About MRI

About the Materials Research Institute

MRI - A Catalyst for Multidisciplinary Education and Innovations in Materials

The Penn State Materials Research Institute (MRI) is an interdisciplinary organization for engaging strategic research at the cross-section of education, science, and innovation. Our activities span the physical, engineering, and life sciences, and draw upon the expertise of a diverse faculty in departments across the campus. The key characteristics of this organization are an entrepreneurial and collaborative faculty culture, core facilities with technical staff and state-of-the-art equipment, three buildings dedicated to interdisciplinary materials research, and continuous support provided by the University. Our faculty and programs are driven by excellence in science and education, by long-term partnerships with industry and the Commonwealth, and by a commitment to achieving real world impact. Together, we are working on the critical materials challenges facing our society in energy, healthcare, security, and communications. These challenges are significant, and will not be met simply by improving or even advancing existing materials. Our approach is to vertically integrate the discovery of new substances with scientific understanding and engineering development of their properties, and in parallel, link them with the materials integration and systems performance required to solve problems. For example, our work in solar nanomaterials spans molecular photochemistry, materials theory, surface and thin film science, nanowires and nanotubes, electronic and ionic transport, device design, accelerated testing, and field studies. Also in the realm of energy, our development of functional polymers for energy storage brings together design, synthesis and molecular modeling of new polymers with the processing required for achieving unique properties and performance such as high energy density and thermoelectric behavior. In these and other examples, the individual materials, phenomena, and researchers may have limits, but through integration of ideas and tools, and collaboration in problem solving, we believe it is possible to exceed those limits. Of particular significance is the recent creation of a direct interface with the life sciences in our newest interdisciplinary building, the Millennium Science Complex. With our capabilities in electronic materials and devices, functional polymers and nanoscience, Penn State will be uniquely positioned to apply our materials research to critical challenges of the future in healthcare. It is our vision to apply both the depth and breadth of our collective expertise to engage in research without boundaries, and thereby to create a new generation of highly qualified graduates who can both communicate and innovate in a converging technological world.