Spring/Summer 2024 |
MENU
The JPM Research Group at Penn State, led by Jon-Paul Maria, professor of materials science and engineering, continues to be at the forefront of research, pushing the boundaries of what is possible. The group’s pioneering work in not just one, but two, significant areas of research entropy-stabilized ceramics and a new class of ferroelectrics, built on shattering a seventy-five-year-old belief on the limits of ferroelectrics—has established entirely new families of materials and functionalities.
The group is a supportive community of undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and visiting scholars, who work together on cutting-edge research projects. They specialize in the synthesis, characterization, and application of advanced materials for computer processing and energy storage, for infrared light detection and emission, for future quantum information science applications, and for stability under extreme environments. Read more
Known for its ability to withstand extreme environments and high voltages, silicon carbide (SiC) is a semiconducting material made up of silicon and carbon atoms arranged into crystals that is increasingly becoming essential to modern technologies like electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, telecommunications infrastructure and microelectronics.
To advance the potential of this semiconductor, Penn State recently launched the Silicon Carbide Innovation Alliance (SCIA), a coalition of industry leaders, academic institutions and government support with a focus on becoming the nation's central hub for research, development and workforce training in silicon SiC crystal technology. Read more
Penn State, Morgan Advanced Materials partner to improve semiconductor materialsPenn State and Morgan Advanced Materials have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to catalyze research and development of silicon carbide, known as SiC, a semiconductor material that operates more efficiently at high voltages than competing technologies. This agreement includes a new five-year, multimillion-dollar initiative and a commitment by Morgan to become a founding member of the recently launched Penn State Silicon Carbide Innovation Alliance, as well as to supply the graphite materials and solutions needed for SiC development to Penn State for use by internal and external partners. Read more
Penn State and onsemi partner to boost silicon carbide research in the U.S.Penn State and onsemi, a leader in intelligent power and sensing technologies, have announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding toward an $8 million strategic collaboration that includes the establishment of the onsemi Silicon Carbide Crystal Center (SiC3) at Penn State’s Materials Research Institute. Over the next 10 years, onsemi will fund SiC3 with $800,000 per year. Read more
MatSE welcomed Carlos Lopez as a new assistant professor in January.
Lopez’s research focuses on the structure and rheology of various soft matter systems, including polyelectrolyte solutions, poly (ionic liquid) gels, and soft colloidal dispersions.
"I am pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Carlos Lopez to our department," said Susan Sinnott, head and professor of materials science and engineering. Read more
This spring, MatSE awarded forty-six bachelor of science degrees to a unique group of students—the class of 2024. These were our COVID-19 pandemic students, who missed traditional high school graduation ceremonies and began their college careers during one of the most uncertain times in recent history.
Today’s undergraduate students possess unique skills resulting from their experiences with blended in-person and online education. Many have refined their time management skills, adapted to learning and working in different formats, and have experience in collaborating virtually. From virtual learning platforms to AI-driven tools, they have navigated an ever-evolving digital landscape. These students are passionate about social justice, climate change, and inclusivity. Many have entrepreneurial ambitions, and their ability and drive to innovate set them apart. Mental health awareness has also been a priority to them, and their empathy and compassion stand out. Read more
MatSE at Penn State is an international leader in materials education and research. As a top-ranked program, the department thrives on a rich collaboration between faculty, staff, students, and researchers to promote a well-rounded academic experience and innovative research opportunities. Our department offers ABET-accredited degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. View video
MatSE is proud to announce that we have achieved our fundraising goal for the 115th Anniversary DEI initiative and the fund will be endowed! With the help of leadership gift commitments from Paul Robertson and Alexandra Lee, Joel and Kim Reed, Larry and Beth Hancock, Melissa and Leif Hockstad, as well as individual contributions from alumni, faculty, and friends, this fund will now exist in perpetuity. Read more
Penn State’s total research expenditures reached a record high of $1.239 billion in fiscal year 2022-23, a 14%* increase from the previous year and driven by a $98 million jump in federal funding for research — by far the largest in the University’s history. This funding enables Penn State faculty, staff and students to conduct cutting-edge research and drive innovation that positively impact people’s lives, both locally and around the globe. Read more
Dual-energy harvesting device could power future wireless medical implantsImplantable biomedical devices — like pacemakers, insulin pumps and neurostimulators — are becoming smaller and utilizing wireless technology, but hurdles remain for powering the next-generation implants. A new wireless charging device developed by Penn State scientists could dramatically improve powering capability for implants while still being safe for our bodies, the researchers said. Read more
Method for producing sulfur compounds in cells shows promise for tissue repairSulfur-based compounds produced in our bodies help fight inflammation and create new blood vessels, among other responsibilities, but the compounds are delicate and break down easily, making them difficult to study. A team led by Penn State scientists have developed a new method to generate the compounds — called polysulfides — inside of cells, and the work could potentially lead to advances in wound treatment and tissue repair. Read more
‘Surprising’ hidden activity of semiconductor material spotted by researchersNew research suggests that materials commonly overlooked in computer chip design actually play an important role in information processing, a discovery which could lead to faster and more efficient electronics. Using advanced imaging techniques, an international team led by Penn State researchers found that the material that a semiconductor chip device is built on, called the substrate, responds to changes in electricity much like the semiconductor on top of it. Read more
GAP funding paves the way for research to move from lab to marketFour projects were recently awarded Penn State Commercialization GAP funding. The GAP Fund, formerly known as the Fund for Innovation, aims to accelerate the development of promising research across the University by closing the funding gaps between proof-of-concept research and readiness for commercialization. Read more
Q&A: Enhancing defense readiness with renewable energy and sensor materialsPenn State has been selected by the Department of Defense (DoD) as a partner for two of the four newly created DoD research centers of excellence. The DoD awarded a total of $40 million to establish the four centers at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Minority-serving Institutions (MI), which will conduct research over a five-year period in technology areas deemed critical by the DoD. Read more
The Erickson Discovery Grant, which funds independent research projects for undergraduate students, has been awarded to 43 recipients this year.
