Materials Research Institute Bulletin

Focus on Materials is a bulletin of the Materials Research Institute at Penn State University.  Please be sure to subscribe to our print/mail list to receive your free issue which is distributed twice annually.

Focus on Materials: Spring 2023
Ceramics & Glass: A new look at ancient materials

CERAMICS AND GLASS are two materials that have been around since ancient times, yet many people outside of materials science are unaware of the impact they have on their lives beyond the obvious.

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Semiconductor HUB
A Vision of America's Semiconductor Future

The Fall 2022 issue of Focus on Materials features the CHIPS and Science Act, signed into law in early August by President Joe Biden. The law is designed to restore America’s global leadership in semiconductors. This edition highlights how Penn State is uniquely positioned to make major contributions in semiconductor innovation, to lead a regional semiconductor hub via partnerships with industry, government, and other universities, and to build on existing Penn State programs to create a robust future American semiconductor workforce.

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Focus on Materials: Materials Connections
Materials Connections

MRI's Role in Building a 'One Penn State'

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Focus on Materials: Meet the New Guard
Meet the New Guard

Spotlights on New Materials Faculty

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Focus on Materials: Sensors
Sensors

At Penn State, research on sensors is having a renaissance.

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Focus on Materials: 5G & Beyond
5G & Beyond

The fifth generation (5G) is upon us, but how is Penn State equipped to advance the technology? Focus on Materials talked to six Penn State faculty with expertise in 5G to gain a perspective on Penn State’s role in the future of 5G and beyond.

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Focus on Materials: Quantum information science & materials
Quantum

Quantum at Penn State - An overview of quantum information science, quantum materials, and quantum sensing.

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Focus on Materials: Life Sciences & Materials
The Convergence of Life Sciences & Materials

The Convergence of Life Sciences & Materials - Penn State has made a concerted effort to put the university in a leadership position in some of our strength areas at the nexus of materials, life sciences, and medicine, primarily through key faculty hires, but also through this and other seed grant initiatives.

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Focus on Materials - Fall 2017
Advancing Manufacturing

Advancing Manufacturing - You will find many examples of the way Penn State and MRI researchers are contributing to the revitalization of manufacturing in this issue,

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Focus on Maerials: Fall 2016
The Water Issue

The Water Issue - In this issue of Focus on Materials, we highlight a number of examples of faculty addressing water-cleaning solutions through materials.

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Fall 2015 - Thermal Functionality in Advanced Materials [pdf]

Spring 2015 - Materials for Humanity [pdf]

Winter 2014 - Computation from A-Z [pdf]

Fall 2014 - Smart Materials [pdf]

Summer 2014 - Visualizing Materials, The beauty beneath the data [pdf]

Summer 2013 - Bioinspiration, Biomimetics, and Bioreplication [pdf]