General Information -
Cost Per Course:
- AVS Platinum Member
$1,045 (2-day course); $715 (1-day course)
- Non-Member
- $1,120 (2-day course); $790 (1-day course)
- Full-time Student/Requires Student I.D.
$400 (2-day course); $200 (1-day course)
- Multi-Course and Group Discounts Available
Contact Heather Korff, heather@avs.org.
Course Includes: Course notes and lunch.
Location:
Double Tree by Hilton-Westminster
8773 Yates Drive
Westminster, CO 80031-3680
Course Times: 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Mountain Time)
Check your timezone!
Annual Symposium -
The AVS Rocky Mountain Chapter Annual Symposium will be held on Thursday, November 6, 2025 also at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Denver-Westminster. You can talk with vendors, attend an introduction to vacuum tutorial, attend free short talks on current research, enjoy free lunch, discuss new ideas at the student poster session, and socialize during a happy hour with a selection of food and alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages, and door prizes.
Short course registrants are automatically registered and welcome to participate.
An Overview of Applied Vacuum Technology -
- Be introduced to the fundamental concepts of vacuum technology.
- Learn about common vacuum system hardware and instrumentation, including pumps, gauges, flanges, valves, and feedthroughs.
- Understand applications and processes involving vacuum technology.
- Benefit from a "just right" two-day course (when you don't have the time or the need to attend a four-day introductory course)..
Instructor
Tim Gessert
Managing Member
Gessert Consulting, LLC
Instructor
Neil Peacock
Consultant
Pine Place Consulting, LLC
Photovoltaics: The Engineering, Technology and Application of Solar Cells (1 Day)-
- Understand the basic operation of photovoltaics (solar cells)
- Gain an understanding of the state of the art and current primary research focuses in all common and emerging photovoltaic technologies
- Learn how solar cell operation is modeled to diagnose and optimize devices
- Understand how photovoltaics fit in to future energy generation schemes
Instructor
Angus Rockett
Head of Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
Sputter Deposition-
- Understand the fundamentals of sputter deposition
- Review and discuss options for sputtering system design
- Learn how rf sputtering differs from dc sputtering and understand how rf sputtering works
- Understand reactive sputtering
- Understand thin film properties are modified by adjusting sputtering parameters
Instructor
Angus Rockett
Head of Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
Atomic Layer Deposition-
- Learn the fundamentals of ALD based on sequential self-limiting surface reactions.
- Understand the important advantages of ALD and comparison with CVD.
- Learn about ideal and non-ideal ALD and thermal and plasma-enhanced ALD.
- Understand how ALD surface chemistry and growth are studied using in situ probes.
- Learn how ALD can be utilized for thin film nanoengineering.
- Understand the many current and potential applications of ALD.
Controlling Contamination in Vacuum Systems-
- Understand the three phases of vacuum chamber contamination: gases, films, and particulates.
- Learn the origins of vacuum chamber contaminants and methods for controlling or eliminating them.
Other AVS Events -
AVS National Short Course Program - Virtual Only
Platform: Zoom
October 14-24, 2025
- Five (5) Courses being offered.
AVS Courses by Request
If you are interested in seeing an AVS Short Course offered in 2025 please complete the AVS Courses by Request form. (Recommended for individual training)
AVS Onsite/Online Training
Do your employees need training now? Are budgets tight? Let AVS bring our short courses and qualified instructors to your organization either onsite at your facility or virtually via Zoom. Please complete the AVS Onsite/Online Training request form to receive a proposal. (Recommended for group training)
AVS Webinar: Introduction to Quantum Materials and Devices,
Presenter: Yong P. Chen, Tohoku University/Aarhus University
Date: November 19, 2025
Time: 1:00-5:00pm ET
Platform: Zoom
Have an Idea for a Webinar or e-Talk?
We welcome suggestions for future Webinars and/or e-Talk topics and speakers.
Please e-mail Webinar suggestions to David Adams, AVS Short Course Chair, david_adams@avs.org.
Please e-mail e-Talk suggestions to Matthew Jordan, AVS e-Talk Chair, matt_jordan@avs.org.