Current global problems require increasingly sophisticated materials and appropriate advanced approaches and methodologies for their manufacture. This course will look at materials design for device manufacture, manufacturing techniques and manufacturing systems that are used to deliver innovative products and devices from the laboratory to industrial production. Several key manufacturing techniques, such as nano-, electronic and sustainable manufacturing will be covered as case studies illuminating how materials and manufacturing processes affect the end performance of the product, the economics of production and the impact on society and the environment. To obtain greater insight into smart manufacturing processes, students will complete projects, literature reviews/lab reports and oral/poster presentations in specific areas of manufacturing.
This course will introduce three advanced manufacturing technologies, including (i) Semiconductor device manufacturing; (ii) Manufacturing of Superconductor Devices; and (iii) Electronic Manufacturing. Each technology will be taught over three to four weeks. Students will learn these technologies in relation to functional materials and advanced manufacturing processes through lectures, hands-on experiences, lab practices and independent assessments. After successful completion of the course, students will have a good understanding of the fundamentals of functional materials, their properties, advanced manufacturing processes, their applications and industry roadmap with case studies.
Email any questions regarding ‘Superconductor device manufacturing' to A/Prof Hossain at the above address and face-to-face meetings available on request.
Email any questions regarding ‘Superconductor device manufacturing' to A/Prof Hossain at the above address and face-to-face meetings available on request.
Email any questions regarding ‘Electronic manufacturing' to Prof Nogita at the above address and face-to-face meetings available on request.
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
The aims of this course are to develop a high level understanding of functional materials and some key manufacturing technologies developed in recent years and to develop greater insight into the manufacturing processes. The design concepts of three selected key manufacturing technologies and the fundamental science behind each process will be discussed in detail to develop an appreciation of how engineers and scientists have developed these advanced manufacturing technologies.
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Differentiate between conventional and advanced manufacturing methods and justify process selection for sustainable, high-performance device manufacturing.
LO2.
Understand the fundamental principles of semiconductor and superconductor behaviour, and classify these systems based on their functional properties.
LO3.
Evaluate material and process selection strategies and assess their environmental, technical, and economic implications in real-world manufacturing contexts.
LO4.
Assess current manufacturing processes for electronics packaging and interpret their role in enabling emerging technologies including IoT, mobile devices, and advanced digital systems essential to Industry 4.0.
LO5.
Design and evaluate prototype magnet and electronic subsystems by integrating knowledge of material behaviour, structural/thermal engineering, manufacturability, and lifecycle cost considerations.
LO6.
Identify limitations in conventional electronic packaging and manufacturing systems, propose innovative solutions, and critically review relevant literature and peer presentations.
LO7.
Understand persistent-mode magnetic system operation and analyse mechanisms to maintain stable current flow for next generation MRI magnet applications.
LO8.
Collaboratively engage in practical and in-class team activities in device fabrication and testing, including mini-projects and prototype-based learning, and demonstrate effective teamwork, technical integration, and problem-solving skills.
LO9.
Critically evaluate global research and industry developments in electronic, superconducting, and semiconducting manufacturing, identify emerging trends, and assess their implications for future research and Australia’s manufacturing sector.
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation |
Presentation to demonstrate the Design and manufacturing of solar powered devices
|
20% |
23/03/2026 - 27/03/2026
Presentation file submission deadline Monday 23 March 2026 at 4pm In person group presentation session will be conducted on Friday 27 March from 8am to 12pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Technical report on Superconductor device manufacturing | 20% |
5/05/2026 4:00 pm |
| Presentation |
Electronic manufacturing - presentation
|
10% |
Presentations from 10:00am on 22/05/2026 Slides due at 4:00pm 22/05/2026 |
| Examination |
Final Exam
|
50% |
End of Semester Exam Period 6/06/2026 - 20/06/2026 |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
23/03/2026 - 27/03/2026
Presentation file submission deadline Monday 23 March 2026 at 4pm
In person group presentation session will be conducted on Friday 27 March from 8am to 12pm
Students are required to deliver a group presentation focusing on key aspects of advanced semiconducting materials and device manufacturing, demostration and testing. This presentation is a compulsory assessment component of the course and will be conducted in Week 5.
The purpose of this assessment is to enable students to critically analyse and present a nominated advanced manufacturing topic, while also engaging in peer evaluation of presentations. The task is designed to further develop students’ technical communication and presentation skills.
Each presentation will be 10–12 minutes, followed by 5 minutes of questions. Lecture and practical materials should be used as an initial reference only, and students are expected to consult additional scholarly and technical resources.
