Centers & Institutes
Materials research centers at Penn State are founded by faculty teams with the experience and expertise to address specific areas requiring an interdisciplinary approach to research and development. All centers featured below are supported by industry and/or US government funding for the discovery, advancement, and implementation of new technologies.
Applied Research Laboratory (ARL)
A US Navy-affiliated research center for naval science and undersea technology.
Center for Dielectric Studies (CDS)
An NSF I/UCRC*, CDS aims to improve the basic understanding of the synthesis, processing, and properties of dielectric materials.
Center for Glass Surfaces, Interfaces and Coatings Research (CGR)
An NSF I/UCRC*, CGR works with a broad spectrum of consumer, specialty, and optical glass manufacturers.
Center for Innovative Sintered Products (CISP)
Research ranges from atoms to industrial applications.
The Center for the Study of Polymer Systems (CSPS)
CSPSS engages in experimental, modeling, and theoretical activities for the design, control, and operation of numerous polymer processes.
Electrochemical Engine Center (ECEC)
A collaborative effort of academia, national labs, and vehicle manufacturers to conduct fundamental and applied research on fuel cells and advanced batteries.
Electro-Optics Center (EOC)
The EOC enables electro-optics manufacturing technology research, transitions technology to production, and assists in electro-optics workforce development.
H2E Center
Penn State researchers are leading the way in developing new technologies related to hydrogen energy and fuel cells.
The International Center for Actuators and Transducers (ICAT)
Provides fundamental research on actuator and transducer materials, design and fabrication processes, and applications for solid state actuators in precision machines, micro positioners, smart structure control, and ultrasonic motors, among others.
Center for Nanoscale Science (CNS)
This NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) is targeting design, synthesis, and application of chemical nanofabrication/nanolithography, nanowires, and molecular motors.
Microwave Processing and Engineering Center (MPEC)
MPEC is pioneering microwave sintering technology for quality and performance optimization of ceramics, powder metals, hard metals, intermetallics, composites, and other related products leading to their commercialization.
Particulate Materials Center (PMC)
An NSF I/UCRC* partnership with companies that use powder processing for the development of research programs, short courses, and to perform characterization and analysis of powders for industrial members.
Center for Computational Materials Design (CCMD)
An NSF I/UCRC* Center based on needs identified by CCMD members, which includes organizations representing both large and small businesses and DOE and DOD laboratories.
Other Centers
- Center for Optical Technologies (COT)
- Center for Single Crystal Piezoelectric Materials
- Composites Manufacturing Technology Center
- Energy Institute
- Ferroelectric Resource Center for Frequency Agile Materials for Electronics
- Institute for Computational Science
- International Materials Institute (IMI): New Functionality in Glasses
- Laser Processing Division
* - National Science Foundation (NSF)-supported Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (I/UCRCs)
