fall 2024
Materials Science & Engineering
From the Department Head
Dear alumni, students, parents, and friends,
As another academic year is underway, I am pleased to share this issue of the MSE magazine with you and to bring you up-to-date on the myriad facets of our MSE community. I think you will agree that we continue to grow and innovate, as one of the world’s premier Materials Science and Engineering programs.
In May, we were thrilled to celebrate our 2024 graduates along with their families and loved ones at the MSE diploma ceremony. Acknowledging our students and their achievements as they move on to the next stage of their professional careers or educational journeys is always a delightful event.
On the faculty front, we are excited to welcome two new faculty members to our department, professor Ismaila Dabo and assistant professor Juan Chamorro. We are also taking this opportunity to recognize the contributions of now emeritus professor, Michael McHenry.
We also gave a warm goodbye to Bill Pingatore, who retired after forty-five years of service to CMU. Bill impacted generations of students, primarily through his management of our undergraduate laboratories. While we will miss Bill, we are also delighted to welcome Jason Wolf back to the department as the new manager of our modernized, student-focused Materials Innovation Laboratory.
Our department continues to thrive because of the contributions of many, including students, faculty, staff, and alumni who all play a crucial role in our successes and accomplishments. The recent research achievements of our faculty and students continue to span across a wide range of disciplines, from biomaterials to semiconductors to additive manufacturing.
We also take great pride in the many recognitions and honors that our students have earned over the past year, from the classroom to the laboratory and beyond. When asked to describe our department, many describe it as “tight knit” and it is evident in their collaborative efforts.
Our alumni continue to give back to our students in many important ways, from visits to the classroom, serving on our alumni council, advising capstone projects, to supporting the MSE Student Impact fund. We were delighted to celebrate four of our distinguished alumni in the inaugural College of Engineering Alumni Awards Ceremony.
Whether you’re visiting campus or attending a conference where our department is present, I invite you to reconnect with us. We look forward to hearing from you and learning more about your successes!
Beth Dickey
Teddy & Wilton Hawkins Distinguished Professor and Department Head of Materials Science & Engineering
PUBLISHER
Department
EDITOR
Monica Cooney, Communications Manager
WRITERS
Sarah Bender, Monica Cooney, Lia GoldGarfinkel, Sara Pecchia, Lynn Shea
DESIGN
Debra Vieira, Senior Multimedia Designer, College of Engineering
“We are using unique materials, including iridium oxide to produce oxygen, while avoiding the production of harmful byproducts.”
Tzahi Cohen-Karni, Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
image: A representative set of 3D-rendered immunofluorescence images after 21 days in vitro oxygenation.
Boosting oxygenation for transplanted cell-based therapies
Cell-based therapies, which use biological cells to treat diseases or injuries in the body, offer enormous potential from facilitating drug delivery to enabling more effective treatment of obesity, diabetes, and cancer.
Generating on-site oxygen is a critical component of activating such therapies, because there is a high metabolic demand on these densely packed cells, and maintaining cell potency becomes a challenge, due to factors like immune response and dissolved oxygen. As part of an ongoing, multidisciplinary collaboration, a group of researchers from Carnegie Mellon University, Northwestern University, Georgia Institute of Technology and Rice University have identified a novel device that makes on-site oxygen for biological cells transplanted inside the body.
Every cell is closely situated to tiny blood capillaries due to its need of sufficient oxygen supply to function. Current approaches to generating on-site oxygen for cell-based therapies have drawbacks including size and supply capacity. Some options introduce gaseous oxygen from outside the body to tackle the problem but are bulky; others are limited by supply capacity, like a can of water that cannot be refilled once it’s been emptied. This new device boasts a compact
footprint and relies on the abundance of water in the human body, making it an excellent choice for implantation, along with ensuring a sustainable and lasting source of oxygen.
“Our device uses electricity and water to make oxygen for the cells— it’s as simple as a Chemistry 101 electrolysis experiment we all did as children, but we’re conducting it in a smarter manner,” said Tzahi CohenKarni, professor of materials science and engineering and biomedical engineering. “We are using unique materials, including iridium oxide to produce oxygen, while avoiding the production of harmful byproducts, such as chlorine or excess hydrogen peroxide. By controlling how much electricity our device uses, we can change how much oxygen it produces.”
The biggest advantage and differentiator of the group’s research, recently published in Nature Communications, is that it bridges the gap between energy science, biomedical engineering, and electronics. Water splitting research, which is geared toward energy conversion and storage, guided exploration of which materials could safely be used for oxygen evolution reaction in the human body, which led to the group incorporating iridium oxide.
“Unlike other approaches out there, we are using electrocatalysis, to reduce the energetic cost to generate the
A schematic illustration of electrocatalytic onsite oxygenation.
oxygen, and we are also tailoring the conditions of our device to provide oxygen without any byproducts, such as bleach,” added Inkyu Lee, materials science and engineering Ph.D. student. “We are also operating our device under conditions that will allow oxygen generation without bubbles that can disrupt the device.”
The cells in this study were biologically engineered to produce human leptin, a key component in the body’s mechanism for weight control and regulation of circadian rhythms, which is also being investigated by the group through the DARPA Normalizing Timing of Rhythms Across Internal Networks of Circadian Clocks (NTRAIN) project.
