Gloria Wong - Materials Science and Engineering

I chose Stanford for the multitude of opportunities that would be available to me during my time here and long afterwards. I knew that at Stanford, I would be exposed to research areas that I had never even heard of before. Also, the multidisciplinary nature of my program allows me to work with people from several other departments and to learn about different ways of approaching and thinking about problems.

What I Work On

I am investigating the implementation of new materials for use in advanced semiconductor devices. The push for shrinking device sizes drives the need to replace conventional materials which no longer meet the aggressive standards of the semiconductor industry. By understanding how fabrication processes affect the properties of materials and hence the overall device, we can correctly engineer materials to produce the best possible chips for applications in products such as computers or cell phones.

Whats Great About Studying Here

The people at Stanford are creative, motivated and ambitious. Professors that I bump into in the hallway are world-renowned in their fields and speakers that come to talk on campus include prominent scholars, former world leaders, and notable entrepreneurs. Fellow graduate students are from all over the world and are always willing to help brainstorm new ideas and share their knowledge. The facilities that students have access to, such as the Stanford Nanofabrication Facility (which includes a class 100 clean room), allow students to gain hands-on experience with a variety of fabrication and characterization techniques. And of course, on a given sunny afternoon, theres an ultimate Frisbee game to join in on.

What I Hope to Do

I hope to find a challenging position working with vibrant and motivated people. I would also like to be further involved in mentoring programs, encouraging others to pursue their educational goals.