About us
The Centre for Materials and Surface Science (CMSS) brings together experts across physics, chemistry, materials science and electronic engineering, and offers Australia's most comprehensive suite of surface science equipment.
The CMSS aims to:
- promote co-operative activities and programs in education and research
- encourage collaboration between local and international organisations
- provide, receive and disseminate information in the areas of the centre.
CMSS activities
Education and training
- University programs – undergraduate courses and postgraduate research projects
- Workshop programs for industry
Collaborative activities
- Promotion of co-operative activities between local and international research and industrial organisations
Commercial surface analysis activities
- Staff with a wide range of expertise
- Available to research and industrial organisations
- Practical applications of surface analysis
Our research activities involve significant interaction with both local and international industrial and academic research organisations.
We offer a number of study options at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, in research and coursework.
The CMSS is an interdisciplinary research centre involving staff from across La Trobe, including:
- Department of Physics
- Department of Chemistry
- Department of Electronic Engineering
- Department of Pharmacy.
Background
The CMSS was originally established in 1977 as the Research Centre for Electron Spectroscopy by staff from the Departments of Physics and Chemistry at La Trobe University, with the aim of providing a structure within the University to encourage and promote cooperative activities and programs in teaching and research in the general area of electron spectroscopy. From the beginning, scientists from other local institutions with common research interests were included as Associates, and various Workshops and Meetings were organised on a State and National level.
In 1990 the name of the Centre was enlarged to the Research Centre for Electron Spectroscopy and Surface Science, in order to explicitly include the substantial ongoing research in that latter field, and to include techniques other than electron spectroscopy. Then in 1998 the name was changed once again, to the Centre for Materials and Surface Science, to reflect the continuing change in research emphasis.
Electron spectroscopy and surface science research have now become well established at various centres throughout Australia. CMSS is a key centre of this activity.
Our staff
Details of our members and associate members.
