NANOSCIENCES AND NANOTECHNOLOGIES

Nanoscience is an emerging field, which researches the nature and the use of systems by using components of nanometre size. It comprises an assortment of scientific areas with potential applications in almost all branches of industry. The basic goal ...

Programme Description

Nanoscience is an emerging field, which researches the nature and the use of systems by using components of nanometre size. It comprises an assortment of scientific areas with potential applications in almost all branches of industry. The basic goal of nanoscience is to understand the structure and dynamics of materials at the atomic and molecular level on which their macroscopic properties are based. By understanding how to micromanipulate atoms and molecules it is possible to create new molecules, devices and machines with completely unique properties and applications. As examples, we can cite projects for building atomic size computer components on silicon chips, constructing new molecules that can sense particular viruses and bacteria, magnets at the level of molecules, micromotors, and molecules that can use sunlight to control environmental pollutants.

Credit Framework (ECTS)

Total number of ECTS for the third-cycle study programme 180 ECTS
Required Courses 60 ECTS
Elective Courses 20 ECTS
Individual Research Work 70 ECTS
Doctoral Dissertation 30 ECTS

Curriculum

1st YEAR (60 ECTS)

Required Courses (20 ECTS)
Advanced Topics in Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies (10 ECTS)*

Seminar I (10 KT)

*Instead of this course students from the Biosciences research area select one of the following courses: Proteolysis; Protein and Cell Engineering; Protein Toxins - Characterisations and Applications in Cellular Biology; From Crystals to 3D Structure of Macromolecules; Programmed Cell Death.

Elective Courses (20 ECTS)
The courses are listed below.

Out of all the courses the student can select max. one general course:
- Economics and Society (5 ECTS)
- Industrial Seminar (5 ECTS)
- Science Communication (5 ECTS)
- Contemporary Mathematical and Statistical Methods in Natural Sciences and Engineering (5 ECTS)
- Preparation of Patent Application (5 ECTS)

Individual Research Work 1 (20 ECTS)

2nd YEAR (60 ECTS)

Required Courses (30 KT)

Seminar II (30 KT)

Individual Research Work 2 (30 KT)

3rd YEAR (60 ECTS)

Required Courses (10 KT)

Seminar III (10 KT)

Individual Research Work 3 (20 KT)

Doctoral Dissertation (30 KT)