Additionally, some aspects of this published work will be used in the ARPA-H funded Targeted Hybrid Oncotherapeutic Regulation (THOR) project, which is combining the group’s expertise in an effort to develop sense-and-respond technology to treat ovarian, pancreatic and other difficult-to-treat cancers.
“We are the pioneers of this electrocatalytic oxygenation technology, and we have concrete plans to translate our devices to clinical practices in the real world,” emphasized Cohen-Karni. “We are not focusing on only one disease but instead, pushing to translate our work to various disease models.”
As this work moves forward, the team is concentrating on perfecting highly stable materials that can operate for months in the body and plan to deploy their cutting-edge approaches to treat chronic diseases.
A
recent study shows that through hyperbranching and chemical cross-linking, a dense bonding network can be developed in organic nanoparticles.
A new class of organic nanoparticles
Nanoparticles have a wide variety of applications, from drug delivery to electronics to air purification. Their small size and tunable properties make them particularly valuable for technological advancements and scientific research. When polymers made from nanoparticles are grafted together, the functionality of the materials can be improved.
Organic nanoparticles (oNP) are chemically more versatile than their inorganic counterparts, allowing for functionalization and customization to suit specific biomedical and technological applications, however, existing materials were limited in terms of their mechanical properties and chemical tunability.
A recent study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) examines the impact of hyperbranching and chemical cross-linking of oNP, a process by which the two combined mechanisms achieve a dense bonding network.
Led by Carnegie Mellon faculty Krzysztof Matyjaszewski of the Chemistry Department and Michael Bockstaller of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, the outcomes of the research showcase the capability to regulate both functional attributes and elastic properties, making the novel “bottom-
up” approach suitable for creating functional materials for a wide range of applications. The work, which was supported by the Department of Energy Office for Basic Energy Sciences and performed in collaboration with researchers at the University of Houston and the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Germany, advances the fundamental understanding of the parameters that control the properties of oNPs and the chemical methods that enable their synthesis.
“Through the combination of these processes, we have been able to demonstrate the capabilities of organic nanoparticles to exhibit inorganictype stiffness,” said Bockstaller.
This advanced level of control of the structure and properties of oNPs was enabled by a novel and precise method for the synthesis of functional nanoparticles using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) that was developed by chemistry doctoral student Rongguan Yin, the first-author of the study.
“The designed and precisely prepared by ATRP functionalized organic nanoparticles are, in fact, new gigantic single macromolecules of the molar mass reaching values of 100 million Daltons,” said Matyjaszewski.
An important feature of the new oNP system is its macroinitiator characteristics that enables versatile graft modification. The resulting brush-tethered oNPs unlock innovative applications across a range of nanomaterial technologies through direct assembly or integration.
“The incorporation of functionalities outlined in this work opens the door for organic nanoparticles to further improve optical properties in materials,” said Bockstaller.
Forthcoming research in Bockstaller and Matyjaszewski groups will build upon this research to further explore functionalization opportunities such as fluorescence for this new class of oNPs and measuring their performance in practical applications.
Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Tunable size achieved through varying cross-linker/ inimer compositions.
“The incorporation of functionalities outlined in this work opens the door for organic nanoparticles to further improve optical properties in materials.”
Michael Bockstaller, Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Exploring alternatives to silicon semiconductors
Because of their ability to be more compact, reliable, and efficient than silicon-based electronics, a class of compound semiconductors, called widebandgap semiconductors, is replacing silicon in situations where high efficiency in extreme conditions is essential. Wide bandgap semiconductors reduce costs and lead to more energy sustainable products for a wide range of applications, such as electric vehicles, energy transmission, and fiber-optic communications. Beta-gallium oxide (β-Ga2O3) is an emerging ultra-wide-bandgap semiconductor material that has many advantages for use in highpower electronic devices. While gallium oxide exists in different forms, the beta variation has unique properties and stability that makes it desirable for use in these scenarios. For example, its ultra-wide bandgap is beneficial for high-power and high-temperature applications.
Researchers in the Materials Science and Engineering department at Carnegie Mellon University are exploring ways to produce gallium oxide semiconducting films and their structural properties. Using a variety of characterization techniques, a
recent study from Lisa Porter and her research group analyzed various phases of gallium oxide, finding that there are specific conditions where thin films of certain phases are produced.
“A detailed understanding of the mechanism of gamma-phase inclusions and their elimination is crucial for fabricating beta-gallium oxide devices with replicable properties,” notes Jingyu Tang, a doctoral student who contributed to the research.
In this study, a complete analysis of the epitaxial relationship between gamma-gallium oxide and beta-gallium oxide was carried out using atomicscale scanning transmission electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction.
“The similarity of their in-plane atomic arrangement and the site preference of the incorporated dopant atoms played a vital role in the coexistence of gamma- and beta-phase,” said Tang.
Through their recent work, Porter’s research group reveals the crystallographic relationship between the beta-phase and gamma-phase of gallium oxide. This relationship appears to underpin the frequently observed intermixing of the two phases in gallium oxide thin films. It is hoped that the results may be used in the future to eliminate gamma-phase inclusions in beta-gallium oxide films and thereby enhance the performance of electronic devices based on this new semiconductor material.
