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Mission

Advancing Materials Research for a Better Future

Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSECs) support multidisciplinary materials research and education of the highest quality while addressing fundamental problems in science and engineering that are important to society. MRSECs require outstanding research quality, intellectual and disciplinary breadth, flexibility in responding to new research opportunities, support for research infrastructure, and the integration of research and education. MRSECs assess fundamental materials research topics of intellectual and technological importance, contribute to national priorities by fostering active collaboration between academia and other sectors, and enable researchers to address problems of a scope and complexity requiring the advantages of scale and interdisciplinarity provided by a campus-based research center.

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Explore the World of Materials Research

The MRSEC program is dedicated to advancing materials research through innovative programs and collaborations. Join us in shaping the future of science and technology.

Research

MRSECs lead cutting-edge research in materials science, pushing the boundaries of innovation. Our interdisciplinary teams explore new materials and phenomena to address global challenges in technology, energy, and sustainability.
Education

Our education initiatives foster the next generation of scientists and engineers. Through hands-on learning, outreach programs, and academic partnerships, we empower students at all levels to excel in materials science and related fields.
Industry

We bridge the gap between academia and industry by collaborating with leading companies to translate our research into real-world applications. Our industry partnerships drive innovation and contribute to economic growth through the development of new materials and technologies.
Collaboration

MRSECs foster collaboration between academia and industry, enabling interdisciplinary teams to address complex materials challenges. They strengthen knowledge transfer, build partnerships across institutions and sectors, and encourage international cooperation to advance materials research and education.

News

Jan 12, 2026

Center for Advanced Materials & Manufacturing

UTK-MRSEC’s PI Elected as a New SHUG Executive Committee Member

Yishu Wang has been elected as one of three new general members to the SNS-HFIR User Group (SHUG) Executive Committee (EC) starting January 1, 2026. SHUG consists of all persons interested in using the neutron scattering facilities at Oak Ridge. It provides input to the management on user concerns, provides a forum for keeping the entire community informed of issues and progress at these facilities, and serves as an advocacy group for neutron scattering science at these facilities.

Luis Palomino, a chemical and nano engineering Ph.D. candidate at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering and co-first author of the study, sprays an antibacterial polymer coating onto the leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana. Photos by David Baillot/UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering

Dec 18, 2025

Spray-on Antibacterial Coating Offers New Protection for Plants Against Disease and Drought

By Liezel Labios/UC San Diego

Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a spray-on polymer coating that could help plants resist harmful bacterial infections and survive drought. The advance, published in ACS Materials Letters, could help strengthen global food security as increased environmental stresses continue to intensify plant disease pressures.

Left: Schematic of an LSCO-based ion-gel electrochemical transistor studied in this work. Right: Switching time vs. LSCO thickness. The three times shown are to start and end the transformation, and to reach a high ON/OFF ratio. Image credit: American Chemical Society. Liang et al., ACS Nano 19, 27782 (2025)

Oct 29, 2025

UMN Materials Research Science and Engineering Center

Pushing the Limits of Ionic Control of Materials: University of Minnesota’s MRSEC Makes Breakthroughs in Electrolyte Gating

By MRSEC Web Team

Electrolyte gating uses ions to reversibly modify La0.5Sr0.5CoO3−δ, changing oxygen content and electrical, magnetic, and optical properties at 1–2 V. The team achieved ~100-cycle endurance with humidity control and 4 nm films switching in ~0.7 s. Prospects include tunable optics/photonics; future work targets diffusion and surface chemistry; collaborations.

Here, we see self-assembly of ABC bottlebrush block terpolymers into a Cylinders-in-Undulating-Lamellae (CUL) phase, where A and C blocks (in blue and red) segregate into alternating blue undulating lamellae (wavy layers) and red cylindrical domains, respectively, embedded within a continuous green B matrix. The schematic highlights the molecular architecture driving this unique hierarchical structure. Illustration courtesy of Tim Lodge.

Mar 5, 2025

UMN Materials Research Science and Engineering Center

Unlocking the Potential of Bottlebrush Polymers: A New Frontier in Self-Assembly

By Divya Abhat

In the world of materials science, researchers are constantly seeking new ways to create more efficient, durable, and adaptable materials. One promising avenue is the study of bottlebrush block polymers, a unique class of macromolecules that self-assemble into intricate nanostructures. Researchers at the University of Minnesota have been at the forefront of this research, uncovering new possibilities for these polymers and their applications.

Jan 30, 2023

Video Showcases the Value and Benefit of the MRSEC Program

Universities that have earned the Materials Research Science & Engineering Centers (MRSEC) grant award are engaged in collaborative interdisciplinary research at the very forefront of the field. Exciting opportunities exist for graduate students, undergraduates, postdoctor scholars, and faculty. This short video summarizes important features of the MRSEC program at all Centers.

From Research Highlights

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Dive into cutting-edge projects and collaborations pushing the boundaries of discovery.

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Advancing Materials Research for a Better Future

Explore the World of Materials Research

Research

Education

Industry

Collaboration

News

UTK-MRSEC’s PI Elected as a New SHUG Executive Committee Member

Spray-on Antibacterial Coating Offers New Protection for Plants Against Disease and Drought

Pushing the Limits of Ionic Control of Materials: University of Minnesota’s MRSEC Makes Breakthroughs in Electrolyte Gating

Unlocking the Potential of Bottlebrush Polymers: A New Frontier in Self-Assembly

Video Showcases the Value and Benefit of the MRSEC Program

Explore our latest research that's shaping the future of DMR

Persistence of Small Polarons in Doped Bismuthate Superconductors

Expanding CAMM’s Impact: REU Summer Outreach with Knoxville Youth

Experimenta Con PREM: Documenting Two Decades of Impact

REU: New Emphasis on Science Communication

Self-Assembling Networks: A New Structured Fluid Architecture Through Phase Separation