Enabling technological revolutions

Advances in materials have preceded almost every major technological leap since the beginning of civilization. In modern times, the rapid and revolutionary progress in specifically designed materials has had a significant impact on all aspects of life. New discoveries in engineered materials are crucial to the continued vitality of the aerospace, automotive, biomedical, chemical, construction, electronics, energy and telecommunication industries.

In the Materials Science & Engineering department, our students and faculty are working on the next generation of advanced materials that will become as ubiquitous and influential as steel. Our research and education is focused on the scientific fundamentals of materials and their processing and design for technological applications.

From the earliest days of the space age, the department of Materials Science & Engineering has been an active participant in the pursuit of space travel. Working closely with NASA, a research partner for two decades, Dr. James Mueller developed the thermal protection tiles used in the space shuttle program to protect astronauts and their gear during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.

Today, our students and faculty are conducting leading-edge research in interdisciplinary and international teams with colleagues from engineering, basic science and medicine. Examples of this research include biomaterials for tissue engineering, ceramics for energy applications, composites and metals for aerospace, computational techniques for materials development, eco-materials for green technologies, genetically engineered molecules and semiconductors for electronics, magnetic materials for information storage and electronics, and polymers for telecommunications and electronics. Nanotechnology forms the basis of many of our current research programs due to our ability to control the nanostructure of materials and the novel properties that nanomaterials exhibit.

Our department is a student-centered community of learners. We offer an ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science and are one of the larger undergraduate programs in the country. The curriculum places heavy emphasis on hands-on learning. All undergraduate students participate in research and have opportunities for internships and international exchange. The graduate program offers both Masters and Doctorate degrees with education and research in all aspects of materials science and engineering. Many opportunities for interdisciplinary and international experiences exist. A few examples of these are the dual Doctoral degree in Materials Science and Engineering and Nanotechnology.