A solid step for polymer rings
Thomas O’Connor has been selected as an Early Career Award recipient from the Department of Energy for his project “Modeling the Molecular Mechanisms of Interfacial Welding in Self-Healing Polymers.” The project will guide the molecular design and synthesis of new self-healing plastics with improved mechanical properties and repairability.
“We have found that simply changing the shape of the molecules from open strings into rings causes them to slow and vitrify into glass.”
Thomas O’Connor, Assistant Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
When a spider is spinning its web, its silk starts out as liquid and quickly turns into a solid that is pound for pound, sturdier than steel. They manage to create these impressive materials at room temperature with biodegradable and environmentally friendly polymers. Materials scientists at Carnegie Mellon are studying these processes to better understand the ways biological systems manipulate polymers, and how we can borrow their techniques to improve industrial plastic processing.
One unique quality of polymers is that their molecules can have different shapes or “architectures,” and these shapes can have a big impact on their material properties and recyclability. Polymer chains can form molecular strings, mesh-like networks, or even closed rings.
A new discovery about how ring shaped polymers behave has the potential to enable new ways for polymer scientists to design more sustainable materials. A team of researchers from Carnegie Mellon, Sandia National Laboratories, and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) conducted the largest simulation to date on this type of polymer and confirmed theoretical predictions, finding that the ring polymers spontaneously solidify into a glass when the ring polymers chains become sufficiently long.
The study recently published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), shows how changing the shape of polymers from open strings to closed rings completely alters how the molecules pack and diffuse inside the material. The researchers found that as ring polymers become longer, separate chains become increasingly cramped together until the chains cannot move, causing the material to solidify. The simple act of changing the shape of the molecules from open strings to closed rings also changed the plastics phase from a liquid to a solid.
“We usually have to cool a sample’s temperature to make molten plastic solidify, but we have found that simply changing the shape of the molecules into rings causes them to slow and vitrify into glass,”said Thomas O’Connor, assistant professor of materials science and engineering at Carnegie Mellon.
O’Connor and materials science and engineering doctoral student Songyue Liu ran large-scale molecular dynamics simulations for over a year on Department of Energy supercomputers to test the theoretical predictions developed by their colleagues at UIUC. The simulations built upon previous research from the team where they experimentally synthesized a recyclable polymer material made of pure ring polymers that unexpectedly vitrified in the lab. These new theoretical results explain this surprising behavior and will help guide the design of recyclable cyclic polymers.
The research also has implications for the behavior of biopolymer systems like folded proteins and the chromosomes which bundle and store our DNA. These biological systems adopt loopy structures similar to the ring polymers that the team explored.
“Understanding how loopy polymer structures crowd around each other and fold up is insightful for materials science, but is also important for understanding why living systems use these structures to enable biological functions,” says O’Connor. “There is potential for us to draw parallels between these disciplines to make new discoveries.”
Demystifying hydrogen’s damaging effects on metals
Hydrogen (H) is the smallest atom in the universe, yet it causes billions of dollars in damage to high-strength metallic alloys through a phenomenon called H-embrittlement. The embrittlement leads to reduction in ductility, fracture resistance, and thus service life of these alloys. While some aspects of this phenomenon were understood, others remain elusive, such as the formation of localized plasticity bands under crack surfaces. This phenomenon leads to abrupt crack growth and premature failure of structural components and has become more important as hydrogen is used as a fuel for many applications like jet engines. The main difficulty in understanding H-embrittlement is that even at room temperature, hydrogen diffuses rapidly on different microstructural defects and its tracking is considerably challenging in experiments. Using and developing a unique numerical tool, Mohadeseh Taheri-Mousavi’s recent research simulates hydrogen at a large polycrystalline scale with atomistic resolution, shedding light on these elusive parts of the phenomenon.
Taheri-Mousavi, assistant professor of materials science and engineering, was awarded funding for the project in the 2023 Scott Institute Seed Grants for Energy Innovation cycle. On a broader scale, this grant aligns with the global goal set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
“This research is important because the production of metals contributes a significant portion of CO2 emissions, e.g., about 28% of industrial emissions just come from steels and aluminum productions” said Taheri-Mousavi.
“Even if we optimized everything in the production process, we still wouldn’t be able to hit the 2050 CO2 goal. The only way to achieve this goal is by reducing metal production, and H-embrittlement is a hurdle as it is the most critical life limiting factor of high-strength metals.”
With funding from the seed Grant, Taheri-Mousavi and Ph.D. student Matthew Melfi have initiated large-scale atomistic simulations to understand how H interacts with various defect types in high-strength alloys. Defects control plasticity in metals and their activities can be altered by the presence of hydrogen, thus changing the overall performance of these materials. By comprehending H-defects interactions, the research aims to enable improved metal designs that are more resistant to H-embrittlement.
“Working collaboratively with other researchers is highly important to see the whole picture,” said Melfi. “There are many different aspects that can be explained by experiments or simulations. By collaborating and comparing these results, the whole phenomenon can be better understood.”
Taheri-Mousavi stressed the importance of seeing the whole landscape. “This is a very challenging problem,” said Taheri-Mousavi. “No single element alone can give us all the answers—each one has an impact on the research. By understanding how various defect types contribute differently and in combination, we can form a more complete picture of the problem and develop strategies to mitigate its detrimental effects.”
