A new NSF-funded project at UC Davis aims to give researchers “recipes” for consistent and optimized structures of nanoporous gold—a material with potential applications in a variety of fields.
The materials science and engineering (MSE) department is leveraging its industry connections and forging new partnerships to give students the best experience while teaching spring 2020 remotely. Professor Klaus van Benthem and Assistant Professor of Teaching Susan Gentry have worked with the software company COMSOL and the manufacturer KLA Corporation to keep students learning in this challenging environment.
Driven by the thrill of discovery, materials science and engineering professor Yayoi Takamura’s research group explores the “fun physics” of the magnetic and electronic properties of thin films of complex oxide materials to better understand how these materials that can be used in advanced computing.
Fourth-year materials science and engineering major Louie Zhong looks to the ultra-small and ultrafast to make a big impact on the world. Though he has always liked math, engineering and chemistry, Zhong explains his interest in materials science with the James Joyce quote, “In the particular is contained the universal.” Ever since a high school teacher introduced him to the quote, it’s become a way for him to think about his interest in materials, and in science in general.
The Materials Advantage Student Chapter (MASC) at UC Davis is hosting a virtual block party on June 4, 2020 from 5:15 – 6 p.m. over Zoom. College of Engineering virtual block parties, named after the video display blocks on Zoom, are events for current students and alumni to build connections, share experiences and give each other hope and encouragement during this difficult time. Register here to attend.
Becoming an engineer was a natural choice for fourth-year materials science and engineering major Ian Phillips. He grew up working on cars with his dad, giving him a love of hands-on work and problem solving he’s taken with him throughout his time at UC Davis, from studying semiconductors and ceramics at UC Davis and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to teaching shop tools at the UC Davis D-Lab.
Materials science and engineering distinguished professor Subhash Risbud was honored with the American Ceramic Society’s W. David Kingery Award, which recognizes distinguished lifelong achievements with a multidisciplinary, global impact on ceramic technology, science, education and art.
Materials science and engineering distinguished professor emerita Alexandra Navrotsky is now a Distinguished Life Member of The American Ceramic Society (ACerS). Becoming a Distinguished Life Member is ACerS’ highest honor. Since 1931, the award is presented annually to three members in recognition of their seminal contributions to the ceramics profession.
From her interest in textiles and sustainability to her advocacy for public health and social justice, fourth-year materials science and engineering major Annie Wang’s interests cross paths and drive her to make a difference at UC Davis and in the world.
Materials science and engineering (MSE) professor Sabyasachi Sen received the 2020 Otto Schott Research Award, recognizing his research excellence in the fields of glasses and glass ceramics. Sen will be honored at a special a ceremony at the annual American Ceramic Society’s Glass and Optical Materials Division meeting from May 17-21 in New Orleans.
Associate professor Marina Leite is a co-author on a new paper in Nature Energy that establishes standards and procedures for testing the stability of perovskite photovoltaic devices. The publication, the result of the 12th International Summit on Organic Photovoltaic Stability (ISOS) in October 2019, was co-written by 60 leading researchers in the field from across the globe who came together to form this consensus.
The Department of Materials Science and Engineering is leading a new nuclear science training program for junior faculty members at UC Davis. The Advancing Scientific Careers to Enhance Nuclear Technologies (ASCENT) is a three-year $450,000 program funded by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The goal of this program is to encourage junior faculty in their first four years to expand their research in nuclear science.
From quantum computers to sustainable energy, the world needs to access new materials and material properties that will power the world’s next generation of technology. New assistant professor Seung Sae Hong pushes materials to their limits to find out what they’re truly capable of and unlock these new properties using the nanoscale and two dimensions.
A new paper from professor Ricardo Castro’s group at UC Davis changes the understanding of how nanoscale dimensions affect the hardness of ceramics. The study, led by then Ph.D. student Arseniy Bokov, found that on nanoscale dimensions, ceramic materials give a false impression of softening because of an extensive network of almost invisible nanocracks.
Connections matter for Leyla Hashemi '10. As a master’s student at UC Davis, in her job at Keysight Technologies and as an adjunct lecturer, she strives to form connections between people, teams and institutions.
Materials science and engineering distinguished professor Subhash Mahajan was profiled as a distinguished educator in this year’s edition of Marquis’ Millennium magazine. The magazine is a registry published twice a year by Marquis Who’s Who that honors the world’s most accomplished professionals and leaders in their respective fields with short biographical features. Read the feature online.
If space is the final frontier, UC Davis is taking giant leaps to reach it. With expertise in human-machine cooperation, control systems and materials under extreme conditions, the university aims to make itself a rising star in space engineering and play a crucial role in the next generation of space exploration.
Fourth-year Ph.D. student Jianheng Li received an ALS Doctoral Fellowship in Residence at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBL). Li will spend the 2019-2020 academic year at LBL’s Advanced Light Source (ALS) facility working with the state-of-the-art equipment, techniques and applications in synchrotron radiation research, and will receive $20,000 towards his research
As the world pushes for renewable energy, materials are going to play a key role in making sure it’s both possible and sustainable. New materials science and engineering professor Marina Leite works towards this by studying materials that can both generate and store energy reliably to create the devices that will power the renewable energy revolution.
Outer space is an incredibly hazardous environment, as conditions range from extreme heat and cold, high levels of radiation and an abundance of plasma. To new materials science and engineering assistant professor Scott J. McCormack, this is a challenge in designing, discovering and developing new materials that can withstand these extreme conditions and keep people safe as they explore the solar system.
Third-year Ph.D. student Kimiko Nakajima has been named a 2019-20 Mistletoe Research Fellow by the Mistletoe Foundation. Over the 2019-20 academic year, she will receive $10,000 towards her research and collaborate with a hardware-based startup company on science and technology problems.
Distinguished Professor Emeritus James Shackelford has been named the recipient of ASM International’s 2019 Albert Easton White Distinguished Teacher Award. The award recognizes long and devoted service in teaching and accomplishments in the field of materials science and engineering.
The International Mineralogical Association has named a mineral in honor of Alexandra Navrotsky, MSE distinguished professor and director of the NEAT Center and Peter A. Rock Thermochemistry Laboratory.
A publication from Professor Ricardo Castro’s group was highlighted on Materials Today. The team, consisting of Castro’s group and visiting postdoctoral scholar Flavio Souza, found that Chlorine alters electron spin in hematite, showing why the material underperformed expectations in photoelectrochemical cells and proving that spin mobility manipulation is possible.
Professor Ricardo Castro’s presentation “Nano-scale Effects on Grain Growth—Grain Boundary Energy and Velocity in Magnesium Aluminate” was listed as a scientific highlight of the MRS Spring 2019 conference.
