminescent devices, new avalanche injection devices, optical fibre liquid crystal display technology

Prof. Rafael Kleiman
Department Chair
solar energy: photovoltaics and solar thermal, concentrator photovoltaics, solar testing and instrumentation, solar materials; silicon, III-V, hyperspectral imaging, device modelling, advanced light trapping, device fabrication

Dr. Ray LaPierre
Professor
solar cells (photovoltaics), photodetectors, quantum information processing (quantum computers)

Dr. Ryan Lewis
Assistant Professor
Self-assembly of semiconductor nanostructures, molecular beam epitaxy, III-V semiconductors, III-V on Si, optoelectronic materials and devices

Dr. Peter Mascher
Professor
Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy; Point Defects in Materials; Thin Film Technology; Silicon Nanostructures; Silicon Photonics; Luminescence; Rare Earth Doping; PECVD; Optical Characterization; Ellipsometry

Dr. Matthew Minnick
Associate Undergraduate Chair
MEMS; Robotics; Micromachining; Resonance; Fluid-Structure Interactions; FEM; Automation

Dr. John Preston
Professor
Pulsed Laser Deposition, Self-Assembly of Epitaxial Nanostructures, Photovoltaics

Dr. Leyla Soleymani
Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Miniaturized Biomedical Devices
biosensing, point-of-care diagnostics, lab-on-a-chip, DNA detection, health monitoring, nanofabrication, wrinkling, rapid prototyping

Dr. Ayse Turak
Associate Professor
nanoparticle synthesis;perovskites;degradation at interfaces in organic electronics; classification of spatial order for 2D objects; modelling and tailoring of organic thin film morphology; photovoltaics; sensors; water splitting; lasers; surface and interface physics
Related Courses
Code | Title | Instructor | Outline | Info |
---|---|---|---|---|
A brief summary of technical electivesTechnical Elective | Technical Electives Technical Elective List 1 | More Info. | ||
ENG PHYS 723Graduate | Semiconductor Diode Laser Physics |
Sessional: Jean-Pierre Landesman
|
Outline | More Info. |
ENG PHYS 726Graduate | Optoelectronic Device Physics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENG PHYS 733Graduate | Research Project in Engineering Physics (M.Eng) |
Sessional: Various
|
More Info. | |
ENG PHYS 752 / MECH ENG 752Graduate | Advanced MEMS Fabrication and Microfluidics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENG PHYS 782Graduate | Solid-State Electronics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 2A04Undergraduate | Electricity and Magnetism | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 2E04Undergraduate | Analog and Digital Circuits | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 2NE3Undergraduate | Thermal Systems Design | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 2P04Undergraduate | Computational Mechanics: Statics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 2QM3Undergraduate | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3BA4Undergraduate | Electronics I: Circuits with Non-Linear and Active Components | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3BB4Undergraduate | Electronics II: Embedding and Programming a Micro-Controller | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3E04 / PHYSICS 3N04Undergraduate | Fundamentals of Physical Optics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3F03Undergraduate | Principles of Solid-State Materials and Devices | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3H04Undergraduate | Research Project in Engineering Physics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3L04Undergraduate | Engineering Metrology | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3PN4Undergraduate | Semiconductor Junction Devices | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3W04Undergraduate | Signals and Systems for Engineering | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4A06Undergraduate | Design and Synthesis Project | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4H04Undergraduate | Research Project in Engineering Physics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4MD3 / 6MD3Undergraduate / Graduate | Nanoscale Semiconductor Devices | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4QC3 / 6QC3Undergraduate / Graduate | Introduction to Quantum Computing | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4S03 / 6S03Undergraduate / Graduate | Lasers and Electro-Optics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4UB2Undergraduate | Biosensor Design & Fabrication Laboratory | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4UM2Undergraduate | Solar Cell Design & Fabrication Laboratory | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4UN2Undergraduate | Advanced Nuclear Engineering Laboratory | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4UP2Undergraduate | Photonics Design & Fabrication Laboratory | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4X03 / 6X03Undergraduate / Graduate | Introduction to Photovoltaics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4Z03 / 6Z03Undergraduate / Graduate | Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology | Outline | More Info. | |
_ENG PHYS 704Graduate | Selected Topics in Engineering Physics (Not offered in 2021-2022) |
Sessional: Various
|
More Info. | |
_ENG PHYS 705Graduate | III-V Materials and Devices (Not offered in 2021-2022) | Outline | More Info. | |
_ENG PHYS 708Graduate | Quantum Materials, Devices, and Systems (Not offered in 2021-2022) | Outline | More Info. | |
_ENG PHYS 729Graduate | Thin Film Growth and Deposition (Not offered in 2021-2022) | Outline | More Info. | |
_ENG PHYS 730 / MECH ENG 730Graduate | Thin Film Characterization (Not offered in 2021-2022) |
Sessional: Various
|
More Info. | |
_ENG PHYS 777Graduate | Advanced Photovoltaics (Not offered in 2021-2022) |
Sessional: TBA
|
Outline | More Info. |