“Working collaboratively with other researchers is highly important to see the whole picture.”
Matthew Melfi, MSE Ph.D.
Candidate
Digital Twins in MSE
Digital twins are quickly revolutionizing materials science by offering virtual replicas of physical materials or processes that previously required physical experimentation. These digital counterparts are enabling researchers and industry professionals to simulate and analyze materials’ behavior under various conditions, saving time and resources.
This fall, “Principles of Digital Twins in Material Science and Advanced Manufacturing” is being offered to students in materials science and across the College of Engineering, allowing them the opportunity to better understand how these technologies are impacting how materials are studied and utilized.
The course, led by Franck Adjogble, will provide an introduction to digital twin modeling, so that students can better understand the applicability of AI-predictive analytics, with particular regard to the metal and steel industries.
Adjogble, who manages digital technologies for the SMS group, has a vision for how this coursework will impact students who participate.
“In addition to generating and using digital twin models, students will be able to determine how to appropriate digital environments when given specific parameters, which is very
useful in many industries,” says Adjogble.
In materials science, digital twins are used for design and development, process optimization, lifecycle management, and prototyping. While some digital twin environments are better suited for real-time data processing for single assets, others require multi-domain modeling or large-scale simulations. Students will learn the tradeoffs associated with each approach and will be able to justify the selection of environment to diverse stakeholders.
“The skills acquired from this class will prepare students to design and develop the materials of the future,” notes Adjogble. “They will be able to communicate the case for digital twin adoption with professionals in a variety of settings.”
In addition to lectures that incorporate broad artificial intelligence concepts to support modeling, students will also engage in projects where they will develop digital twin models, implement predictive analytics, analyze real-time data processing, and create business cases. These projects will culminate in the design and presentation of a comprehensive digital twin project.
The Rising Stars program was again held in Fall 2024, hosted at Stanford University, with the addition of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to the organizing committee.
Rising Stars workshop hosted at CMU
“These sessions allowed me to think critically and build cohesive research goals for my envisioned program.”
Raghav Garg, Rising Star Participant, CMU MSE alumnus
The Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) hosted the Rising Stars workshop, a professional development program designed for doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars interested in pursuing academic teaching and research careers in MSE and related interdisciplinary fields. The program brought 28 scholars from around the country to Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) for the two-day workshop, held October 27-28, 2023. Organized by CMU, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Stanford University, the workshop aimed to expand inclusivity, access, and preparation for academic careers in MSE.
the required skill sets to become successful in academic job seeking and career development, participants also had the opportunity to engage with faculty from across the College of Engineering and participate in hands-on activities with peers.
The topics highlighted during the course of the program included critical information and skills to enhance job applications such as writing teaching, research, and diversity statements, preparing presentations, as well as identifying keys to success in interview and negotiation processes.
“The program was well-designed and I found it to be incredibly
research pitches, mentoring students and searching for mentors,” said workshop participant Louise Chen, a current graduate student at Johns Hopkins University.
Participants also had the opportunity to develop and share their envisioned research portfolio. Through working in small groups moderated by seasoned faculty members, the attendees were able to solicit feedback from both their peers and mentors.
“These sessions allowed me to think critically and build cohesive research goals for my envisioned program,” said University of Pennsylvania postdoctoral scholar and CMU materials science alumnus, Raghav
Garg. “The opportunity to communicate this to my peers and professionals provided crucial feedback on its near-term feasibility, as well as my long-term vision.”
The workshop was planned by CMU MSE department head, Beth Dickey, and assistant professor Mohadeseh TaheriMousavi, as well as MIT associate professor, Robert Macfarlane and Stanford University MSE department head, Alberto Salleo.
“It was my dream to initiate the Rising Stars workshop for materials science and engineering and I am thankful to Professor Dickey and all who helped to realize this dream,” said Taheri-Mousavi.
New equipment in MCF accelerates imaging process
A new high performance Raman microscope, the Horiba LabRAM Soleil, was recently added to the Materials Characterization Facility (MCF). This instrument is capable of ultra-fast imaging, up to 100 times faster than a conventional Raman spectrometer, and analysis automation. The microscope is equipped with four lasers and an ultra-low frequency filter to suit a wide variety of Raman spectroscopy needs.
Though the LabRAM Soleil is relatively compact, it offers one of the largest class 1 sample compartments available in microscopy tools. With this microscope, the MCF possesses Horiba’s full collegial support program. This allows users to contact Horiba’s in-house experts to address experiment specific questions.
“The capabilities of this instrument are difficult to rival,” explained MCF specialist Andrew Nickischer. “It can push the modern limits of Raman scattered light detection, all while being straightforward for users to learn and understand.”
The microscope is equipped with four lasers and an ultra-low frequency filter to suit a wide variety of Raman spectroscopy needs, from 2D
materials to multilayer polymers. As the study of semiconductors advances, refined contactless techniques are essential. The LabRAM Soleil provides the capabilities needed to measure the Raman spectrum and photoluminescence quickly and automatically through its patented SmartSamplingTM technology. The study of multilayer polymers often involves characterizing hidden defects or analyzing interface issues. Using the LabRAM Soleil’s unique QScanTM technology, users can quickly generate a confocal 3D map and detect artifacts or air bubbles.
