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NPCAM Senior Sophister

The SS year consists of lectures, tutorials and a research project delivered in modules, as listed below. The independent research project is pursed during the first semester in an internationally recognised laboratory that specialises in aspects of nanoscience, physics, chemistry or advanced materials, which may be a facility off-campus. Projects external to Trinity College are either hosted by cognate universities or research institutes. Projects are also hosted by the Schools of Chemistry and Physics and by CRANN. All modules are mandatory.

  • Chemistry Modules (15 ETCS)
  • Modules Semester Credits

    CHU44167 Advanced Physical Chemistry

    This core module involves lectures in quantum chemistry and solid state chemistry. It encompasses units on quantum chemistry and solid state.

    S2

    10

    CHU44601 Materials Chemistry 1

    This module involves courses in matter transfer and computational techniques. It encompasses units on Matter Transport in Solids and an introduction to static and dynamic atomistic simulation.
    S2 5
  • Physics Modules (45 ETCS)
  • Modules Semester Credits

    PYU44P03 Condensed Matter and Nanoscience

    This module covers metal physics and superconductivity together with semiconductor devices, the modified properties of nanoscale matter, its fabrication and potential applications.
    S1/S2 10

    PYU44P06 Modern Optics

    This module covers optical properties of materials and nonlinear optics.
    S2 5

    PYU44N07 Advanced Topics for Nanoscience

    This module consists of specialist courses in polymer physics, thin films, and diffraction, imaging, and spectroscopy of nanostructure.
    S2 5

    PYU44NP5 Problem Solving in Nanoscience

    This module involves general problem-solving and scientific comprehension in nanoscience, advanced materials or semiconductor processing. Students also attend a selection of seminars in both the Schools of Chemistry and Physics which are related to nanoscience, materials chemistry, materials physics or related areas. These seminars occur on Thursdays at 12 noon in the case of the School of Chemistry, or Fridays at 12 noon in the case of the School of Physics. The module is assessed as below.
    S1 5

    PYU44NP2 Nanoscience Research Project

    This module consists of a 9-week independent research project. The project is pursued in an internationally recognised laboratory that specialises in aspects of nanoscience, advanced materials or semiconductor processing. Further information for registered SS PCAM students only is available on the local web page.
    S1 20

    Assessment and Examination Procedures: Modules in Physics and in Chemistry are examined according to the rules of the respective schools. The Moderatorship examinations will take place at dates to be determined by the Examinations Office, while there will one assessment week at the end of each semester (PYU44NP5 will be examined at the end of Semester 1 and other modules will be assessed in Semester 2). No information with regard to these dates will be published here. As the College Calendar states, it is each student's responsibility to be familiar with these dates once they are published.

    Each taught module will be assessed and examined according to the practices of the relevant Schools of Physics or of Chemistry and according to the general regulations of the course. The final Moderatorship mark includes a JS carry-forward of 35% with the SS mark contributing the remaining 65% or as advised in the College Calendar. All students are requested to be available for interview during the visit of the external examiner. The External Examiner may require students to take a viva voce examination as part of the Moderatorship. The dates of the Moderatorship meetings and of these possible interviews will be notified to you.

    External examiner and viva voces: The Moderatorship Examiners meetings for the NPCAM degree will occur in the marking weeks 2019 (see College Calendar). The date and time are to be confirmed. All students are requested to be available for interview during the visit of the external examiner. The External Examiner may require students to take a viva voce examination as part of the Moderatorship. If you are not there for the viva - then you lose an opportunity to impress the external examiner by your knowledge in the viva. The external examiner could recommend a higher grade, if for instance your mark was very close to a grade boundary, on the basis of the viva and his review of your project report and exam scripts. Not all who are called to a viva voce interview would be at a grade boundary, as the external examiner is tasked to assess the overall quality of our graduates. In fact through 2012, 2013 and 2014 the external examiner asked to arrange a meeting with all the final year students to get a sense of their projects and the degree as a whole. The examiner may ask for your project posters to be available for viewing at that time also. This is not part of the examination process but has been part of the external validation of the degree programme. The external examiner appointed for 2018 may or may not carry on with this.

    Henderson-Lloyd Prize in Advanced Materials: This prize is awarded annually to the SS student who has achieved the highest score in the Moderatorship Examinations. Professors Brian Henderson and Robert Lloyd were instrumental in setting up the Materials degree programme in Trinity College Dublin.


    Last updated 21 January 2021 NPCAM@tcd.ie.