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| Version 2013-2014 |
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| MECA0009-1 | Introduction to microtechnology
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| Duration : | 30h Th, 30h Pr |
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| Number of credits : |
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| Lecturer : | Tristan Gilet |
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Language(s) of instruction :
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| English language |
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Course contents :
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| This course is an introduction to the microscopic world and to microtechnology.
Course content (non-exhaustive): Microfabrication techniques, piezoresistive pressure sensor, MEMS-based projection display, capacitive accelerometer, lab-on-a-chip for DNA amplification, surface micropatterning. |
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Learning outcomes of the course :
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| At the end of this course, the student will have a good overview of microtechnology and physical constraints at the microscale.
Microsystem design is learned through a series of case studies. Each of them involves theoretical background from many different fields.
The student will also develop further his/her ability to design and perform experiments during the lab sessions. These latter will give him/her a practical view of the challenges encountered in microfabrication.
Both the case studies and the lab sessions will be worked out in small groups. The students will be mixed according to their background; hence they will benefit from the knowledge of the others.
In the course project, the student will learn about a cutting-edge topic. He/she will improve his/her presentation skills (incl. selection of relevant information, slides, spoken english) and his/her critical thinking.
Special attention is given to both written and spoken English. All the assignments will be submitted in English. Feedback will be regularly provided. |
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Prerequisites and co-requisites/ Recommended optional programme components :
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| Pre-requisites: Elementary physics, mechanics and chemistry(e.g. PHYS2020, PHYS2021, PHYS2022, CHIM0603, MECA0001, MECA0011, SYST0002) |
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Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
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| The course comprises:
- 7 lectures (2h each), in which theory and applications are covered.
- 4 case studies (2h each - group work). The students work together on the design of a microsystem.
- 2 lab sessions (4h each - group work). In the first session, the students will micropattern and functionalize a surface with different microfabrication techniques. In the second session, they will characterize various physical properties of these surfaces. Results from different groups will be discussed and compared in the next class.
- 3 course project sessions (2 practice + 1 final - 4h each - individual work). On the first day of class, every student chooses a scientific publication in a list. This article describes a "cutting-edge" technology. The student is asked to present this research in 5', and in English. He/she is also asked to discuss those results and propose perspectives. During the practice sessions, individual feedback will be given on the presentation skills.
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Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
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| Face-to-face |
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Recommended or required readings :
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| The course is not based on a unique textbook. It is more a synthesis of many textbooks and recent publications.
At the end of each class, several reading suggestions will be given. |
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Assessment methods and criteria :
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- 4 case studies (4 x 10% = 40% of the final grade). One report per group, written in English, due next class.
- 1 lab report (15% of the final grade). One report per group, written in English, due April 24, 2014. The report should comprise a description of the context and a summary of the work made by all the groups (5pts.), a detailed description of the procedure followed and the problems encountered (5pts.), and a discussion of the results (5pts.).
- Final presentation of the course project, on May 15, 2014 (20% of the final grade). Evaluation criteria comprise the respect of the guidelines (2pts.), the selection of the relevant information (4pts.), the knowledge of the content (5pts.), the quality of the slides (4pts.), the spoken English (4pts.) and the improvement over the year (1pt.).
- Oral exam in June or September, on everything seen in class (25% of the final grade). A list of 30 questions will be given to the students, not later than May 8, 2014. On the exam day, each student will randomly choose 3 questions and will be asked to answer two of them.
- If the student gets less than 28/55 on the case studies and lab sessions, he/she will be proposed a short problem during the exam. This problem only counts for 30% of the final grade (instead of 55%). The remaining 25% will equal the grade obtained during the year.
- Written English is graded in every report. Spelling, grammar and style mistakes will be underlined (but not corrected) by the grader. 1% of the assignment grade will be taken out for every mistake (i.e. the grade is 0 when there are more than 100 mistakes). The students have the opportunity to resubmit a corrected version by May 15 (and therefore improve their grade).
- Presence to the case studies and lab sessions is mandatory. A single absence will be excused. For every additional absence, the student will get a grade equivalent to 30% of the group's grade.
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Work placement(s) :
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Organizational remarks :
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| The course is given in the spring, on Thursday from 8:30am to 12:30pm. The room will be given later.
An electronic version of the course notes and slides will be available on "Dropbox". |
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Contacts :
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| Tristan Gilet
Assistant professor
Microfluidics Lab, GRASP
Office: B52 - 0/423
Tel: +32 (0) 4 366 9166
Email: Tristan.Gilet@ulg.ac.be |
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