Courses

Course Module Professor ECTS
Advanced Nanostructured Metallic Materials NANO3 izr. prof. dr. Monika Jenko 10 ECTS
Advanced Processing of Materials NANO3,EKO3 prof. dr. Uroš Cvelbar 5 ECTS
Advanced Topics in Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies NANO3 prof. dr. Boštjan Zalar 10 ECTS
Advanced Topics in Protein Synthesis NANO3 prof. dr. Nenad Ban 5 ECTS
Analysis and Prediction of 3D Protein Structure NANO3 prof. dr. Andrej Šali 5 ECTS
Artificial Intelligence for Science ST3,IKT3,NANO3,EKO3 prof. dr. Sašo Džeroski 5 ECTS
Bioimaging NANO3 prof. dr. Cornelis Johannes Forrendinis Van Noorden 5 ECTS
Biology of Stem Cells NANO3 doc. dr. Metka Novak 5 ECTS
Biomolecular Simulations NANO3 prof. dr. Janez Mavri 5 ECTS
Ceramic Materials NANO3 izr. prof. dr. Andraž Kocjan 5 ECTS
Characterisation of Structure NANO3 prof. dr. Iztok Arčon 5 ECTS
Characterization of Metallic Materials NANO3 izr. prof. dr. Monika Jenko 5 ECTS
Classical and Quantum Chaos NANO3 prof. dr. Marko Robnik 5 ECTS
Commercialization of Technologies ST3,IKT3,NANO3,EKO3 prof. dr. Borut Likar 5 ECTS
Contemporary Mathematical and Statistical Methods in Natural Sciences and Engineering ST3,IKT3,NANO3,EKO3 prof. dr. Matjaž Omladič 5 ECTS
Dielectric and Caloric Properties of Nanomaterials NANO3 prof. dr. Vid Bobnar 5 ECTS
Doctoral Dissertation ST3,IKT3,NANO3,EKO3 Prof. dr. Predstojnik / Head of Programme 30 ECTS
Drug Design Based on Molecular and QSAR Modelling NANO3 prof. dr. Marjana Novič 5 ECTS
Economics and Society ST3,IKT3,NANO3,EKO3 prof. dr. Aleksander Zidanšek 5 ECTS
Electrical, Optical and Magnetic Properties of Nanomaterials NANO3 doc. dr. Alenka Mertelj 5 ECTS
Electrochemical Processes and Corrosion Protection NANO3 prof. dr. Ingrid Milošev 5 ECTS
Evolutionary Genomics NANO3 prof. dr. Dušan Kordiš 5 ECTS
From Crystals to 3D Structure of Macromolecules NANO3 prof. dr. Dušan Turk 10 ECTS
Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering of Metals NANO3 prof. dr. Bojan Podgornik 5 ECTS
Individual Research Work 1 ST3,IKT3,NANO3,EKO3 Prof. dr. Predstojnik / Head of Programme 20 ECTS
Individual Research Work 2 ST3,IKT3,NANO3,EKO3 Prof. dr. Predstojnik / Head of Programme 30 ECTS
Individual Research Work 3 ST3,IKT3,NANO3,EKO3 Prof. dr. Predstojnik / Head of Programme 20 ECTS
Industrial Seminar ST3,IKT3,NANO3,EKO3 prof. dr. Spomenka Kobe 5 ECTS
Magnetic Relaxation and Resonance of Nanomaterials NANO3 prof. dr. Boštjan Zalar 5 ECTS
Magnetic Resonance Imaging NANO3 prof. dr. Igor Serša 5 ECTS
Materials Chemistry NANO3 izr. prof. dr. Matjaž Spreitzer 10 ECTS
Mechanism and Biological Implications of Protein Aggregation NANO3 prof. dr. Eva Žerovnik 10 ECTS
Microscopical and Microanalytical Methods NANO3 prof. dr. Miran Čeh 10 ECTS
Microscopy of Nanomaterials NANO3 prof. dr. Maja Remškar 5 ECTS
Molecular modeling using density functional theory: molecules, surfaces, and bulk solids NANO3 prof. dr. Anton Kokalj 5 ECTS
Nanobiophysics NANO3 prof. dr. Janez Štrancar 5 ECTS
Nanoparticles, colloidal and surface chemistry NANO3 prof. dr. Darja Lisjak 5 ECTS
Nanosafety NANO3 prof. dr. Maja Remškar 5 ECTS
Physics of Materials NANO3 prof. dr. Zdravko Kutnjak 10 ECTS
Physics of Nanomaterials NANO3 prof. dr. Dragan Mihailović 10 ECTS
Plasma Nanoscience NANO3 prof. dr. Uroš Cvelbar 5 ECTS
Preparation of Patent Application ST3,IKT3,NANO3,EKO3 prof. dr. Miran Mozetič 5 ECTS
Processing and Nanomagnetism of Complex Intermetallic Alloys NANO3 prof. dr. Spomenka Kobe 10 ECTS
Programmed Cell Death NANO3 prof. ddr. Boris Turk 10 ECTS
Protease Degradome in Cancer Progression NANO3 doc. dr. Barbara Breznik 5 ECTS
Protein Toxins -Characterisations and Applications in Cellular Biology NANO3 prof. dr. Igor Križaj 10 ECTS
Protein and Cell Engineering NANO3 prof. dr. Jože Pungerčar 10 ECTS
Proteolysis NANO3 akad. prof. dr. Vito Turk 10 ECTS
Proteomics NANO3 doc. dr. Robert Vidmar 5 ECTS
Quantitation of Nucleic Acids NANO3 prof. dr. Kristina Gruden 5 ECTS
Role and Relevance of Animal Models in Understanding Tumor Progression NANO3 prof. dr. Olga Vasiljeva 5 ECTS
Science Communication ST3,IKT3,NANO3,EKO3 prof. dr. Saša Novak Krmpotič 5 ECTS
Selected Topics in Biophysics NANO3 prof. dr. Gojmir Lahajnar 5 ECTS
Selected Topics in Molecular Immunobiology NANO3 izr. prof. dr. Nataša Kopitar Jerala 5 ECTS
Seminar I NANO3 prof. dr. Barbara Malič 10 ECTS
Seminar II NANO3 prof. dr. Barbara Malič 30 ECTS
Seminar III NANO3 prof. dr. Barbara Malič 10 ECTS
Soft Matter and Soft Nanocomposites NANO3 prof. dr. Samo Kralj 5 ECTS
Stability, Folding and Aggregation of Proteins NANO3 prof. dr. Eva Žerovnik 10 ECTS
Surfaces and Interfaces NANO3 doc. dr. Erik Zupanič 5 ECTS
Synthesis of Nanomaterials NANO3 prof. dr. Barbara Malič 10 ECTS
Theory of Nanomaterials NANO3 prof. dr. Viktor Kabanov 10 ECTS
Universe in a Droplet of Liquid Crystal NANO3 prof. dr. Samo Kralj 5 ECTS
Vacuum Science and Technology NANO3 prof. dr. Janez Kovač 5 ECTS
X-ray Structure Analysis NANO3,EKO3 doc. dr. Evgeny Goreshnik 5 ECTS