Presentation slides must be uploaded to Blackboard (Ultra) no later than 10:00 am on the Monday (23/3/2026) to the scheduled presentation. Uploaded slides will be accessible to all students. All students are expected to review the relevant material and presentations in advance and actively participate in class by asking at least one relevant question during the session.
Assessment will be conducted by the Course Coordinator or a nominated panel using a standard rubric. Marks will be awarded for Technical Content (30%) and Presentation Quality (70%).
Please refer to Blackboard for a detailed marking criteria.
If, for whatever reason, you find that your group is not functioning effectively, please contact your Course Coordinator for support.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submit via TurnItIn on Blackboard.
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
As the presentation is timed-assessment, Student Access Plans (SAPs) are not suitable supporting documentation. Students must provide evidence that demonstrates their inability to attend the assessment at the scheduled time.
Students submitting an extension must indicate whether the extension request is for the slide submission or presentation component.
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
A 100% late penalty applies for non-attendance at the presentation. The nature of an oral presentation does not allow for the application of a late penalty with a sliding scale as they are presented within the allocated timeslot.
5/05/2026 4:00 pm
Superconductors have both advantages and disadvantages compared to conventional conductors. The first advantage of superconductivity is the low electrical power consumption due to the low resistivity. Moreover, since the critical current density is quite high in magnets, applications required strong magnet like Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) will require superconductors. However, the major disadvantage is low critical temperature which required the application of liquid helium for cooling purpose in applications. Application and storage of liquid helium made the process complicated and expensive.
In this laboratory practice, students will particularly learn (i) properties of different types of high temperature superconductors (ii) Testing the transport current carrying capacity in cryogenic environment (at 77K in liquid nitrogen) (iii) Analysis the transport current under bending strain effect (iv) microstructure analysis of superconductors using electron and optical microscope to investigate the current degradation after bending (v) Testing the superconducting magnet coil and generating high magnetic field (vi) data and result analysis for the laboratory report. Student will work in groups of several students. Within each group, students will share the data obtained from the laboratory practice. However, each student is required to write and submit report independently.
Please refer to Blackboard for a detailed marking criteria.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submit via TurnItIn on Blackboard.
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Presentations from 10:00am on 22/05/2026
Slides due at 4:00pm 22/05/2026
Presentation length:
20 minutes in total. 15 minutes presentation (15-18 slides) and 5 minutes at the end of the presentation for questions from the audience. The presentation length may change depends on the number of students enrolled.
Slots allocation will be made available on Blackboard during Week 9. Inform course staff ASAP if unable to attend your allocated slot due to exceptional circumstances.
Recommended report outline:
Assessment:
The teaching team will assess your presentation according to the marking rubric available on Blackboard.
Choice of topic:
This will be the same article as the summary report.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
As the presentation is timed-assessment, Student Access Plans (SAPs) are not suitable supporting documentation. Students must provide evidence that demonstrates their inability to attend the assessment at the scheduled time.
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
The nature of an oral presentation does not allow for the application of a late penalty with a sliding scale as they are presented within the allocated timeslot.
End of Semester Exam Period
6/06/2026 - 20/06/2026
The final exam will comprehensively test knowledge learned during the course.
Format: Short answer, Short essay
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | (In person) Casio FX82 series only or UQ approved and labelled calculator |
| Open/closed book | Closed book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
You may be able to defer this exam.
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0.00 - 29.99 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 30.00 - 44.99 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45.00 - 49.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Falls short of satisfying basic requirements for a Pass. Or receives at least 50% overall, but does not meet the minimum score of 40% in the IVA requirement explained below. |
| 4 (Pass) | 50.00 - 64.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Satisfies all of the basic learning requirements for the course, such as knowledge of fundamental concepts and performance of basic skills; demonstrates sufficient quality of performance to be considered satisfactory or adequate or competent or capable in the course. A minimum score of 40% in the IVA requirement explained below. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65.00 - 74.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Demonstrates ability to use and apply fundamental concepts and skills of the course, going beyond mere replication of content knowledge or skill to show understanding of key ideas, awareness of their relevance, some use of analytical skills, and some originality or insight. A minimum score of 40% in the IVA requirement explained below. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75.00 - 84.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Demonstrates awareness and understanding of deeper and subtler aspects of the course, such as ability to identify and debate critical issues or problems, ability to solve non-routine problems, ability to adapt and apply ideas to new situations, and ability to invent and evaluate new ideas. A minimum score of 40% in the IVA requirement explained below. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85.00 - 100.00 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: High Distinction: Demonstrates imagination, originality or flair, based on proficiency in all the learning objectives for the course; the work is interesting or surprising or exciting or challenging or erudite.ﾠA minimum score of 40% in the IVA requirement explained below. |
Identity verified assessment (IVA) will be through:
Obtaining at least 40% of the available marks in the final exam.ﾠ
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Assessment items submitted using the Turnitin link on the course Blackboard site, will check your work for evidence of plagiarism, collusion, and other forms of academic misconduct.