“Through the Horiba Soleil, our group can quickly acquire high-quality three-dimensional chemical maps for analysis of electrodes for bioelectronics, chemical sensors, new hybrid nanomaterials, and more with a level of detail, scale, and informatics previously impossible,” said Daniel Ranke, member of the Cohen-Karni research group.
Additional equipment upgrades and additions to the MCF in 2024 include the Thermofisher Hydra Plasma FIB with EDAX EDS/EBSD, NTegra II AFM, and Gatan PIPS.
Electrodes electrodeposited with PEDOT:PSS are imaged through >5600 high-quality Raman spectra to generate chemical maps that can be directly compared with optical imaging for quick and informative analysis of large-scale processes.
Source: Sam Gershanok and Daniel Ranke
Retirements
Please join us in celebrating the retirements of three integral members of the MSE community.
MIKE MCHENRY
After 35 years of service, Professor Michael (Mike) E. McHenry, retired from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering in March 2024. He has educated generations of students and leaves an enduring legacy of research discoveries.
McHenry earned his B.S. from Case Western Reserve University, completed 3 years with U.S. Steel’s Technology Implementation Program at their Lorain works, and defended his Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After completing his postdoctoral studies at Los Alamos National Laboratory, he joined the faculty at CMU in 1989. His work has left an indelible impact on international science and technology communities and our department.
His expertise in magnetic and superconducting materials has most recently focused on soft magnetic nanocomposites for power and energy applications. In his tenure at CMU, Professor McHenry directed a Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) on high-temperature magnetic materials for aircraft power applications. He also led an ARPA-E program on magnetic materials for power electronics. He has contributed to various startup endeavors, working for over 15 years with Magnetics, Inc., PA before transitioning technologies to NASA Glenn and Fort Wayne Metals, Indiana, and co-founding CorePower Magnetics alongside CMU MSE graduates.
Professor McHenry’s accolades within the field of materials science are numerous, including recognition as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Distinguished Lecturer (2013) and TMS Awardee for Research Excellence in Electronic, Magnetic and Photonic Materials (2014). Additionally, in 2016 TMS held an honorary symposium to acknowledge his many contributions to the field. Mike has also served the international community in many ways, including as a technical evaluator for NATO on the Scarcity of Rare Earth Materials for Electrical Power Systems, and in multiple roles for the Magnetism and Magnetic Materials and Intermag Conferences. He has more than 350 publications with over 16,000 citations and has five patents in the field. Mike also co-authored the popular text “Structure of Materials,” published by Cambridge University Press, now in its second edition.
Professor McHenry’s legacy goes beyond his academic and professional accomplishments, as he has mentored hundreds of students at the undergraduate and graduate student levels. His continuous commitment to students has impacted the next generation of materials scientists, as they have gone on to receive numerous awards and accolades, and pursue business, academic and government roles that extend well beyond the walls of Carnegie Mellon.
BILL PINGATORE
Bill Pingatore, who joined CMU in 1978 as a Scientist in the Materials Characterization Center of Mellon Institute, retired in June 2024. In 1991, he joined MSE, when it was known as the Department of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science, as an Associate Scientist.
In 2004, Bill transitioned to his most recent role of MSE Undergraduate Laboratory Facilities Supervisor and over the last 20 years he has successfully and safely assisted faculty in the administration of countless laboratory sessions for our undergraduates. We congratulate Bill for his 45+ year career and wish him all the best as he begins this next chapter.
MARYGRACE ANTKOWSKI
After 25 years at CMU, including over 13 years with MSE, Marygrace Antkowski retired in February 2024. In addition to her years providing administrative support in the department, she assumed the role of purchaser/receiver in 2022. Outside of CMU, Antkowski, who holds degrees in web design and interior design, has also worked on art projects as an illustrator, photographer, and painter. We are grateful for her many contributions to our department over the years.
Faculty awards
Pistorius honored by AIST
Associate Department Head and POSCO Professor Chris Pistorius was named as an Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST) Distinguished Member and Fellow for his significant contributions to the technical advancement of corrosion research, ironmaking and clean steel processing.
Rohrer earns MRS, ASM recognition
W.W. Mullins Professor of Materials Science and Engineering Gregory Rohrer, was recently named as an MRS (Materials Research Society) Fellow for developing pioneering experimental methods and a statistical methodology to quantify and correlate interface crystallography, energy and properties in crystalline materials. In addition to this honor, Rohrer was selected to deliver the Andrew Carnegie Lecture by ASM International’s Pittsburgh Chapter in May 2024.
Kurchin selected as faculty fellow, Simons awardee
Assistant research professor Rachel Kurchin has been selected to participate in the inaugural class of Molecular Sciences Software Institute (MolSSI) Faculty Fellows. MolSSI is a multiuniversity collaboration designed to serve and enhance the software-development efforts of the field of computational molecular science. Additionally, Kurchin was selected to receive the Scientific Software Research Faculty Award from the Simons Foundation’s Mathematics and Physical Sciences division. Through this award, Kurchin will to build new capabilities within the Density-Functional Toolkit, a tool used to study the behavior of materials at the atomic level.