The Rodney A. Erickson Grant program is administered by the Office of Undergraduate Education and is designed to support undergraduate student engagement in original research, scholarship and creative work under the supervision of a research mentor. Students may use the grant to cover living expenses and project costs like supplies and travel. Read more
Michael Mervosh has been named Penn State's College of Earth and Mineral Sciences’ student marshal, the top graduate overall; and Brenden Franks has been named the college’s science honor marshal, the top graduate in a non-engineering discipline.
Mervosh earned his bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering. He will be graduating summa cum laude with a 4.0 cumulative grade-point average. Read more
Penn State Libraries presented its seventh annual Undergraduate Research Award: Excellence in Information Literacy honors at the end of the spring 2024 semester.
Vyom Mehta, undergraduate students, materials science and engineering, was the fall 2023 EMS Library winner for “Platinum: Insights into the Hydrogen-based Solution for the Fossil Fuel Problem.” Read more
When Katelyn Kirchner arrived at Penn State seven years ago as an undergraduate studying materials science and engineering, glass was for windows.
“I remember being in a first-year seminar class and my professor, Carlo Pantano, talked about a material that looks like a cotton ball except it’s borate glass that you can put in a bullet wound to clot blood and prevent critical blood loss,” Kirchner said. “When I was thinking of glass, I was thinking about windows, not advanced biomaterials.” Read more
Rebecca Welch, doctoral student, was one of forty Penn State graduate students named as recipients of Penn State’s most prestigious annual graduate student recognition awards, administered by the Graduate School in collaboration with several Penn State units. The awards recognize and celebrate graduate students excelling in teaching, research and service, and other academic pursuits. Read more
Clive Randall, distinguished professor of materials science and engineering and director of the Materials Research Institute at Penn State, has been named an Evan Pugh University Professor. The Evan Pugh University Professorship is the highest distinction bestowed upon faculty by Penn State. Read more
Douglas E. Wolfe, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, promoted to professor at Penn State, effective July 1, 2024.
Wenjie Li, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, has been promoted to associate research professor (non-tenure-line faculty) at Penn State, effective July 1, 2024.
Li received the 2023 Rustum and Della Roy Innovation in Materials Research Award presented by the Materials Research Institute (MRI) and recognizes recent interdisciplinary materials research at Penn State that yields innovative and unexpected results.
Danielle Reifsnyder Hickey, assistant professor of chemistry and of materials science and engineering at Penn State, has been awarded an American Chemical Society (ACS) Petroleum Research Fund (PRF) Doctoral New Investigator Grant for $110,000 to support her research on catalysis — the acceleration of chemical reactions — at the atomic scale. Read more
Ismaila Dabo, associate professor of materials science and engineering and of physics, is leaving Penn State. On July 1, 2024, he will begin his new role in graduate strategic initiatives at Carnegie Mellon University. Dabo will be working on developing a master’s degree program in machine learning and computational materials science between Carnegie Mellon University - Africa and Carnegie Mellon University - Pittsburgh.
The MatSE family extends our warmest congratulations and best wishes to him and his family on this new venture.
Meet two MatSE alumni, Matt Agboola and Nathan Banner. Currently, both are pursuing Ph.Ds. in different fields and at different universities—one in applied physics and data science at Harvard University and one in materials science and engineering at Penn State—but along the way, their journeys have shared a great deal in common. View video
The 2024 MatSE Alumna of the Year was awarded to Dawne M. Moffatt-Fairbanks, director of Thermal and Materials Engineering, Manufacturing Technology and Engineering at Corning Incorporated. Read more
The Distinguished Lecture Series in Materials Science and Engineering at Penn State is comprised of three award lectures including two awards for the Richard E. Tressler Award Lecture in Materials and one award for the David Ford McFarland Award Lecture for Achievement in Metallurgy. The awards are bestowed on Penn State Alumni who have honorably distinguished themselves in materials science. Award recipients are invited to the University Park campus each spring to receive their award and present a lecture to the materials community. Read more
This year marked the twenty-second annual MatSE Awards Celebration recognizing the achievements of MatSE students, staff, faculty, and alumni whose contributions continue to make MatSE a top-ranked materials science and engineering program. Read more
This year marked the twenty-second annual MatSE Awards Celebration which recognized the achievements of MatSE students, staff, faculty, and alumni whose contributions continue to make MatSE a top-ranked materials science and engineering program. The event was also an occasion for MatSE to express appreciation for the generous support received throughout the year from alumni, friends, and partners. It is their generosity that is critical in furthering the MatSE mission. View video
Recording from the 2024 Annual MatSE Awards Celebration held on April 11, 2024.
This academic year has given us many things to celebrate in the MatSE at Penn State. Here is a look back at some of the great times the MatSE family has shared during the 2023-24 academic year. View video
Penn State's College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS) recognized exceptional students and faculty for their academic excellence, service and leadership during its annual Wilson Awards Celebration, held on Sunday, April 24. The Wilson Awards are named in honor of Matthew and Anne Wilson, major benefactors of the college. Read more
The winners of the 16th annual Materials Visualization Competition (MVC), a scientific visual and artistic competition sponsored by the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MatSE) and the Materials Research Institute (MRI) at Penn State, have been announced. MVC celebrates the quality of research in materials at Penn State and promotes awareness of materials science through visualization. Read more
This publication is available in alternative media on request.
Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. UBR EMS 24-81
