Disciplines
Research in materials science and engineering may focus on a discipline which could be a specific material or category of material (steel or magnetic materials, for example) or on a theme which could be an approach (such as computational science), a process (such as welding), or a principle common to many materials (corrosion, for example). Below is a list of some of the areas of research currently underway in MIT's DMSE. See Materials@MIT for stories, links, and updates on materials research throughout MIT.
Disciplines
Biomaterials interact with a biological system. Some materials scientists performing biomaterials research are working with medical researchers on implants, stents, or grafts; others are studying how natural materials work in order to mimic their self-assembly or structure.
The Biomolecular Materials Group encourages simple organisms to grow and assemble technologically important materials and devices for energy, the environment, and medicine. These hybrid organic-inorganic electronic and magnetic materials have been used in applications as varied as solar cells, batteries, medical diagnostics and basic single molecule interactions related to disease
Biophysics studies biological systems, starting at the molecular level, using the toolkit of a physical scientist.
Biotechnology utilizes living organisms and bioprocesses, often in manufacturing.
Some materials scientists are developing new systems of drug delivery to attack cancers, others are designing monitoring systems to track tumor growth and shrinkage, others have created new surgical instruments to remove tumors without harm to the surrounding body.
Ceramics are inorganic, nonmetallic solids processed or used at high temperatures.
Characterization is using testing, analysis, or examination to study the properties and structures of materials.
Composites are two or more materials that take properties from both.
Computational Materials Science involves and enables the visualization of concepts and materials processes which are otherwise difficult to describe or even imagine. Among other things, this field of allows materials to be designed and tested efficiently.
This is the study of physical properties of condensed phases of matter.
The H.H. Uhlig Lab investigates the causes of failure in materials and the prevention of failure in materials, with an emphasis on nuclear materials.
How irregularities in a material's structure (its arrangement of atoms, molecules, or electrons) can effect its properties and behavior.
Applications of materials science, including electronics, displays, sensors, communications, etc.
Energy and the Environment includes research on creating and improving power supplies, working with alternative power sources, and improving materials processing and recycling. The H.H. Uhlig Lab has the ability to test and analyze failure modes of any materials related to nuclear engineering in the fields of fission, fusion and nuclear research.
Materials Culture is the study of the structure and properties of materials associated with human activity. Plant and animal food remains, human skeletal material, as well as metal, ceramic, stone, bone, and fiber artifacts are the objects of study, along with the environments within which these materials were produced and used.
MIT's Center for Materials Research in Archaeology and Ethnology (CMRAE) is renowned for their work in this area.
One DMSE facility performing research in this area is the NanoMechanical Technology Lab (the NanoLab).
This research covers projects ranging from atomic-level manipulation (e.g., nanocrystals) to the micro-scale (e.g., MEMS devices). These new developments promise to enhance our way of life in areas such as communication, healthcare, and transportation, among others. DMSE is active in nanotechnology research.
One DMSE facility performing research in this area is the NanoMechanical Technology Lab (the NanoLab).
Creating materials that provide controlled release of vaccines or allow vaccines to target specific areas of the body