Rollett, Towe named University Professors
MSE faculty members Anthony Rollett and Elias Towe have been elevated to the rank of University Professor, the highest distinction a faculty member can receive at Carnegie Mellon. University Professors are distinguished by international recognition and for their contributions to education, artistic creativity and/or research. They are individuals who have made exceptional achievements beyond their department and college and embody the highest standards of the university.
MSE faculty tapped to lead Naval Nuclear Lab project
Mohadeseh Taheri-Mousavi will lead a two-year, $2 million project that aims to develop alloys that can sustain extreme temperatures and conditions. The project brings together the expertise of both materials scientists and chemical engineers as they examine opportunities to improve the functionality of these materials. In addition to faculty from Carnegie Mellon’s Chemical Engineering Department, professor Bryan Webler will also contribute to this research.
Rollett recognized by international materials community Anthony Rollet received the Bunge Award at the International Conferences on Textures of Materials (ICOTOM) in July in recognition of his contributions to the discipline through theory, modeling and applications. Rollett also served as a keynote speaker and member of the international steering committee at this year’s meeting held in Metz, France.
Staff news
Welcome new staff
Shelby Kilpatrick
Administrative Assistant
Jason Wolf
Materials Innovation Laboratory Manager
Andy Awards Recognition
Suzy Smith was recognized for 35 years of service to Carnegie Mellon.
Betsy Clark, Managing Director of the Materials Characterization Facility, was nominated for the Commitment to Excellence Award.
Dabo, Chamorro join MSE faculty
This fall, the Department of Materials Science and Engineering welcomed two new faculty members, Ismaila Dabo and Juan Chamorro.
Dabo holds a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and B.S. and M.S. degrees from École Polytechnique, France. Before coming to Carnegie Mellon, he worked as a tenured associate professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Department of Physics at the Pennsylvania State University with joint appointments in the Penn State Institutes of Energy and the Environment, and the Penn State Materials Research Institute. In addition to his appointment as a full professor in the department, he will also have a presence at CMU-Africa in Kigali, Rwanda.
Dabo’s awards include the Wilson Teaching Excellence Award, Montgomery-Mitchell Teaching Innovation Award, Corning Chair in Materials Science and Engineering, and the National Science Foundation CAREER Award. His research focuses on developing and applying predictive computational models and machinelearning methods to maximize the
performance of materials for energy conversion and storage. His research stands at the frontier between materials science, condensed matter physics, applied mathematics, and computer science with the ultimate goal of breaking down the complexity of materials problems and guiding the development of energy technologies.
Chamorro, who joins the department as an assistant professor, holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from Johns Hopkins University, where he researched the chemistry of quantum materials. He was an NSF MPS-Ascend Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, Santa Barbara from 2021–2024. His research at Carnegie Mellon will focus on quantum materials synthesis, crystal growth, and structural and physical properties characterization through in-house measurements and X-ray and neutron scattering experiments at national and international facilities. This research is highly interdisciplinary and draws from knowledge and expertise in materials science, inorganic and solid state chemistry, and condensed matter physics.
Remembering Lloyd Bauer
Lloyd Bauer, who served as a professor in the the Department of Materials Science & Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University from 19611998, passed away on March 27, 2024. In addition to teaching both undergraduate and graduate courses and conducting research, Bauer was also invited to consult and teach at technical institutes and universities in Japan, Germany, Switzerland, France and the former Soviet Union. In 1974, he established an exchange program for CMU and Swiss students at l’École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). He was awarded an honorary doctor’s degree, Docteur es sciences, from EPFL in 1984.
“Lloyd was a creative experimentalist who pioneered elegant techniques to study grain boundary migration,” said professor Greg Rohrer of his former colleague.
“The experiment described in one of his early publications on the polygonization of rock salt is still repeated by every MSE sophomore as a lab exercise and, in that way, his legacy lives on in the department.”
Professor David Laughlin recalls Bauer as “a quiet man with a subtle sense of humor,” as well as a valued resource as he began his academic career.
“I always considered his advice on experimental methods to be helpful,” Laughlin notes. “When I was a young faculty member he invited me to join the NSF-based Center for the Joining of Materials, which was helpful in the early stages of my career.”
Bauer earned his undergraduate degree in Metallurgical Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he also played varsity hockey for Rensselaer for four years, including as a member of the NCAA Division I Championship team in 1954. He later received his Master’s and Doctorate degrees from Yale University. Throughout his career, his work resulted in about 150 books and technical articles.
Juan Chamorro
Ismaila Dabo
Sparking interest in materials science
Have you ever thought of the material properties that make slime viscous, kinetic sand stick together, or a dish break? These are just a few of the everyday life connections that materials science and engineering faculty are drawing upon when connecting with elementary, middle, and high school students to foster their interest in the discipline.
Last March, when Thomas O’Connor traveled to Minnesota for the American Physical Society’s Annual Meeting to present his group’s research, he was also co-organizing the organization’s first-ever “Squishy Science Sunday” outreach event which drew families from around the region to learn more about biophysics, polymers, soft matter, and statistical physics. O’Connor led volunteers from the APS Division of Polymer Physics in running 10 of the nearly 50 tables of hands-on activities, showcasing the extraordinary properties of polymers through various types of play sand and slime.
