Administrator

Objectives and Scope 

The objectives of the qualifying exam are to assess whether a student has the necessary background and skills to successfully pursue a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering and to provide an opportunity for the student to obtain guidance and feedback on their short-term research objectives and direction. The exam is composed of an oral component to take place within eight to sixteenth months of the student’s start date, and a written component due two weeks prior to the oral exam. The exam will be centered on the development of the student’s initial research efforts and, as such, the scope will be focused on recent, preliminary results or mastery of one or more techniques relevant to the student’s research project. Both deliverables of the exam must contain the following: 

1. Brief introduction of the broad motivation and objectives of the research task described during the exam, including a short summary of critical literature relevant to the field.
2. Description of the research hypothesis and approach(es) taken to evaluate the hypothesis. 
3. Summary of recent results or recent research efforts by the student.
4. Description of the research plan and direction for the next six months to a year. Examples of research efforts include, but are not limited to, experiments, modeling, simulations, technique development, data interpretation, and mastery of a research-related technique. Students may seek assistance from their advisor and their peers, although their oral and written exam deliverables must be their own work and abide by all standards for academic integrity at Penn State.

Jon-Paul Maria, Dorothy Pate Enright Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Penn State, has been named interim head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, effective July 1. Maria will lead the department while John Mauro, current department head and Dorothy Pate Enright Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, begins service as the interim John Leone Dean of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS). 

In his role as interim dean, Mauro will lead the college, a globally recognized leader in research and education across energy, materials, earth systems and climate. The college emphasizes sustainability and interdisciplinary approaches to global challenges and is home to institutes including the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute and the John A. Dutton e-Education Institute, with partnerships and outreach programs around the world. 

“Dr. Maria is a remarkable scholar, educator and leader,” Mauro said. “I am very grateful to him for taking on this role. MatSE is in very capable hands, and he will continue to advance the department’s missions of education, research and service.” 

Maria joined Penn State in 2018 after 15 years on the faculty at North Carolina State University. A Penn State alumnus, he earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in ceramic science and engineering and materials science and engineering. His research spans electro ceramics, electronic materials, thin films and synthesis science. 

“I am honored to step into this role and work alongside such an outstanding community of scholars, students and staff,” Maria said. “The department has tremendous momentum, and I look forward to working with our community to expand our impact in research, education and partnerships.” 

He is recognized for pioneering contributions to entropy-stabilized ceramics, or high-entropy oxides — materials that incorporate multiple elements into a single crystalline structure, enabling properties not found in conventional materials. His group’s influential 2015 publication helped launch the field and contributed to major interdisciplinary efforts, including a $10 million initiative within Penn State’s NSF-funded Materials Research Science and Engineering Center. 

Maria has also advanced the “ferroelectrics everywhere” concept, challenging long-standing assumptions about where ferroelectricity can occur and opening new possibilities for electronics, energy storage and quantum technologies. 

“Much of our work is guided by understanding how atomic structure, chemistry and synthesis connect to a material’s properties,” Maria said. “These relationships help us rethink long-standing scientific assumptions and open new directions for discovery.” 

His research has attracted support from federal agencies and industry, including two Multidisciplinary University Research Initiatives funded by the U.S. Office of Naval Research and collaborations with Samsung, Raytheon Technologies and Applied Materials. He also plays a leadership role in Penn State’s Three-Dimensional Ferroelectric Microelectronics Center, a U.S. Department of Energy Energy Frontier Research Center. 

In addition to his research, Maria is known for his commitment to student mentorship and education. He leads a collaborative research group of undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and visiting scholars. 

“The successes of our labs are important, but our most meaningful accomplishment is training the next generation,” Maria said. “If we provide the right support, students develop the confidence and perseverance to tackle hard problems throughout their careers.” 

Maria has received numerous honors, including Penn State’s Faculty Scholar Medal for Engineering and the college’s Paul F. Robertson Award for Research Breakthrough of the Year. Most recently, he received the Robert B. Sosman Award from the American Ceramic Society. 

As interim department head, Maria will guide the department during a period of continued growth in research, education and partnerships across Penn State and beyond.

Stephanie Law, associate professor of materials science and engineering and Wilson Faculty Fellow, has been appointed associate head for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MatSE). She maintains a courtesy appointment in the Department of Physics and is a member of the Materials Research Institute and the Institute of Energy and the Environment.

“It is an honor to serve in this role,” said Law. “I look forward to building on the strong foundation within MatSE to further cultivate an environment where every member of our community feels supported, valued, and empowered to contribute their perspectives to our classrooms, laboratories, and research programs.”

In this role, Law will focus on strengthening a culture of belonging and expanding opportunities that support student, faculty, and staff success across the department. Her work will include fostering engagement, enhancing access to resources, and supporting initiatives that encourage collaboration and broaden participation in materials science and engineering. Law will also help guide recruitment strategies that engage a wide range of talented students while contributing to ongoing efforts to assess and strengthen a positive, collaborative departmental culture.

“A key driver of excellence in research and education in materials science and engineering is creating a climate where individuals with varied experiences and viewpoints can thrive,” Law said. “By fostering a culture that encourages collaboration, creativity, problem-solving, and innovation, we can continue to advance our academic community and expand the impact of our research.”

Law received her bachelor of science in physics from Iowa State University and her doctorate in physics from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She joined Penn State in 2023.

Law succeeds Allison Beese, who is stepping down from this position to take on her new role as senior associate director of Penn State’s National Security Institute. “I am deeply grateful to Allison for her outstanding leadership and lasting contributions to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our department,” said John Mauro, MatSE department head. “I am equally appreciative of Stephanie for stepping into this critically important role. She brings a strong commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive community, and I am confident she will build on this momentum to further strengthen our department.”

Law’s research focuses on the synthesis and understanding of quantum materials, heterostructures, and semiconductor systems using molecular beam epitaxy. Her work enables the development of advanced optical and optoelectronic devices across the electromagnetic spectrum, with applications in areas such as bioimaging, environmental monitoring, industrial process control, and quantum information science. Law has received numerous honors, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the Department of Energy Early Career Award, and recognition as an AVS Fellow.