Materials Science & Engineering at Illinois Grainger Engineering

Materials Science and Engineering is thrilled to cosign this message as part of Women's History Month! The female members of our faculty are tremendous leaders across multiple areas of research innovation.

Our materials students enjoyed hearing about computational simulation research when Jim Pfaendtner, dean of the College of Engineering at North Carolina State University, visited Illinois for a March colloquium event. Materials department intern River Chen took in the lecture and put together a story about the experience. MORE: https://bit.ly/3XMLoI0

Assistant Professor Chris Anderson is laying the groundwork for revolutionary quantum computing advancements. His studies in?cryogenic quantum photonics?— developing a new class of materials for low-temperature applications — earned him the prestigious?Young Investigator Program (YIP) Award?from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). This work has the potential to break through critical barriers in quantum systems and communications.

The best and brightest materials students are at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Just look at the accomplishments of Alice Gao, a student organization leader, future Ph.D. student and The Grainger College of Engineering Knights of St. Patrick honoree in 2025. She is the department's only winner in this cycle. MORE: https://bit.ly/4is5HlS

This month, we bring you cutting-edge breakthroughs in AI efficiency, bioprinted heart tissue, and advanced manufacturing. From interactive learning experiences in power electronics to student projects capturing global attention, Illinois Grainger Engineering continues to drive progress in science and technology. Explore expert insights, transformative research, and the latest achievements shaping the future of engineering. ?????

Just last week, our students and faculty took in a thrilling Birnbaum Lecture from Professor Paul Chaikin of New York University. Attendees learned about DNA nanostructures and their capabilities of self-replication, nanorobotics?and assembly. MORE: https://bit.ly/4hKK6VX

Assistant Professor Yingjie Zhang has earned a prestigious honor - the Sloan Research Fellowship - as a result of his research examining complex interfaces and molecular systems. Congratulations! The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation says each fellowship honoree represents “the very best of early-career science, embodying the creativity, ambition, and rigor that drive discovery forward.” MORE: https://bit.ly/4gHID1b

Congratulations to Jennifer Lewis, a Department of Materials Science and Engineering alumna and current Harvard University professor, on earning the 2025 James Prize in Science and Technology Integration from the National Academy of Sciences. (Photo Credit: National Academy of Sciences) MORE: https://bit.ly/4hUcWU0

We are so appreciative of Professor Mark Hersam, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumnus and chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University, sharing his insights with us at a recent colloquium. He spoke to attendees about his groundbreaking research in low-dimensional nanoelectronic materials. MORE: https://bit.ly/4jTVT5R

We are thrilled to announce?Department Head Nancy Sottos will continue in her leadership role for another five-year term. Rashid Bashir, dean of The Grainger College of Engineering, shared the review committee enthusiastically endorsed her continuing to lead the Department of Materials Science and Engineering as a global leader in research and education. MORE: https://bit.ly/3QdeRXu