Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program
Discover the possibilities!
If you want to learn about opportunities for graduate study at the Liquid Crystal Institute at Kent State, you've come to the right place.
We offer both masters and Ph.D. options in Chemical Physics. These programs focus on liquid crystal science, an exciting interdisciplinary field open to students with backgrounds in either physics or chemistry.
Financial support is available, and applications are due on Jan. 31.
Conventional liquid crystal displays were invented at Kent State, and the Liquid Crystal Institute remains an internationally recognized center of excellence in both fundamental science and technology applications of this elusive state of matter. Our graduate program is a small one, with fewer than ten students entering each fall. Our alumni are in such demand--both in industry and in academia--that we're planning to increase the size of the program in coming years.
Chances are good that the cell phone, music player, or GPS you may have in your pocket, the television you last watched, and perhaps even the computer screen on which you might be reading this message, were all made with technology developed here at Kent. The liquid crystal display (LCD) might even have been designed or manufactured by one of our graduates.
As you might expect, the science and technology of LCD's and non-linear optics are among our hottest research areas. But while the global market for displays is of order $100 billion annually, LCD's represent only one aspect of liquid crystal science. There are many more applications to pursue, each of which also has the potential to create the same economic impact. Liquid crystal rubber flexes and twists like an artificial muscle when exposed to light, heat, or electric fields. Biosensors made with liquid crystals provide exquisite sensitivity to the presence of harmful bacterial. Liquid crystal organic photovoltaic materials promise to improve the efficiency of solar energy conversion. Many of our grad students earn not only diplomas but also patents for their work in developing these exciting innovations.
News & Announcements
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World-Renowned Scientist Ron Mallett to Keynote College of Nursing's “Driving the Future 2013†Kent State University’s College of Nursing presents “Driving the Future 2013,†an event focused on inspiration and innovation and their roles in the education, science and healthcare of the future. The event will take place on Monday, March 4, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and will feature a series of TED TALK-style presentations. The event will take place at the Kent Student Center with morning sessions at the Kiva. Registration is required by Wednesday, Feb. 27.
- Posted Feb. 22, 2013 -
Ohio Third Frontier Funding Could Lead to New Kent State Spin-Off Technology Companies The State of Ohio’s Third Frontier Program announced on Dec. 13 that Kent State University was awarded three of the nine Phase I awards given through its Technology Validation and Start-Up Fund (TVSF). The goal of the TVSF is to create greater economic growth in Ohio-based start-up companies that commercialize technologies developed by Ohio institutions of higher education and other Ohio not-for-profit research institutions.
- Posted Dec. 17, 2012 -
Inaugural Internal Postdoctoral Seed Program to support 14 postdoctoral research fellows The Division of Research and Sponsored Programs would like to congratulate the recipients of the inaugural Internal Post-doctoral Seed Program. In this initial round, 12 proposals were selected which resulted in awards for the support of 14 post-doctoral associates for one year. In addition, each of these awards was augmented by the investigators’ departments and/or colleges to provide a total of two years of post-doctoral support.
- Posted Nov. 28, 2012 -
Whitesides Seminar Scheduled for Oct. 9 Kent State University will host a seminar by Harvard Chemistry Professor George M. Whitesides at the Kent Student Center, Kiva on Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at 3:30 p.m. The seminar, "Simplicity as a Component of Invention" is free and open to all faculty members, staff, students, and the public.
- Posted Sep. 24, 2012