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Department of Materials Science and Engineering

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Department of Materials Science and Engineering Home Page

Highlights

  • Lee Kump, John Leone Dean of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, left, with Meg Abplanalp, an academic adviser and recruiter in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering who received the Charles Hosler Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Staff Award.
    College of Earth and Mineral Sciences staff recognized at annual luncheon
  • Penn State's Nittany Lion Shrine on the University Park campus.
    Penn State names 14 new distinguished professors for 2026
  • Using an advanced imaging technology, known as cryogenic electron microscopy, a team at Penn State developed a deeper understanding of a material that had previously confused researchers.
    Stretchy plastics conduct electricity via tiny, whisker-like fibers
  • Researchers developed a polymer capacitor by combining two cheap, commercially available plastics. The new polymer capacitor makes use of the transparent material — pictured here, with vintage Penn State athletic marks visible through it — to store four times the energy and withstand significantly more heat.
    New plastic material could solve energy storage challenge, researchers report
  • The researchers engineered synthetic DNA and integrated it with a semiconducting material to increase the storage capacity of advanced materials. Here, the internal two-dimensional structures of the synthetic DNA is visible via optical microscopy.
    Borrowing from biology to power next-gen data storage
  • Allison Beese will assume the role of senior associate director of Penn State's new National Security Institute on May 15, 2026.
    Allison Beese named senior associate director of National Security Institute
  • Dor Tillinger and Wonbae Lee, two researchers in the Penn State College of Engineering, prepare a glass substrate with materials to fabricate a hydrogel-based power source.
    Electric eel biology inspires powerful gel battery
  • The team used their new printing method to encode a photo of the Mona Lisa onto their "smart skin" material (left). The photo, which can initially appear hidden in the material, can be revealed by stretching, exposure to heat, exposure to liquid or by adjusting the material from a 2D to a 3D shape (right).
    Team develops smart synthetic material inspired by octopus skin
  • Lilly Clarke, left, a Franklin Institute STEM Scholar, and Trent Rodgers, also a Franklin Institute STEM Scholar, guide viewers through an experiment to make homemade bouncy balls as part of the Mission: Materials Science project, a joint effort between the Center for Nanoscale Science in partnership with The Franklin Institute, funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation via the interdisciplinary Materials Research Science and Engineering Center program.
    Bouncy balls and beyond: Collaborative project connects science with community
  • The Best of Show winner from the Materials Visualization Competition (MVC17) was “Nano Soccer Balls from Nature” by Jinsol Choi, postdoctoral scholar in mechanical engineering.
    Now accepting submissions for 18th annual Materials Visualization Competition

Friends of MatSE

Friends of MatSE

Partnering with industry to enhancing educational experiences for students.

DEIB

Beese research group

Dedicated to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

Safety First

Safety Olympic participants

Safety starts with you! Committed to providing a safe working environment for all.
Department by the numbers

Steidle Building - where tradition meets cutting-edge research

Welcome to the Steidle Building—one of the most iconic and innovative spaces at Penn State’s University Park campus. Nestled in the heart of campus on Pollock Road, this beautifully restored building is the administrative home of MatSE.

Join some of our MatSE faculty and students as they take you on a tour and offer a glimpse into the exciting work happening here every day.

Materials Research Institute at the Millennium Research Complex

Materials Research Institute 360 Virtual Tours

The Materials Research Institute (MRI) at the Millennium Research Complex (MSC) invites you to explore and tour three laboratories from anywhere in the world. Start your self-guided tour by clicking on the lab.

MCL X-ray diffraction

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Department of Materials Science and Engineering
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