BACIS OBJECTIVES

The basic objective of this programme is to qualify the candidate for:

A)  General competences

  • ability for individual research work on the field of nanosciences and nanotechnologies,
  • ability to research, select and organize information, as well as synthesize solution and anticipate their consequences,
  • mastering of research methods, procedures and processes, development of critical and self-critical assessment,
  • ability to use knowledge in practice,
  • autonomy in professional work, as well as responsible and creative performance of activities,
  • development of communication abilities and skills, particularly for communication in international environment,
  • ethical reflection and commitment to professional ethics and regulations,
  • cooperativeness, work on joint assignments and problems within a group and in international environment.

B)  Subject-specific competences

  • knowing the basic laboratory and spectroscopic techniques in nanoscience and nanotechnology,
  • understanding the systems at atomic and molecular scale,
  • ability to combine various skills and knowledge to identify and analyze nanotechnological issues,
  • ability to analyze ethical aspects of practices, institutions and valuations  associated with nanotechnology,
  • continuing research & development work in the field of nanotechnology,
  • knowing the concepts of nanotechnology,
  • obtaining the basic natural-science and technical knowledge in the field of nanotechnology in the form of combining the existing solution.

RESEARCH AREAS

The Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Programme is a cross-disciplinary postgraduate study programme comprising the following research areas:

  • Nanomaterials and nanochemistry,
  • Nanophysics (including the physics of ultrathin layers, physics of nanotubes, physics of lateral nanostructures, physics of quantum dots, and methods for the analysis of nanostructures and the nanomanipulation of atoms and molecules),
  • Biosciences,
  • Advanced metalic materials,
  • Nanomechanics (including the mechanics of time dependent materials).

All the courses include the provision of basic skills for successful communication with experts in the areas of economic and civil law, corporate microeconomics and project management, and the basics of sustainable development.

Special emphasis will be placed on research into:

  • Nanocomposites and hybrid materials,
  • "Smart" ceramic materials and thin films,
  • Submicron fibres,
  • Nanochemistry involving the synthesis of new molecules through the manipulation of individual atoms,
  • Structural and molecular biology as prerequisites for utilizing knowledge of the human genome, understanding biological functions of particular proteins and the processes involving them,
  • Biomaterials, particularly new types of agents and direct delivery of agents to the target sites,
  • Molecular motors,
  • "Smart" ferroelectrics and piezoelectrics,
  • Organic and inorganic nanotubes, nanowires and quantum dots,
  • "Smart" gels,
  • Materials potentially usable for miniaturizing electronic components and elements for quantum computers,
  • Materials usable for “spintronics” where spins are used instead of electrons to perform logic and other operations, and where a new degree of miniaturization is expected,
  • New research techniques and methods to study the structure and dynamics of nanomaterials.

Similarly, there is a possibility for developing new areas in chemistry and pharmacy where new compounds are synthesized at the molecular level. The programme thus integrates a number of natural science and technical disciplines. Special emphasis is placed on the project-based research work of students, mentors and professors as an integral part of the study programme. Target knowledge and skills, which will be obtained by students in the areas of civil and commercial law, microeconomics, patent and intellectual property law, and the methods of raising "venture" capital, should enable the students, upon the completion of their studies, to better communicate with experts in these areas in order to develop and commercialize the results of nanotechnological research.