Materials Science and Engineering

MIT faculty members Michael Cima (left) and Edward W. Merrill ScD ’47 (right) are among the 2016 Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors.

Two MIT faculty named 2016 fellows of the National Academy of Inventors

Cima and Merrill recognized for contributions resulting in a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development, and the welfare of society.

December 13, 2016

Solidified cross-sections from aluminum ingots were made using a conventional method (top) and a new jet metal process developed by MIT researchers. “The introduction of the jet induced a completely different recirculation of the grains, and therefore you get different microstructure all along the section,” says MIT Assistant Professor Antoine Allanore.

Agitating the aluminum pot

MIT researchers demonstrate that strong churning during hot liquid state can produce stronger, more uniformly structured large aluminum casts.

December 7, 2016

Members of the MITili and pK-12 Action Group convene to discuss learning and research directions.

Enhancing education from pre-K to MIT and beyond

Two new initiatives take an in-depth look at learning.

November 23, 2016

Images produced from computer simulations show the response of a graphene surface as a silicon tip slides over it. Relative forces of atomic friction on the surface are shown by colors: Red points are “pushing” sites that help propel the tip along the surface, while blue points are “pinning” sites of greater friction that inhibit the tip’s motion.

The science of friction on graphene

Sliding on flexible graphene surfaces has been uncharted territory until now.

November 23, 2016

Materials scientist Jeffrey Grossman lectures to a full house of first-year students in his popular version of a core course, 3.091 (Introduction to Solid State Chemistry). Earlier this year, he was honored with a MacVicar Award for exceptional undergraduate teaching.

Solid-state learning

First-year students get a spirited introduction to materials science and chemistry from Professor Jeffrey Grossman.

November 18, 2016

Three MIT mentors were among this year's student participants, mentors, and judges at the final International Young Physicists’ Tournament at the San Joaquin campus of Pontifical Catholic University.

MIT-Chile collaboration stresses hands-on projects and teamwork in STEM education

MIT alumni and the MIT-Chile Program are bringing unique learning opportunities to Chilean high school students in a partnership with two major Santiago universities.

November 1, 2016

First row (left to right): Matteo Bucci, Tal Cohen, and Ali Jadbabaie. Second row (left to right): Zachary P. Smith, Stefanie Mueller, Adam Belay, David Sontag, and Virginia Vassilevska Williams. Third row (left to right): Max Shulaker, Jennifer Rupp, Ryan Williams, Carmen Guerra-Garcia, and Zachary Hartwig

New engineering faculty for 2016-2017

The School of Engineering welcomes 13 new professors.

October 27, 2016

T cells — immune cells that are targeted to find and destroy a particular antigen — are key to the adaptive immune response. In this image, the top row shows few T cells in untreated mice, while the bottom rows show many T cells produced after immunotherapy treatment.

Fighting cancer with the power of immunity

New treatment elicits two-pronged immune response that destroys tumors in mice.

October 24, 2016

Robert Macfarlane, the AMAX Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT, holds vials of gold nanoparticles. Macfarlane designs nanoscale crystal structures whose assembly is activated by mutually attractive “sticky ends.”

Faculty highlight: Robert Macfarlane

MIT chemist constructs nanoparticle-based crystals by programming interactions of synthetic polymers and biopolymers at the molecular level.

October 14, 2016

PolyClean, a team formed by PhD students Karim Gadelrab (left) and Mukarram Tahir, took home the $10,000 grand prize at yesterday’s MADMEC competition for developing a transparent, water-shedding coating for car windshields.

Materials-science innovation on display at MADMEC

Water-shedding coating for car windshields wins $10K grand prize at annual prototyping contest.

October 12, 2016

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and MIT President L. Rafael Reif discuss innovation and entrepreneurship at an event hosted by the MIT Innovation Initiative.

Advancing manufacturing innovation on campus and online

The White House highlights MIT’s latest efforts as part of National Manufacturing Day.

October 7, 2016

These images, taken from a transmission electron microscope, show a perovskite material oscillating as it is exposed to water vapor and a beam of electrons.

Water vapor sets some oxides aflutter

Newly discovered phenomenon could affect materials in batteries and water-splitting devices.

October 3, 2016

Nanosensors could help determine tumors’ ability to remodel tissue

Measuring enzyme levels could help doctors select appropriate treatments.

September 29, 2016

Geoffrey Supran PhD ’16 says “there are a lot of myths floating around about hybrid and electric cars,” for example concerning the manufacture of those vehicles, or their reliance on conventional electricity sources. This often leads people to claim that “they’re no better than your average gasoline vehicle. Our study shows that’s just not true.”

Study: Low-emissions vehicles are less expensive overall

Detailed look at 125 U.S. auto models finds those emitting less carbon are the least expensive to drive.

September 27, 2016

Summer Scholar Justin Cheng holds an experimental sample of nanostructured gold on silicon that has potential for use in sensors and display technologies based on its selective light absorption properties.

Tiny gold grids yielding secrets

Summer Scholar Justin Cheng explores process in Berggren group for making ordered metal nanostructures that display interesting new properties.

September 7, 2016

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