A welder working on a piece of metal in a workshop.

Materials Science

Doctor of Philosophy

Delivery Options

Campus

Fall 2026 Deadline

Priority: December 15th
Domestic: July 1st
International: March 1st

Apply Now Contact Admissions Team

Department

Materials Science

Why study this degree at Mines?

Materials determine how technology performs, lasts and scales. From metals and ceramics to polymers, electronic materials, and biomaterials, advances in materials science shape progress across engineering, manufacturing, and research. As performance demands increase and systems become more complex, organizations need experts who can move beyond existing materials solutions and develop new understanding grounded in structure, processing and properties.

A PhD in Materials Science from Colorado School of Mines prepares you to do that work. This doctorate degree is designed for scientists and engineers who want to generate new materials knowledge and translate it into engineering insight. Mines is known around the world for applied science and engineering, and this expertise is central to the doctoral experience. Your research emphasizes measurable behavior, reproducible methods and relevance to real systems.

If you are motivated by uncovering how materials behave across length scales and want your work to influence real‑world performance, Materials Science PhD provides the rigor, independence, and credibility needed to lead materials research in industry, government, or academia.

Program Overview

The Materials Science PhD is an on‑campus doctoral program housed in the Department of Materials Science. It is designed for engineers and scientists who want to conduct original research that advances how materials are designed, processed, characterized and applied.

This program builds on your bachelor’s degree or master’s degree by shifting your role from using established materials knowledge to creating new understanding. You deepen your foundation in materials structure, properties, synthesis, and performance while tailoring coursework to support your dissertation research.

You and Mines PhD: A right fit?

The Materials Science PhD is designed for full‑time doctoral researchers focused on advancing materials knowledge

Typical components include:

Advanced PhD‑level coursework in materials science
Specialized electives aligned with your research focus
Qualifying and candidacy milestones
Dissertation research and defense

The curriculum balances strong scientific foundations with flexibility to support a wide range of materials research directions.

Key Program Research Groups

Materials Science research at Mines spans fundamental behavior through applied materials development across multiple materials classes and length scales.

Structural and mechanical materials

This area focuses on how materials respond to stress, temperature, and time. Research examines deformation, fracture, phase transformations, and durability. Methods include mechanical testing, microstructural analysis, and modeling. Career paths include materials development, manufacturing, and materials research roles.

Functional and electronic materials

Research explores materials with electrical, magnetic, optical, or energy‑related functionality. Work emphasizes structure–property relationships and performance optimization using synthesis, characterization, and modeling. Graduates pursue careers in electronics, advanced manufacturing, and materials research.

Materials processing and manufacturing

This field examines how synthesis and processing routes influence structure and performance. Research integrates thermodynamics, kinetics, and process design through experimental and computational approaches. Career paths include manufacturing innovation and process development roles.

Materials characterization and microscopy

Research focuses on measuring and interpreting materials structure from atomic to macroscopic scales using imaging, spectroscopy, and diffraction techniques. This expertise supports careers in research laboratories, quality analysis, and advanced materials development.

Computational and data‑driven materials science

Projects use modeling, simulation, and data analysis to predict materials behavior and accelerate materials design. Research blends computation with experimental validation and supports roles linking theory, data, and real materials performance.

Other Options

World-Class Labs, Centers & Facilities

A Mines student operating a Lithoz CeraFab 7500 ceramic 3D printer.

Materials Science research laboratories

Departmental labs support materials synthesis, processing and testing. These facilities allow you to generate high-quality experimental data essential for doctoral research.

A Mines student The researcher is operating a Keyence VHX series digital microscope, identifiable by its distinctive control console and monitor display.

Materials characterization facilities

Shared instrumentation supports advanced microscopy, diffraction and spectroscopy, enabling detailed analysis of material structure and properties.

Mines researchers analyzing bioinformatics data, a field focused on processing genetic information for medical advances.

Computational and Modeling Resources

Mines provides computing infrastructure that supports simulation and data analysis for materials research.

This image shows a person working on a small jet engine, which resembles a PBS TJ40 microturbine.

Industry-connected research culture

Mines’ relationships with industry partners support applied research questions, sponsored projects and professional engagement aligned with dissertation work.

This image shows two individuals reviewing a scientific research poster about X-ray microscopy technology.

Interdisciplinary research environment

Materials Science PhD research often connects with chemical engineering, mechanical engineering and applied science groups across campus.

Faculty Expertise

Jeramy Zimmerman

Associate Professor

Michael McGuirk

Associate Professor

Zhenzhen Yu

Associate Professor

Application Requirements

Bachelor's degree
GRE: Not Required
Letters of Recommendations (3 letters).
Letters are not required for current Mines students.
Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Statement of Purpose
Transcripts
International students please review the English proficiency requirements

Program Curriculum

View Academic Catalog

Salary Outlook

Average starting salary for recent program graduates is $90,500. Learn more about Mines' comprehensive career development resources and this degree's salary potential.

Explore Mines Career Center

Employers who seek Mines graduates include:

Materials and manufacturing companies

Companies such as 3M, Dow, BASF, DuPont, Corning

Technology and electronics firms

Companies such as Intel, Applied Materials, Micron Technology, Texas Instruments

Engineering and industrial organizations

Companies such as General Electric, Honeywell, Siemens

Research organizations and national laboratories

Such as National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Mines students working with a Original Prusa i3 MK3S+ 3D printer

Frequently Asked Questions

Why pursue a PhD in Materials Science?

A PhD in Materials Science prepares you to generate new understanding of how materials behave, perform, and fail. You develop the ability to design experiments or models, analyze complex data, and defend conclusions with evidence. This training is essential for advanced research roles, technical leadership, and academic careers where original contribution and independent judgment are required.

How research‑focused is the Materials Science PhD program?

Research is the core of the degree. While coursework builds advanced foundations in materials science, most of your time is dedicated to original dissertation research. You are expected to develop new insights into materials structure, processing, properties, or performance and contribute knowledge that advances the field.

What career paths are common for PhD graduates?

Graduates pursue careers in industrial research and development, advanced manufacturing, national laboratories, and academia. Many move into technical leadership roles where deep materials expertise and system‑level understanding guide long‑term decisions and innovation.

Common roles include Design engineer, Materials engineer, Product/process development scientist, Research scientist, Biomedical engineer and Geotechnical engineer.

Do you need a master’s degree to apply to the PhD program?

A master’s degree is helpful but not required. Successful applicants typically demonstrate strong preparation in materials science, metallurgy, physics, engineering, or a closely related field and a clear readiness for independent research.

How does Mines’ applied focus shape the Materials Science PhD experience?

Mines emphasizes materials research grounded in measurable performance and real engineering constraints. Your work is expected to be rigorous, reproducible, and relevant beyond academic settings. This applied focus helps ensure doctoral research translates to industry, government, and real‑world materials challenges.

Meet Emmelia Ashton '24, '25

Emmelia Ashton pursued metallurgical and materials engineering at Mines, where her research and transdisciplinary experiences spanned materials science and environmental analysis. As the first Mines student to receive the Hollings Scholarship, she applied computational modeling and materials expertise to real-world environmental questions and continues to build a career grounded in collaborative problem solving and impactful research.

About Mines

Academics

Research

Student Experience

Admission & Aid

Popular Links

Materials Science

Doctor of Philosophy

Delivery Options

Fall 2026 Deadline

Department