Lawrence N. Virgin
l.virgin@duke.eduDirector of Graduate Studies, Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of MEMS
PhD Program
Take on the Biggest Challenges Facing Humanity and the Planet
Earning a PhD takes courage. There will be obstacles, uncertainty and ambiguity. But it’s the vision of a better world that drives you. That’s what drives us, too.
Comprehensive Mentorship & Support
Comprehensive mentoring is a cornerstone of the Duke MEMS PhD experience. Once admitted, we help you assemble an advising team. Your team will include your research adviser, your departmental advisor, the director of graduate studies, a five-member dissertation committee, and the department chair.
Additional Amenities
- Support for conference attendance and travel
- Access to externally-funded traineeship programs
- Graduate certificates in tissue engineering, nanoscience and photonics
Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science
Duke provides a customizable educational experience that you design to meet your needs and the area of research you choose.
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In our program, PhD students progress from introductory courses to specialized coursework.
As you learn, your focus gradually shifts from coursework to learning critical research and leadership skills.
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- 6 to 8 core courses, depending on the curriculum you choose
- Preliminary Exam, based on coursework, in your second year
- Research Proposal Defense in your third year
- Complete Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training
- Complete two semesters of teaching assistantship (TA)
- Complete and defend a dissertation
PhD Contacts
