Teaching at UT Austin
Noah P. Allen

Currently Offered Teachable Courses
Department Electrical & Computer Engineering
  • EE 302 - Introduction to Electrical Engineering
  • EE 302H - Introduction to Electrical Engineering: Honors
  • EE 307E - Elements of Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • EE 411 - Circuit Theory
  • EE 319K - Introduction to Embedded Systems
  • EE 331 - Electrical Circuits, Electronics, and Machinery
  • EE 334K - Quantum Theory of Engineering Electronic Materials1
  • EE 438 - Fundamentals of Electronic Circuits I Laboratory
  • EE 339 - Solid-State Electronic Devices
  • EE 339S - Solar Energy Conversion Devices1
  • EE 440 - Integrated Circuit Nanomanufacturing Techniques
Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • ME 340 - Mechatronics
  • ME 140L - Mechatronics Laboratory
Engineering Studies
  • ES 370L - Nanofabrication and Nanomaterials
  • ES 370M - Nanotechnology Innovation1
1 It has been some time since using material but could ultimately be taught



Proposed Courses
Semiconductor Material/Device Characterization
Senior/Graduate

Lecture-based course where students would apply theory learned in EE 339 to understand how to measure and analyze real semiconductor devices such as diodes or transistors. The course would start with the basic measurement and extraction of electrical device parameters and work toward measuring and understanding possible causes of non-idealities through semiconductor material characterization. Students will come away from the course knowing the significance of specific instruments such as source-measurement units, impedance analyzers, electron microscopes, and optical components to effectively characterize semiconductor devices and materials.

Select List of Proposed Course Topics
  • Review of Basic Semiconductor Physics
  • Basic Equipment Communication and Programming
  • Electrical Characterization
    • Current-Voltage
    • Capacitance-Voltage
    • Temperature Measurements
    • Hall
  • Optical Characterization
    • Optical Equipment and Components
    • Photoluminescence
    • Steady-State Photocapacitance
  • Material Characterization
    • Atomic Force Microscopy
    • Electron Microscope (SEM and TEM)
    • X-Ray Spectroscopy (XRD, XPS)
    • Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS)
    • Rutherfor Backscattering
Power Semiconductor Material and Devices
Senior/Graduate

Lecture-based course where students learn the device structure capabilities and limitations for power electronic devices including PIN diodes, Schottky diodes, MOSFETs, and IGBTs. This course it targeted at graduate students interested in power electronic circuits who what to understand the physical and electrical characteristics of semiconductor devices which make them suitable for high power conversion applications.

Select List of Proposed Course Topics
  • Semiconductor Physics Review
  • Critical Field Strength and Breakdown Mechanics
  • Power Electronic Device Material (Si, SiC and GaN)
  • Schottky Diode Reverse Blocking and Forward Conduction
  • P-i-N Reverse Blocking and Forward Conduction
  • Power MOSFET Devices and Topology Considerations
  • Power IGBT Devices and Topology Considerations
  • Power Thyristor Devices and Topology Considerations
[SEMINAR] Electronic Defect Characterization in Semiconductors

Present techniques on measuring and analyzing trapping defects in semiconductors by deep-level transient spectroscopy (DLTS), steady-state photocapacitance (SSPC), and photoluminescence (PL).

[SEMINAR] Cryogenic Material Characterization

Introduce concepts related to creating/maintaining a vacuum chamber and measuring semiconductor material and devices at cryogenic temperatures.

[SEMINAR] Using LabVIEW to Automate Measurements

Review LabVIEW programming methods used to communicate with newer and older research equipment to automate the measurement taking process. Some topics on data analysis and visualization would also be covered.