“Materials play an important role in their lives and this exposure shows them how they can engineer something to make a difference,” she says.
During Krause’s presentation and demonstration, the students learned what a ceramic is, what makes it different from metals and plastics, what it is used for, and why it breaks. To apply these concepts, students then get to design and make their own composites to test which structures don’t break.
“We see the value of engaging students prior to entering college, so they can be more aware of the opportunities available to them”
Greg Rohrer, W.W. Mullins Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
“It’s important for us to give kids opportunities to have positive and fun scientific experiences outside of school. Those experiences can kickstart a life-long passion for science and engineering,” O’Conner said. “We are creating space for them to explore and enjoy asking scientific questions about the nature of the materials around them in a hands-on way. If we can help them enjoy being curious about the world around them, then we’ve succeeded.”
Closer to home, Mandie Krause has been involved in outreach activities both on and offcampus. At CMU, she has facilitated sessions with middle school students through the Gelfand Center. Over the summer, students in grades 6-8 spent a week on campus learning about various aspects of research from faculty representing a variety of disciplines. Krause enjoys the opportunity to spark students’ awareness of materials science.
“Many kids are curious about the world around them. By engaging in STEM activities, they can learn about how things work,” says Krause. “It also empowers them by informing them that they can improve some technology or make something new.”
In addition to these outreach efforts with students, MSE faculty have been involved in programs that have made a lasting impact among educators who are able to incorporate materials science into their classrooms. In 2004, professor Greg Rohrer led an NSF-funded summer research institute that brought high school teachers from across the region to campus for workshops on how they could present materials science curriculum into their classrooms in ways that would be engaging to their students.
“Our department offered this program because we see the value of engaging students prior to entering college, so they can be more aware of the opportunities available to them through a materials science and engineering degree,” said Rohrer.
Justin Sickles, a high school teacher in the West
Mifflin Area School District, participated in the program and since has helped students to become more aware of opportunities in materials science and engineering.
The results of integrating materials science into the curriculum are evident as several students that Sickles has taught have gone on to pursue the major after high school. Sam Franco, a rising junior in the materials science and engineering department, was introduced to materials science by Sickles in his sophomore year of high school and credits his teacher for sparking his interest.
“He (Sickles) told me about this new class he was teaching called Materials Science. He described it as ‘the science of how stuff is made up,’ and it piqued my interest,” said Franco. “Learning about crystal structures in high school was helpful, and in the introductory class for MSE we talked about the same things with some more depth.”
Since participating in the institute at CMU, Sickles has gone on to be trained as a Master Teacher of Materials Science by the ASM Materials Education Foundation, which seeks to support teachers and transform classrooms so students can further develop their interests in the discipline.
“ASM has many opportunities for science educators to incorporate materials science into their classrooms, both through grants and workshops,” said Sickles. “We are seeking participants in the Pittsburgh region and beyond to continue to foster connections in their curriculum.”
STUDENTS
MSE student earns top prize in 3MT
Nine doctoral students explained their complex research and its importance in under three minutes during the championship round of Carnegie Mellon University’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, held in March. For the second year in a row, first place was awarded to a Materials Science and Engineering student. This year, doctoral candidate Benjamin Glaser took home the top honor as he shared his work on “Agile Design of High-Strength Aluminum Alloys.”
Glaser was excited to tackle the challenge that 3MT presents. He first tried to summarize his research informally for a group of friends after watching last year’s competition — and found that it was even more challenging than he expected.
“I thought it was a very interesting problem, to distill what takes us years just
to understand, but then also conveying the importance and magnitude and methods to a general audience in such a short time,” he remembered. “This year when the registration came around I worked very hard to be able to make that connection successfully.”
In his research, Glaser is exploring an advanced material discovery model to create new aluminum alloys with high temperature strength and stability, and low cost and emissions.
“It’s a difficult problem that we need to be able to approach holistically, but I want people to understand that it is feasible,” he said. “In my presentation, I showed something actionable, not just simulations. I’ve already begun to get exciting results.”
Udall Scholar sustains interest in global goals
Aleena Siddiqui, a junior with a double major in materials science & engineering and environmental & sustainability studies, has received the 2024 Udall Scholar award, which recognizes future leaders in environmental, Tribal public policy, and health care fields.
The prestigious award, which is conferred by The Udall Foundation, honors the legacies of Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall, whose careers had a significant impact on Native American self-governance, health care, and the stewardship of public lands and natural resources. Siddiqui is Carnegie Mellon University’s first Udall Scholar since 2009.
“I’m honored and thankful to have received this scholarship,” says Siddiqui. “It’s a very tangible culmination of my experiences at CMU that have supplemented my education in the classroom.”
Siddiqui is passionate about the research and development of ethical material manufacturing to create infrastructure that can have a positive impact on our environments.
“I found engineering to be a field where I could create solutions that are rooted in sustainable practices to address issues of environmental injustice that disproportionately affect marginalized communities,” Siddiqui says.
The support of the scholarship has already made an impact, as Siddiqui used the funds toward a summer study abroad program in Costa Rica, where she took a class focused on sustainable agriculture.
Her experiences outside of the classroom have played a pivotal role in enabling Siddiqui to better understand the broader implications of the work of a materials scientist & engineer.
