Penn State, Kurt J. Lesker Company partner to advance atomic-scale processing
Partnership expands advanced processing tools and engineering expertise in Penn State’s Nanofabrication Laboratory
By Jamie Oberdick
Learning by Doing: MCL's New Hands-On Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Training
September 2026 Newsletter: MCL
Leveraging decades of experience providing hands-on training across a wide range of analytical instrumentation, MCL has launched a transformative SEM training curriculum that reduces training costs, greatly increases hands-on microscope time, and streamlines progression to FESEMs when advanced capabilities are needed. This approach gives trainees significantly more time operating the microscope themselves, which is essential for building confidence, competence, and good microscopy habits.
From LiST to LATTICE
September 2026 Newsletter: 2DCC
Konrad Hilse builds the digital tools that help materials researchers keep track of the physical side of science: samples, instruments, data and the connections among them.
At Penn State, that work began with LiST, or Lifetime Sample Tracking, which Hilse built from the ground up for the NSF-funded Two-Dimensional Crystal Consortium (2DCC). As lead developer, and for a significant period its sole developer, Hilse created a system that allows researchers to follow samples through their lifetime while keeping the associated research data organized and accessible.
Penn State, Battalion launch research collaboration focused on national security
Two projects led by Materials Research Institute scientists and in partnership with Battalion Advanced Technology Ltd. aim to advance semiconductor integration and high-temperature alloys for national security applications
By Jamie Oberdick
Tiny mirror controls light in 3D, could make microscopes smaller and faster
Researchers use tightly focused laser beams to image biological samples, shape materials with microscopic precision and generate displays. But using those beams in three dimensions requires more than sweeping light from side to side, as the light must also rapidly refocus at different depths.
Sarah Boehm
Associate Director, Research Engagement
MRSEC Research Operations & Professional Development Director
N-319 Millennium Science Complex
University Park, PA 16802
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahboehm/
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=C7VJqycAAAAJ&hl=en
Yabin Fan
Assistant Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics
(e) ypf5162@psu.edu
N-323 Millennium Science Complex
https://www.esm.psu.edu/department/directory-detail-g.aspx?q=ypf5162
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=q1y4VoAAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
From seed funding to commercial momentum: The rise of LionGlass
Early-stage investment from the Cocoziello Institute and industry collaboration helped accelerate innovation beyond the laboratory
By Kasey Herman
Penn State's patent-pending LionGlass continues to move from the laboratory toward commercial applications with support from the Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate Innovation.
Printable hydrogel enables wearable health sensors that multitask
By Jamie Oberdick
Wearable health monitors can track heart rate, muscle activity, brain signals and other physiological measurements, but many devices are designed to capture only one type of signal at a time. Recording multiple signals simultaneously is more difficult because sensors must maintain reliable contact with the body even through hair, sweat and everyday movement.
Genetic ‘switches’ could program 3D-printed bone tissue for blood vessel growth
By Ty Tkacik
An interdisciplinary team of engineers and chemists at Penn State has laid the groundwork to 3D print spheroids — tiny clusters of living cells — capable of regenerating bone tissue in response to severe trauma or infections.