Nuclear Engineering and Energy Systems
Inexhaustible energy can be created by harvesting sunlight or nuclear processes.
The sun and stars are powered by nuclear fusion, a process whereby lighter elements are combined to form heavier ones, releasing energy. On earth, nuclear processes are controlled in reactors where nuclear energy is released and converted to electricity for human use. In nuclear engineering, we apply scientific principles, engineering design and analysis, and computer modeling and simulation for the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Situated on campus is the university’s very own nuclear research reactor, with a long and proud tradition, providing many exciting and unique research opportunities in the areas of reactor physics, nuclear safety analysis, advanced nuclear materials, and nuclear fuel and waste management.
We also conduct extensive research in photovoltaics (solar electricity) in which semiconductor devices are used to convert sunlight directly into electricity. The efficiency by which sunlight can be converted to electricity is approaching 50%, but only by using expensive materials and processes. We are exploring alternative methods of producing high efficiency and low cost solar electricity using nanotechnology and micro-systems engineering.

Related Faculty

Dr. Adriaan Buijs
Associate Chair, Graduate
reactor core physics, reactor modelling, reactor design, Monte Carlo methods, data analysis

Dr. John Luxat
Professor and NSERC/UNENE Senior Industrial Research Chair
Nuclear Safety Analysis Methodology, Experimental Studies in Nuclear Safety Thermalhydraulics, Severe Accident Modelling & Analysis, Advanced Fuel Cycles, Small Modular Reactors, Risk Analysis, Automatic Control

Dr. Shinya Nagasaki
Professor
radioactive waste management, nuclear fuel cycle, safety assessment of repository and nuclear fuel cycle facilities, migration of actinides, fission products and heavy metals in geosphere and biosphere, nuclear technology in society, nuclear proliferation and security

Dr. Dave Novog
Professor and NSERC Industrial Research Chair
nuclear safety, reactor physics, thermalhydraulics, multiphysics reactor analysis, nuclear fuel and fuel cycles, severe accident modelling, emergency accident response and mitigation

