Dear MatSE friends and alumni,
Materials science and engineering at Penn State is much broader than just our department. Indeed, the interdisciplinary nature of materials science and engineering is a large part of what makes this field compelling to so many people, combining physics, chemistry, and mathematics. The field also sits at the intersection of science and engineering, both advancing fundamental composition-structure-property relationships while also inventing new products that can address global challenges in healthcare, energy, information technology, transportation, architecture, and more. The periodic table is our playground in the new ceramics, glasses, metals, polymers, and composites. From experimental synthesis, characterization, and process science to theoretical and computational investigations, there is also a broad range of methods for approaching materials research.
Penn State has been at the forefront of materials research and education beginning with the founding of the metallurgy program in 1908 and the ceramic science program in 1923. Penn State’s first intercollege program in materials dates back to 1960, which led to the establishment of the Materials Research Laboratory (MRL) in 1962. Thirty years later, the Materials Research Institute (MRI) was founded, and MRL formally merged into MRI in 2001. Over the past decade, MRI has been led by Clive Randall, Evan Pugh University Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, who has broadened MRI membership to 320 faculty members across 30 departments and 8 colleges at Penn State.
Today, our Materials Characterization Laboratory (MCL) is the envy of the materials science community. Beyond the impressive array of state-of-the-art equipment, the real strength of the MCL is in its people: more than twenty staff members who are recognized experts in their respective areas of characterization. The MCL team works collaboratively with faculty, graduate students, and industry partners to solve complex materials challenges, often pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in nanoscale and atomic-level analysis. Recently, MCL staff members started offering one-credit graduate courses to provide rigorous hands-on training with advanced instruments, helping the next generation of materials scientists become not just users, but experts in characterization techniques.
MRI provides Penn State with a unique advantage. I’ve visited dozens of universities across the globe, but none can compare to what we have here at Penn State. The level of interdisciplinary collaboration, depth of expertise, and shared commitment to excellence are unmatched—and we owe much of that to the tremendous vision and leadership that has shaped MRI over the years.
In this October 2025 issue of our Imagine, we celebrate MRI’s successes as a model for interdisciplinary research, a hub of innovation, and a home for collaboration. We’re proud of what our community has built, and even more excited about what lies ahead. Thank you for being part of our vibrant MatSE family. Your continued engagement and support help us remain at the forefront of materials science and engineering.
We Are!
John C. Mauro
Dorothy Pate Enright Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, and Department Head of Materials Science and Engineering at Penn State