Information for Prospective Students

The Armani lab is located within the Mork department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering Department. The lab welcomes students and post-doctorate researchers with diverse backgrounds, including:

All students interested in joining the lab should read the following information before contacting Prof. Armani:

High School Student Researchers:

The Armani Lab offers one high school student per year the opportunity to work in a research lab setting.  The minimum time commitment is 8 weeks during the summer.  While GPA and course background are relevant, enthusiasm for research and an interest in science and engineering are equally important.  If you are interested in applying for this position, please contact Prof. Armani directly.

Undergraduate Researchers:

The Armani Lab offers undergraduates at all stages in their studies (freshman through senior) and in all of the disciplines listed above an opportunity to participate in research during the summer or the academic year. Research projects can be part of a directed research course or can be independent of an academic curriculum. 

CHE 491: Prof. Armani welcomes CHE 491 students, with the stipulation that they must also perform 10 weeks of summer research in the lab (paid).

Please email Prof. Armani directly if you are interested in getting involved.

PhD Students:

Students interested in joining the lab must apply through USC Graduate Admissions.  In their application, students should specifically indicate their interest in joining the Armani Lab in the appropriate locations and in their personal statement. Students admitted to the Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or Electrical Engineering Departments can easily join the Armani Lab.  Students admitted to other departments can also join, so apply to the department appropriate to your background.

There will be several open positions for the 2010-2011 academic year.  By indicating your interest in joining the Armani lab on your application, your file will be directed to Prof. Armani after it is complete. However, it is always beneficial to contact Prof. Armani directly after applying, especially if you apply to a different department.

Please note that although the official deadline for applying to USC is in February, to be eligible for internal USC fellowships, it is crucial to apply by December 1st.

Post-doctorate researchers:

All post-doctoral positions for next academic year (2009-2010) have been filled. There will be one post-doctorate position starting in the summer of 2010.  Interested students should email Prof. Armani (subject line: USC Post-Doc Opening) a single pdf file containing:

Potential research topics include, but are not limited to: microfluidics, surface functionalization, optical micro/nano devices, simulations for device optimization, single cell and single molecule studies. At this time, a background in optical device fabrication and characterization, in optical device simulations (FEM or FDTD), or in instrumentation development is preferred.

Please note that is never too early to inquire about this position or positions for future years.