This course sensitises doctoral students to ethical issues that may occur during their doctorate. After an introduction to ethics and good scientific practice, students are familiarised with resources that can assist them with ethical decision-making. Students get the chance to apply their knowledge in a discipline specific context.

The main aim of the course is to enable the students to independently choose a suitable material characterization methods to address a specific materials science question. Subject areas are: light microscopy, diffraction methods (X-rays, neutrons, electrons), electron microscopy, atom probe tomography and atomic force microscopy. Depending on lecturer, lectures and practicals in German or English.

Basic concepts of materials processing of metals, ceramics and polymers.

The aim of this course is to understand the principles of material design and selection, and apply them in a number of relevant case studies related to energy, health, information technology, etc. Examples will include all materials classes. It discusses the design challenges that arise when a combination of properties and geometries are required for a specific application.

The course will explore the growth of (multi-) ferroic oxide thin films. The structural characterization and ferroic state investigation by force microscopy and by laser-optical techniques will be addressed.Oxide electronics device concepts will be discussed.

Oxide films with a thickness of just a few atoms can now be grown with a precision matching that of semiconductors. This opens up a whole world of functional device concepts and fascinating phenomena that would not occur in the expanded bulk crystal.We will give an introduction to thin films deposition techniques and applications with a focus on the growth of multifunctional oxide thin films.