(217e) Molecular Engineering

This paper reviews core curriculum developments for a newly developed Ph.D. program in Molecular Engineering. Molecular Engineering is a dynamic and evolving field and its target problems are complex; breakthroughs require sophisticated and creative engineers who are conversant across disciplines. It deals with material development efforts in emerging technologies that require rigorous rational molecular design approaches towards systems of high complexity. A rational engineering methodology that is based on molecular principles is in contrast to widely spread and common trial-and-error approaches. Molecular Engineering steps in where fortuitous discoveries become fewer with increased sophistication of technology.

MolEâ??s core educational program entails a tri-faceted interdisciplinary approach in molecular design and synthesis, theory/computation, and molecular material characterization. The goal is to bring forward PhDs that possess a familiarity with the fundamental aspects of molecular engineering that involves biological, chemical and physical sciences, and system integration aspects in emerging and established technologies. In particular, MolEâ??s objectives are to promote scientist and engineers that are experts in either

- molecular synthesis towards specific system assembly and functionality,

- the design of complex systems built up from molecular building blocks, or

- the theoretical engineering of complex molecular systems through predictive molecular modelling.