Center for Nanoscale Science | A Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC)

Welcome to the Center for Nanoscale Science

The Center for Nanoscale Science is a Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) supported by the National Science Foundation under grant DMR-2011839 (2020 - 2026). The Center supports collaborative, interdisciplinary research efforts in the area of nanoscale materials.

IRG1 - 2D Polar Metals and Heterostructures

IRG 2 - Crystalline Oxides with High Entropy

MRSEC Outreach Teams

MRSEC grads and Upward Bound students bond at Arts Fest Kids Day.

Research Opportunities for Undergrads

Research Opportunities for NCCU & Cal State LA Undergrads and Masters Students through PREM

Interdisciplinary Research Groups

Currently the Center is composed of two (2) Interdisciplinary Research Groups (IRG). Common themes of complex materials synthesis and length scale dependent physical phenomena permeate both IRGs. These research themes are integrated with major efforts in educational and industrial outreach.

News at MRSEC

Long-Qing Chen elected as 2023 member of the Academia Europaea

Long-Qing Chen, Hamer Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, has been elected as a foreign member of the Academia Europaea for his “pioneering contributions to the development and applications of phase-field method to understanding and predicting materials microstructure and property evolution.” See the full article for more details.

MRSEC Sustainability Efforts Recognized by Penn State Today

It is exciting to see one of our Center's many sustainability-focused initiatives receive some great press and recognition! All participating labs (including several from MRSEC) are also mentioned on the program's website. Thank you and congratulations to everyone who has supported and participated in this effort!

Jon-Paul Maria receives 2023 Faculty Scholar Medal for Outstanding Achievement

Dr. Jon-Paul Maria, IRG-2 co-lead, has received the 2023 Faculty Scholar Medal. The award recognizes scholarly or creative excellence represented by a single contribution or series of contributions around a coherent theme.

Congratulations to Rui Zu for winning the Alumni Association Dissertation Award!

Rui Zu, a MRSEC-funded doctoral candidate in Dr. Venkat Gopalan's lab recently received the Alumni Association Dissertation Award, one of the most prestigious awards given to doctoral candidates at the University. More details here: https://www.psu.edu/news/graduate-school/story/thirteen-graduate-student....

Unique ferroelectric microstructure revealed for the first time

MRSEC faculty Nasim Alem and graduate student Leixin Miao (department of Material Science and Engineering) were recently highlighted by Penn State News for their investigation of a novel ferroelectric material.

Susan Sinnott recognized with 2022 AVS Medard W. Welch Award

Susan Sinnott, head of the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Penn State and faculty member of IRG 2 (High Entropy Oxides), has been selected for the top research award from the American Vacuum Society (AVS). She will give the honorary lectureship "Atomistic Simulations to Advance Surface Science" at the AVS 68th International Symposium and Exhibition this November.

Upcoming Events 2023

Sep

Executive Committee Meeting

Sep

MRSEC Seminar

Dr. Lauren Zarzar, Penn State University

Oct

MRSEC Seminar

Dr. Sarah Boehm (MRSEC, formerly BASF) & Dr. Allyson Marianelli (Dow)

Interviewing for a job in industry: What to expect and how to prepare

12:20 PM, MSC N201

Seminars

Monday MRSEC Fall 2023 Seminar Schedule

12:20 PM in Millennium Science Complex, N-201

August 28^th Dr. Vin Crespi, State of the MRSEC

September 11^th Dr. Lei Kang, Penn State, Inverse-Design of Optical Metadevices: An Overview of MRSEC Related Work

September 25^th Dr. Lauren Zarzar, Penn State

October 9^th Dr. Sarah Boehm (MRSEC, formerly BASF) & Dr. Allyson Marianelli (Dow), Interviewing for a job in industry: What to expect and how to prepare

October 23^rd Dr. Suzanne Kijewski (PSU Office of Technology Management) & Melissa Long (PSU Office for Sponsored Programs)

Non-faculty careers in academia

November 6^th Dr. Valentino Cooper, Oakridge National Lab

December 4^th Dr. Xiaoyang Zhu, Columbia University

Mission: Materials Science

The mission of this interactive website is to disseminate high-quality educational content about materials science, specifically to promote and increase public awareness of materials science. Read more »