A New Way to Engineer Composite Materials

Silica nanoparticles affixed with a distribution of polystyrene chains (purple) self-assemble into hexagonal lattices. Depending on how the chains are organized on the particle surface, they tangle together (purple) or unravel (blue) when compressed. (Credit: Tiffany Chen; Ting Xu)   You can find the article here: https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2025/03/06/a-new-way-to-engineer-composite-materials/

Read More

Luke Langford Receives Didier de Fontaine Theory Award

Picture caption: Luke Langford (right) is presented with the Didier de Fontaine Theory Award by Prof. Kristin Persson (center). Luke is advised by Prof. Ahmad Omar (left). The Didier de Fontaine Theory Award Symposium was held on March 6, 2025, in the Hearst Memorial Mining Building. This award honors the legacy of Professor Didier de…

Read More

Prof. Chris Van de Walle Delivers Dow Lecture in MSE

The Dow Lectureship for Research Excellence and Societal Impact was endowed by Dow Chemical Company in 2008 to highlight the critical role of materials science in advancing technologies that improve quality of life, such as in energy and sustainability. This prestigious lecture series features speakers who have received outstanding recognition in our field, showcasing groundbreaking research…

Read More

Prof. Kristin Persson of MSE is elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE)!

  Prof. Persson is recognized for pioneering data-driven materials design through the creation and stewardship of open materials databases and associated data-mining algorithms. She serves as director of the Materials Project — a multi-institution, multinational effort to compute the properties of all inorganic materials and provide the data and associated analysis algorithms to researchers free of charge. …

Read More

UC Berkeley MSE Ranks #2 in US News Undergraduate Materials Science

In the newest US News & World Report college ranking, UC Berkeley MSE is ranked No. 2 among undergraduate materials science and engineering programs in the US. This is an upgrade from last year’s tied No. 2. For the full list, see https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/engineering-doctorate-materials Earlier this year, our graduate program was also ranked #2 by the US News.…

Read More

Prof. Gang Chen’s PPG Foundation Lecture at MSE

  Prof. Gang Chen of MIT came to MSE to deliver the PPG Foundation lecture on “Photomolecular evaporation from hydrogels and pure water”. The PPG Foundation Berkeley Lectureship for Materials Innovation and Service Excellence is presented to distinguished professors from various institutions who exemplify extraordinary commitment to promoting diversity, overcoming personal and professional hardships, providing…

Read More

New recyclable adhesives can be easily adapted for medical, consumer and industrial applications

  (credit: SergeiShimanovich/Shutterstock.com)   Prof. Messersmith group developed new recyclable surgical, consumer, and industrial adhesives.  Uses include surgical superglue that could be game-changer for fetal surgeries. Details: https://engineering.berkeley.edu/news/2024/08/new-recyclable-adhesives-can-be-easily-adapted-for-medical-consumer-and-industrial-applications/?preview_id=42892    

Read More

New Technology Provides Electrifying Insights into How Catalysts Work at the Atomic Level

  Senior author Haimei Zheng, left, and first author Qiubo Zhang look at the results of measurements obtained using their new technology, which pairs with powerful microscopes at Berkeley Lab’s National Center for Electron Microscopy. Credit: Thor Swift/Berkeley Lab Click here to read the entire article: https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2024/06/19/new-technology-provides-electrifying-insights-into-how-catalysts-work-at-the-atomic-level/           

Read More

UC Berkeley’s MSE Program Secures #2 Spot in Latest US News Engineering Rankings

  This remarkable achievement is a testament to the dedication and perseverance of our faculty, students, and staff, showcasing our unwavering commitment to excellence in education, pioneering research, and innovative practices in materials science. We are deeply honored by this recognition and enthusiastic about continuing our pursuit of academic and research excellence. Heartfelt congratulations to…

Read More