Imagine, September 2025

Showcasing materials science to lifelong learners through the Road Scholar program
 

This summer, Penn State Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MatSE) welcomed a group of curious and passionate lifelong learners as part of the Road Scholar program, “A week with the scientists at Penn State University.” 

The weeklong program, held on the University Park campus, offered participants a deep dive into the world of materials science, showcasing cutting-edge research, and its real-world applications. Road Scholar is a not-for-profit educational travel organization that offers immersive experiences to adults age 50 and older. Read more

Common threads: Materials science student weaves textile passions into research

Irena Potochny first picked up a needle to sew buttons on felt in preschool, and she hasn’t put down crafts since. Now a student entering her senior year at Penn State, Potochny spends her free time creating upcycled clothing and tackling myriad projects, like 3-D printing her own spinning wheel one weekend this spring semester. Irena Potochny first picked up a needle to sew buttons on felt in preschool, and she hasn’t put down crafts since. Now a student entering her senior year at Penn State, Potochny spends her free time creating upcycled clothing and tackling myriad projects, like 3-D printing her own spinning wheel one weekend this spring semester.

At Penn State, the materials science and engineering major has also found a way to weave her passions into research opportunities. Read more

Huck Chair in Nanomedicine plans to take research from the bench to bedside

As biomedical challenges grow more complex, Penn State’s Dipanjan Pan is pioneering a multifaceted approach to nanomedicine that spans basic research, clinical translation and entrepreneurial deployment. 

A chemist by training and innovator by instinct, Pan holds the Huck Chair Professorship in Nanomedicine and holds dual faculty appointments in Materials Science and Engineering and Nuclear Engineering. Since arriving in 2022, he has emerged as a central figure in the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences’ mission to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration with real-world impact.

“I started as a chemist, but I quickly realized that no single discipline could solve the kinds of problems we face in human health,” Pan said. “The future lies in team science: many fields working together on a common goal.” Read more

Next-gen tech can detect disease biomarker in period blood

Proof-of-concept, at-home device can detect biomarker for endometriosis — a debilitating uterine disease — in 10 minutes; advancement makes early detection easier, more accessible, researchers say Read more

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Clark Atlanta University Students Explore Materials Science at Penn State University Through Summer REU Program - For the third consecutive year, students from Clark Atlanta University (CAU) participated in a summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Materials Science and Engineering at Penn State’s University Park campus. This opportunity is made possible through generous support from Arconic Corporation and Arconic Foundation. Read more

$2M DARPA grant funds technology development for force-detecting sensors

The next generation of high-performance sensors for detecting force that can perform under extreme conditions may soon be a reality thanks to a new project underway at Penn State. The work, led by principal investigator and Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering Mingyo “Leen” Park, is funded by a recently awarded two-year, $2 million Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) grant through the Higher-Order Composite Resonators for Extra Resilience (HORCREX) program. Read more

More research news

• Tuesday, September 16, 2025 - 18:00 to Tuesday, September 16, 2025 - 20:00
  Career Fair for MatSE and ESM
  Steidle Building

   
• Friday, September 26, 2025 - 07:45 to Friday, September 26, 2025 - 12:30
  2025 Nelson W. Taylor Lecture in Materials -Forging the future of steel
  Keynote speaker: Sir Harry Bhadeshia Professor, School of Engineering & Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London

   

   Join us for an upcoming event listed on our Events Calendar.                                                                                  

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