uc berkeley – Materials Science & Engineering

Passing of Professor-in-Residence Digby Macdonald

Photo credit: UC Berkeley NE Department We are deeply saddened by the passing on June 12, 2025 of Professor Digby Macdonald. Digby was appointed Professor of Residence in the Departments of Materials Science and Engineering and Nuclear Engineering at University of California, Berkeley in 2012. His appointment at Berkeley was preceded by a Professorship in…

Prof. Zak Al Balushi wins the 2025 Schieber Prize!

Prof. Zakaria Al Balushi is awarded the 2025 Schieber Prize by the International Organization for Crystal Growth for his seminal contributions to interfacial crystallization of low-dimensional materials.

The US Department of Energy Office of Science features Prof. Kristin Persson: Kristin Persson on Data and Machine Learning

Scientists recognized by the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science Distinguished Scientist Fellow Award are pursuing answers to science’s biggest questions. Kristin Persson is a professor at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley and the director of the Materials Project at DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. https://www.energy.gov/science/articles/big-questions-kristin-persson-data-and-machine-learning?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery&nrg_redirect=473387

Prof. Ritchie is elected to NAS!

On April 29, 2025, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) announced its newly elected members. MSE’s Prof. R. Ritchie is one of them! Prof. Ritchie became one of the very few scholars who earned membership in both NAS and NAE (the National Academy of Engineering). Election to the National Academy is one of the highest…

Don’t sweat it! Wearable sweat sensor can track your hydration status during physical and mental activities by Marni Ellery

Photo by iStock You can read the full article here: https://engineering.berkeley.edu/news/2025/04/dont-sweat-it/

Prof. Phillip Messersmith has been named an AAAS fellow

Prof. Phillip Messersmith has been named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), for his distinguished contributions to the field of bioinspired materials and adhesives, particularly for pioneering work on mussel-inspired adhesive materials for biomedical applications. For details, see: https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2025/03/27/two-berkeley-lab-scientists-named-aaas-fellows-2/?utm_source=LBNL&utm_campaign=4b85d8ccd0-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_03_26_05_42&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-4b85d8ccd0-253348736

A New Way to Engineer Composite Materials By Rachel Berkowitz

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/

Prof. Chris Van de Walle of UCSB delivered the Dow Lecture in MSE on nitride semiconductors (2/27/2025)

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…

UC Berkeley MSE ranks No. 2 for undergraduate materials science in the latest US News & World Report

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.…

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…