Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Science and Technology

The Applied Science and Technology graduate group is administered by the College of Engineering. The program is aimed at students with research interests that are truly interdisciplinary. Faculty members associated with the program are drawn from several departments within the College of Engineering, as well as from the departments of Physics, Chemistry, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Statistics, and Mathematics. Topics of interest include the properties and applications of nanostructures, thin-film and interface science, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), short-wavelength coherent radiation, X-ray micro-imaging for the life and physical sciences, plasma physics and plasma-assisted materials processing, laser-induced chemical processes, laser probing of complex reacting systems, ultrafast phenomena, particle accelerators, nonlinear dynamics, chaotic systems, numerical methods, and computational fluid mechanics and reacting flows, etc.

Within the program students design their own course of study in consultation with their advisors, choosing from the vast array of technical offerings throughout the campus. The chosen coursework should prepare the student for interdisciplinary research. Students in the PhD program may pursue a Designated Emphasis (DE) such as the DE in Nanoscale Science and Engineering (DE NSE), Energy, Science, and Technology (DE EST), and Computational Science and Engineering (DE CSE).

Students with a B.A. or B.S. in engineering, physics, mathematics, chemistry, or other related subjects are eligible for admission. Applicants with a Master's degree are also encouraged to apply. Although the minimum grade point average required by Graduate Division is 3.0 (based on a 4.0 GPA scale), the admissions process is highly competitive and most students admitted to AS&T have GPAs of 3.7 or higher, and GRE quantitative scores above 90%. A grade point average of B or better (3.0), Please describe your aptitude and motivation for graduate study in your area of specialization, including your preparation for this field of study, your academic plans or research interests in your chosen area of study, and your future career goals. Please be specific about why UC Berkeley would be a good intellectual fit for you. In an essay, discuss how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Please include any educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey, how you might contribute to social or cultural diversity within your chosen field, and/or how you might serve educationally underrepresented segments of society with your degree. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test is required of ALL applicants including those seeking readmission or change of major or degree goal , The Graduate Division requires that all students submit three (3) letters of recommendation from faculty and employers, if applicable, in support of their applications to graduate school. If the applicant comes from a country or political entity (e.g., Quebec) where English is not the official language, adequate proficiency in English to do graduate work, as evidenced by a TOEFL score of at least 90 on the iBT test, 570 on the paper-and-pencil test, or an IELTS Band score of at least 7 on a 9-point scale (note that individual programs may set higher levels for any of these) Transcripts: Applicants may upload unofficial transcripts with your application for the departmental initial review. If the applicant is admitted, then official transcripts of all college-level work will be required. Letters of recommendation: Applicants may request online letters of recommendation through the online application system. Hard copies of recommendation letters must be sent directly to the program, not the Graduate Division.