1. Program Objectives

  • Generate knowledge and research outputs that can address development
    challenges of the nation in industry, environment and energy sectors
  • Developing highly qualified human resources in Materials Chemistry;
  • Fostering and supporting scientific research to serve national security and
    sustainable development;
  • Supporting and developing the technical capabilities of various national sectors to
    enable technology localization and development, and production of high value
    added materials and internationally competitive products;
  • Enhancing materials chemistry and chemical technology support activities, such
    as information and standardization services, patents, consulting and engineering
    firms, and scientific societies;
  • Exploiting sustainable chemistry and chemical technology for the preservation of
    natural resources and the environment;
  • Creating social awareness of the importance of science and technology in
    realizing national security and sustainable development.

2. Program Graduate Profile

The graduates who complete their PhD studies in materials chemistry would be
expected to have the following graduate profile:

  • Will design and process new technology with potential societal applications;
  • Will conduct demand driven research in the area of Material Chemistry to support the development of energy, environment and industrial sectors;
  • Will communicate knowledge, skills and research outputs to the scientific audience;
  • Will have the practical knowledge & skills relevant to impart teaching & research assignments in higher learning institutions and industries;
  • Will have the competency for working as quality controllers, product developers, sales and service promoters and as manager or company director in industries or chemical processing plants;
  • Work to explore smart (advanced) materials, technologies, monitoring systems (where possible) and theories towards remediation of atmospheric, water and soil pollutions due to release of toxic heavy metals and other chemical contaminants from industries, agriculture, urban areas and individual households into the surrounding environment;
  • Working on advanced materials and cutting edge technologies towards improving soil
    quality, reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and minimizing
    adverse impacts on food safety, processing, packing and transporting by utilizing
    biosafety materials, where toxicity can be prevented at the source;
  • Utilize acquired philosophy of working not in isolation, but in collaboration with different organizations and institutions that are aspiring to make this world a better place for its inhabitants. In other words, ‘team spirit and team work’ development is given due emphasis in the training;

3. Admission requirements to the PhD

Admission to PhD program in materials chemistry (after securing a lead supervisor in HU) is processed through the Haramaya University Registrar, Council of Graduate Studies (CGS) with the help of the Department Graduate Committee (DGC) according to the University’s admission policies and procedures. Accordingly, applicants who fulfill the following requirements will be eligible to apply for the PhD program in materials chemistry:

  • Admission of a student to the PhD degree program in Materials Chemistry requires minimum qualification of M.Sc. degree or its equivalent in Chemistry & other Applied Science fields such as Industrial chemistry, Chemical engineering, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Science, Materials Science/Engineering, Physics, and other related fields.
  • Applicants from some of the above listed fields and from fields other than these may have to remove their deficiencies by conducting selected graduate courses recommended by the DGC and approved by the CGS.
  • The student must have a major supervisor who is willing to accept him/her from HrU. Under special circumstances, the major supervisor could be from other institutes with demonstrable expertise.
  • Application for admission into the PhD program must be accomplished in the official application form and accompanied by official transcript of records, written recommendation from two former professors or experts in the field, and the officially prescribed application fee.
  • Applicants must have a minimum of Master’s commutative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.00 and above or its equivalence for all applicants.
  • An applicant must submit a research concept note relevant to the degree sought. The concept note should not exceed three pages.

Study Duration: The PhD study shall be completed in four years.

4. Graduation Requirements

Eligibility of candidates for the PhD degree in Materials Chemistry is subject to the fulfillment of all graduation requirements of the Program and the Directorate of the Post Graduate Programs of the University. Generally, however, the following constitute the requirements for graduation from the program:

  • Successful completion of all required courses
  • Cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.00 & above considering all graduate courses taken
  • A minimum grade of “B” in all the courses attended
  • Successfully defended PhD Dissertation Defense Examination with a minimum of “B” grade
  • Published at least two articles (one could be in accepted format) in a peer reviewed journal as per the list of journals provided by the department and approved by PGPD.
  • Fulfillment of all other graduation requirements of the CGS and/or the DPGP of HrU.