Dr. Ray LaPierre
Professor
solar cells (photovoltaics), photodetectors, quantum information processing (quantum computers)
Related Courses
Code | Title | Instructor | Outline | Info |
---|---|---|---|---|
A brief summary of technical electivesTechnical Elective | Technical Electives Technical Elective List 1 | More Info. | ||
ENG PHYS 707Graduate | Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Radioactive Waste Management | Outline | More Info. | |
ENG PHYS 710Graduate | Nuclear Reactor Dynamics and Control | Outline | More Info. | |
ENG PHYS 718Graduate | Reactor Heat Transport System Simulation and Analysis |
Sessional: TBA
|
Outline | More Info. |
ENG PHYS 733Graduate | Research Project in Engineering Physics (M.Eng) |
Sessional: Various
|
More Info. | |
ENG PHYS 784Graduate | Nuclear Fuel Management |
Sessional: TBA
|
Outline | More Info. |
ENGPHYS 2A04Undergraduate | Electricity and Magnetism | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 2E04Undergraduate | Analog and Digital Circuits | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 2NE3Undergraduate | Thermal Systems Design | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 2P04Undergraduate | Computational Mechanics: Statics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 2QM3Undergraduate | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3D03Undergraduate | Principles of Nuclear Engineering | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3ES3Undergraduate | Introduction to Energy Systems | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3F03Undergraduate | Principles of Solid-State Materials and Devices | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3H04Undergraduate | Research Project in Engineering Physics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3L04Undergraduate | Engineering Metrology | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3O04Undergraduate | Introduction to Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3W04Undergraduate | Signals and Systems for Engineering | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4A06Undergraduate | Design and Synthesis Project | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4D03 / 6D03Undergraduate / Graduate | Nuclear Reactor Physics |
Sessional: Dr. Benjamin Rouben
|
Outline | More Info. |
ENGPHYS 4H04Undergraduate | Research Project in Engineering Physics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4NE3 / 6NE3Undergraduate / Graduate | Advanced Nuclear Engineering | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4P03 / 6P03Undergraduate / Graduate | Nuclear Power Plant Systems and Operation |
Sessional: Dr. Benjamin Rouben
|
Outline | More Info. |
ENGPHYS 4PP3 / 6PP3Undergraduate / Graduate | Plasma Physics Applications | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4UB2Undergraduate | Biosensor Design & Fabrication Laboratory | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4UM2Undergraduate | Solar Cell Design & Fabrication Laboratory | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4UN2Undergraduate | Advanced Nuclear Engineering Laboratory | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4UP2Undergraduate | Photonics Design & Fabrication Laboratory | Outline | More Info. | |
_ENG PHYS 704Graduate | Selected Topics in Engineering Physics (Not offered in 2021-2022) |
Sessional: Various
|
More Info. | |
_ENG PHYS 706Graduate | Toward a New Era of Nuclear Energy: Messages from Fukushima (Not offered in 2021-2022) | Outline | More Info. | |
_ENG PHYS 713Graduate | Nuclear Safety Analysis and Reactor Accidents (Not offered in 2021-2022) | Outline | More Info. | |
_ENG PHYS 714 / UN 0803Graduate | Nuclear Reactor Safety Design (Not offered in 2021-2022) |
Sessional: Snell
|
More Info. | |
_ENG PHYS 715Graduate | Advanced Nuclear Reactor Thermalhydraulics (Not offered in 2021-2022) | More Info. | ||
_ENG PHYS 716 / UN 0804Graduate | Nuclear Reactor Heat Transport System Design (Not offered in 2021-2022) |
Sessional: Popov
|
More Info. | |
_ENG PHYS 727Graduate | Advanced Reactor Physics and Analysis (Not offered in 2021-2022) | More Info. | ||
_ENG PHYS 783 / UN 0806Graduate | Nuclear Fuel Engineering (Not offered in 2021-2022) |
Sessional: Chan
|
More Info. |

Photonics Engineering
The branch of science & engineering that involves the generation, control, & detection of light to provide useful applications for society.
From manufacturing to medicine, the applications of light are everywhere. Photons are the quantum mechanical unit of light. They play a central role in many technologies. In the past two decades, photonics engineering experienced explosive growth in fibre optic communications, where light is used to transfer information over great distances. This formed the basis of the internet. The application of light also extends to many other industries such as medicine, displays, and sensors.
Photonics is also beginning to play a bigger role in clean, renewable electrical energy generation through solar and thermal photovoltaics (solar electricity). Our research encompasses a wide spectrum of projects involving light sources, lasers and light emitting diodes, photodetectors, sensors, photovoltaics, and optical displays. We are also conducting research in biophotonics, a fast emerging field in which light is used for applications in medicine, biomedical engineering, life sciences, agriculture, and environmental science.

Related Faculty

Dr. Jonathan Bradley
Assistant Professor and Barber-Gennum Chair in IT
silicon photonics, integrated optics, lasers, photonic materials, optical communications, sensors, microphotonic systems

Prof. Qiyin Fang
Professor and Canada Research Chair in Biophotonics
biophotonics, microscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy & imaging, intelligent sensing for point-of-care, aging-in-place, & environmental monitoring

Dr. Adrian Kitai
Professor
fundamental luminescent materials, new luminescent devices, new avalanche injection devices, optical fibre liquid crystal display technology

Prof. Rafael Kleiman
Department Chair
solar energy: photovoltaics and solar thermal, concentrator photovoltaics, solar testing and instrumentation, solar materials; silicon, III-V, hyperspectral imaging, device modelling, advanced light trapping, device fabrication

Dr. Ray LaPierre
Professor
solar cells (photovoltaics), photodetectors, quantum information processing (quantum computers)

Dr. Ryan Lewis
Assistant Professor
Self-assembly of semiconductor nanostructures, molecular beam epitaxy, III-V semiconductors, III-V on Si, optoelectronic materials and devices

