Welcome to the Materials Characterization Laboratory

Our Story

We are passionate about education and collaborative problem solving. An interdisciplinary team of scientists and engineers, the Materials Characterization Laboratory (MCL) is a fully-staffed, open access, analytical research facility at Penn State's Materials Research Institute charged with enabling research and educating the next generation of highly qualified researchers. Our laboratories in the Millennium Science Complex are integrated with the Nanofabrication Laboratory to maximize impact and efficiency. Additionally, MCL is a partner in the National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN) and the Materials Research Facilities Network (MRFN). Supported by the National Science Foundation, these networks enhance our ability to support commercial, government, and academic researchers around the globe.