A failure to reference AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Learning resources for MECH3610 are available through The MECH3610 Learning Guide Document available on Blackboard together with Workshops slides and other course documents.
Laboratory access
Students must have completed the Student Laboratory Safety Induction, Annual Fire Safety Training and Health Safety and Wellness (HSW) to a specific laboratory induction, all accessed via Blackboard.
If you require access for experimental work, then register for an induction by searching for that laboratory at the following link: https://student.eait.uq.edu.au/urite/
Additional requirements to be inducted into each laboratory will be listed on that link.
Students can also check their HSW training card here: https://student.eait.uq.edu.au/safe
Access to laboratories will be granted after all of the specific laboratory requirements have been met.
If you have any enquiries regarding HSW please contact the School’s Technical Services Team on labsupport@mechmining.uq.edu.
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (23 Feb - 01 Mar) |
Lecture |
Course overview - Introduction A/Prof. Shahriar Hossain |
Week 2 (02 Mar - 08 Mar) |
Lecture |
Introduction to semiconductor manufacturing Dr Aditya Ashok |
Practical |
Manufacturing of semiconductor devices Dr. Aditya Ashok, A/Prof Shahriar Hossain and a member of the teaching team |
|
Week 3 (09 Mar - 15 Mar) |
Lecture |
Manufactruing and applications of semiconductor devices Dr. Aditya Ashok |
Practical |
Manufacturing and application of semiconductor devices Dr. Aditya Ashok, A/Prof. Shahriar Hossain and a member of the teaching team |
|
Week 4 (16 Mar - 22 Mar) |
Lecture |
Problem Solving on semiconductor device manufacturing Dr Aditya Ashok, A/Prof. Shahriar Hossain and a member of the teaching team |
Applied Class |
Intro- Superconduct Device Manufact & MAGLEV Demo A/Prof. Shahriar Hossain and Dr Hao Liang Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L05, L07 |
|
Week 5 (23 Mar - 29 Mar) |
Lecture |
Semiconducting device manufacturing presentation prep Dr Aditya Ashok, A/Prof. Shahriar Hossain and a member of the teaching team |
Seminar |
Week 5 Seminar Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 6 (30 Mar - 05 Apr) |
Lecture |
Superconduct Device Manufact Design considerations + simulation tutorial A/Prof. Shahriar Hossain, Hao Liang Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L05, L07 |
Practical |
Superconductor testing Dr Hao Liang, A/Prof. Shahriar Hossain |
|
Week 7 (13 Apr - 19 Apr) |
Lecture |
Superconductor cryogenic enginering application + simulation tutorial A/Prof. Shahriar Hossain, Dr Hao Liang. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L05, L07 |
Practical |
Superconducting testing 2 Dr Hao Liang, A/Prof. Shahriar Hossain |
|
Week 8 (20 Apr - 26 Apr) |
Lecture |
Superconduct wire/magnet applications + simulation tutorial A/Prof. Shahriar Hossain, Dr Hao Liang Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L05, L07 |
Practical |
Microstructure characterisation by electron microscopy A/Prof. Shahriar Hossain Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L05, L07 |
|
Week 9 (27 Apr - 03 May) |
Lecture |
Magnet test demo in the lab Dr. Hao Liang, A/Prof. Shahriar Hossain |
Applied Class |
Magnet test demo in the lab + levitation force testing Dr Hao Liang |
|
Week 10 (04 May - 10 May) |
Lecture |
Electronic Manufacturing for Electronic Packaging Prof. Kazuhiro Nogita and a member of the teaching team |
Practical |
Electronic manufacturing - advanced soldring prac Prof. Kazuhiro Nogita, and Guest lecturer |
|
Week 11 (11 May - 17 May) |
Lecture |
Guest lecture on Electronic Manufacturing Prof Nogita and guest lecture |
Week 12 (18 May - 24 May) |
Applied Class |
Presentation preparation discussion on Electronic Manufacturing Prof Nogita and turors |
Seminar |
Electronic manufacturing presentation assessment Prof Nogita and tutors |
|
Week 13 (25 May - 31 May) |
Lecture |
Discussion on final exam prep Shahriar Hossain |
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.