Dr. Peter Mascher
Professor
Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy; Point Defects in Materials; Thin Film Technology; Silicon Nanostructures; Silicon Photonics; Luminescence; Rare Earth Doping; PECVD; Optical Characterization; Ellipsometry

Dr. John Preston
Professor
Pulsed Laser Deposition, Self-Assembly of Epitaxial Nanostructures, Photovoltaics

Dr. Chang-qing Xu
Professor
bacterial sensors; biomedical lasers for diagnosis and treatment; periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN); PPLN related devices; lasers (solid, fibre, semiconductor); optical sensors and sub-systems; laser applications
Related Courses
Code | Title | Instructor | Outline | Info |
---|---|---|---|---|
A brief summary of technical electivesTechnical Elective | Technical Electives Technical Elective List 1 | More Info. | ||
ENG PHYS 721Graduate | Optical Amplifiers and Lasers | Outline | More Info. | |
ENG PHYS 723Graduate | Semiconductor Diode Laser Physics |
Sessional: Jean-Pierre Landesman
|
Outline | More Info. |
ENG PHYS 726Graduate | Optoelectronic Device Physics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENG PHYS 733Graduate | Research Project in Engineering Physics (M.Eng) |
Sessional: Various
|
More Info. | |
ENG PHYS 782Graduate | Solid-State Electronics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 2A04Undergraduate | Electricity and Magnetism | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 2E04Undergraduate | Analog and Digital Circuits | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 2NE3Undergraduate | Thermal Systems Design | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 2P04Undergraduate | Computational Mechanics: Statics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 2QM3Undergraduate | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3BA4Undergraduate | Electronics I: Circuits with Non-Linear and Active Components | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3BB4Undergraduate | Electronics II: Embedding and Programming a Micro-Controller | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3E04 / PHYSICS 3N04Undergraduate | Fundamentals of Physical Optics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3ES3Undergraduate | Introduction to Energy Systems | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3F03Undergraduate | Principles of Solid-State Materials and Devices | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3H04Undergraduate | Research Project in Engineering Physics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3L04Undergraduate | Engineering Metrology | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3PD3 Undergraduate | Photonic Devices | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3PN4Undergraduate | Semiconductor Junction Devices | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3W04Undergraduate | Signals and Systems for Engineering | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4A06Undergraduate | Design and Synthesis Project | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4H04Undergraduate | Research Project in Engineering Physics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4I03 / 6I03Undergraduate / Graduate | Introduction to Biophotonics IBEHS Technical Electives | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4MD3 / 6MD3Undergraduate / Graduate | Nanoscale Semiconductor Devices | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4S03 / 6S03Undergraduate / Graduate | Lasers and Electro-Optics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4UB2Undergraduate | Biosensor Design & Fabrication Laboratory | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4UM2Undergraduate | Solar Cell Design & Fabrication Laboratory | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4UN2Undergraduate | Advanced Nuclear Engineering Laboratory | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4UP2Undergraduate | Photonics Design & Fabrication Laboratory | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4X03 / 6X03Undergraduate / Graduate | Introduction to Photovoltaics | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4Z03 / 6Z03Undergraduate / Graduate | Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology | Outline | More Info. | |
_ENG PHYS 704Graduate | Selected Topics in Engineering Physics (Not offered in 2021-2022) |
Sessional: Various
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More Info. | |
_ENG PHYS 705Graduate | III-V Materials and Devices (Not offered in 2021-2022) | Outline | More Info. | |
_ENG PHYS 729Graduate | Thin Film Growth and Deposition (Not offered in 2021-2022) | Outline | More Info. | |
_ENG PHYS 730 / MECH ENG 730Graduate | Thin Film Characterization (Not offered in 2021-2022) |
Sessional: Various
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More Info. | |
_ENG PHYS 734Graduate | Nonlinear Optics (Not offered in 2021-2022) | More Info. | ||
_ENG PHYS 777Graduate | Advanced Photovoltaics (Not offered in 2021-2022) |
Sessional: TBA
|
Outline | More Info. |

Smart Systems
Smart systems integrate various sensors and actuators to analyze and control a process.
Smart Systems
Smart systems integrate various sensors and actuators to analyze and control a process. Smart systems cover a wide range of technologies, ranging from nano- and micro-device engineering to nuclear power systems to health care devices. Nuclear power reactors, such as McMaster’s nuclear reactor, employ smart systems that measure and provide feedback for proper control of the reactor. In Engineering Physics, we are developing a “Smart Home” that seeks to integrate various home sensors to provide safer living for elderly persons. Engineering Physicists are seeking to integrate various electronic devices, making them faster and cheaper, but also giving them new functionalities.
Nano- and micro-device engineering seeks to miniaturize and integrate electronic components to make unique digital devices. This has enabled computer processor speeds to increase from a few MHz decades ago to several GHz today, and to shrink cell phones from the size of bricks to practical hand-held devices. These are just two examples of how nano- and micro-device engineering has revolutionized the world and will continue to do so. Engineering Physicists are involved in the design and fabrication of next generation devices in this exciting and fast-paced field. Smart systems seek to integrate diverse electronic and optoelectronic devices, such as electronic circuits, photodetectors, sensors, light modulators, and lasers into a single integrated system.
Micro-electro-mechanical systems, known as MEMS, are tiny moving machines usually made from the element silicon. MEMS can include tiny vibrating structures that may be used to generate and detect electromagnetic waves, used to produce radio frequency identification tags for tracking packages or parts in a manufacturing line. Engineering Physicists are developing MEMS devices as sensitive detectors used in medicine and biology (e.g., to detect viruses). MEMS devices can be used to create tiny fluid pumps to mix small volumes of chemicals. This could be used in the pharmaceutical industry in drug testing, or by a physician to test for diseases. MEMS are used to move tiny mirrors used in digital micro-mirror devices (DMD) such as projection displays. Finally, MEMS are used in optical communications to produce tiny moving mirrors that control where light goes. Smart systems seek to integrate these diverse functions into a single chip for sensing and actuating.
Mechatronics refers to the control and feedback mechanisms used in manufacturing processes. For example, in the manufacture of a substance, you might want to measure the pressure in a reaction chamber and use that pressure to open or close a valve to keep the pressure constant. Mechatronics involves instrumentation, data acquisition and processing, actuators, motors and motion controllers, electronics, robotics, etc. – basically, anything that can be used to measure and control a process. Smart systems seek to cost effectively integrate these diverse functions into a single system. Companies hiring product or process engineers will be interested in Engineering Physicists with some knowledge in mechatronics. If you’ve read this far, you’ll realize that Engineering Physicists design and fabricate components and systems used in mechatronics such as MEMS and electronic devices. In Engineering Physics at McMaster, you will be involved in a number of hands-on mechatronics projects such as our 4A06 Project that will prepare you for this important field.
Related Faculty

Dr. Jonathan Bradley
Assistant Professor and Barber-Gennum Chair in IT
silicon photonics, integrated optics, lasers, photonic materials, optical communications, sensors, microphotonic systems

Dr. Adrian Kitai
Professor
fundamental luminescent materials, new luminescent devices, new avalanche injection devices, optical fibre liquid crystal display technology

Prof. Rafael Kleiman
Department Chair
solar energy: photovoltaics and solar thermal, concentrator photovoltaics, solar testing and instrumentation, solar materials; silicon, III-V, hyperspectral imaging, device modelling, advanced light trapping, device fabrication

Dr. John Luxat
Professor and NSERC/UNENE Senior Industrial Research Chair
Nuclear Safety Analysis Methodology, Experimental Studies in Nuclear Safety Thermalhydraulics, Severe Accident Modelling & Analysis, Advanced Fuel Cycles, Small Modular Reactors, Risk Analysis, Automatic Control

Dr. Leyla Soleymani
Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Miniaturized Biomedical Devices
biosensing, point-of-care diagnostics, lab-on-a-chip, DNA detection, health monitoring, nanofabrication, wrinkling, rapid prototyping

Dr. Chang-qing Xu
Professor
bacterial sensors; biomedical lasers for diagnosis and treatment; periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN); PPLN related devices; lasers (solid, fibre, semiconductor); optical sensors and sub-systems; laser applications
Related Courses
Code | Title | Instructor | Outline | Info |
---|---|---|---|---|
ENGPHYS 3PD3 Undergraduate | Photonic Devices | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 3PN4Undergraduate | Semiconductor Junction Devices | Outline | More Info. | |
ENGPHYS 4MD3 / 6MD3Undergraduate / Graduate | Nanoscale Semiconductor Devices | Outline | More Info. |