As an intern for CMU’s Sustainability Initiative, she focuses on finding meaningful ways to engage with the campus community and share resources that allow others to think critically about how their work connects to
broader sustainability efforts.
“I was interested in this opportunity because the Sustainability Initiative is focused on all facets of sustainability— environmental, economic, and social,” says Siddiqui. “Although my main interests lay in environmental, understanding how this intersects with other forms of sustainability is crucial and I want the rest of the campus community to understand the importance of how their work contributes to sustainability.”
The Sustainability Initiative is led by director, Alex Hiniker, who sees student involvement as a vital component of the program’s development.
“Student engagement is central to the goals of the Sustainability Initiative, and students are best placed to drive those efforts,” says Hiniker. “Aleena’s thoughtful contributions have strengthened our overall program by ensuring that we center students, staff, and faculty alike.”
As an intern, Aleena has worked to find new ways in which to engage the campus community and to share resources that allow others to think critically about how their work connects to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2023, she attended the SDG Summit in New York City, where she and other interns had the opportunity to hear from world leaders and to reflect on how what they learned could help them develop strategies that could be implemented on campus.
“When our team debriefed after the trip, it was clear that we have the opportunity to converse, collaborate, and most importantly, act as we shape CMU’s Sustainability Initiative,” said Siddiqui. “At local, community, and university levels, the work we’re doing can actually enact change and we must keep working to do just that.”
As Siddiqui continues to pursue her studies, the connection between the Sustainability Initiative and materials science has become even more evident, as she and many of her peers aim to integrate sustainability to their academic goals.
“As with many industries, we have a responsibility to act ethically and find effective solutions,” she notes. “We must be conscious about resource conservation, the environmental impact of material selection, working towards a circular economy, and so much more.”
Students take MSE to 3D
As augmented reality (AR) tools become increasingly popular for recreational and personal use, these devices are also being implemented in academic settings in a wide variety of ways.
Utilizing the capabilities of the Microsoft HoloLens 2, three materials science and engineering undergraduate students worked on the design of a new AR application, HoloCrystal, which will enable those studying materials to interact with crystal structures through augmented reality.
The project, which was conceptualized by MSE graduate Jared Cohen in 2023, was further developed throughout the 2023-2024 academic year by senior students Thomas Brecher, Timothy Yang, and Kevin Zhang. Cohen, who served as advisor for the group, recently completed his master’s degree in biomedical engineering at CMU.
While the students have been accustomed to studying materials in 2-dimensional fashion, the HoloCrystal app will enable students to be able to build, explore, and manipulate crystal structures.
“HoloCrystal has allowed me to learn how AR can influence the way that MSE concepts are taught and applied,” said Brecher. “I’ve used what I learned in the classroom to build a userfocused product and learn practical skills in app development, 3D modeling, and programming.”
As this tool is developed, the project team hopes to offer an immersive experience for visualizing intricate 3D crystal structures through an interactive platform. Currently, the app is set up to view imported crystals structures that can be downloaded to the HoloLens device through publicly available Crystallographic Information Files (CIF). Several demos have been preloaded into the app, such as one showing the 14 Bravais Lattices. All of the
visualizations are in full 3D and rendered as a set of point spheres that are interactable by the end user.
The team won the “Most Engaging” award at the TechSpark Expo in both the fall and spring semesters for involving attendees in discussion. Faculty, students, and industry partners at the events had the opportunity to try out the app firsthand and see how the available features operate in real-time.
The project brought together both the study of materials and concepts associated with app development that has enabled students to broaden their skillsets as they prepare to enter the workforce or pursue graduate education.
“HoloCrystal allowed us to obtain a deeper understanding of how to work in parallel with the other group members,” noted Yang. “Working in tandem so that one aspect of development was not far behind or ahead was paramount so that modifications could be made as the project progressed.”
A view of the Holocrystal application from the user perspective.
Charged to make change
In Hannah Morin’s first year as a graduate student, the CMU Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) was able to help her resolve a problem with her neighbor’s trash pickup, which was waking her up in the middle of the night multiple times a week. From that point on, Morin knew she wanted to be a part of this problem-solving team.
The dual Ph.D. major in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) and Engineering and Public Policy (EPP) began her tenure in GSA as a representative in the assembly for EPP, and has since progressed to Vice President of Campus Affairs, and now President of the organization since December 2022.
GSA aims to improve the graduate student experience at CMU by advocating for improvements on issues important to graduate students - both at the CMU and federal government level. GSA champions that mission by lobbying for graduate student rights, allocating grants to support child care, organizing university wide social events, and providing matched funding for students to attend conferences, pursue professional development, initiate independent research projects, and access free legal aid.
“I became involved because there were opportunities to make a real and immediate difference in others’ lives,” says Morin, who had gotten a taste of what student advocacy was like while serving as a resident assistant during her undergraduate degree at University of Chicago.
Morin’s interest in advocacy ties back to her research, as she hopes that her work will help create a more sustainable world. Through her work with faculty members Jay Whitacre and Jeremy Michalek, she is studying lithium ion battery degradation, particularly in regard to fast charging electric vehicles.
“My research lies at the intersection of physical science and policy,” says Morin. “I get to think about the functional materials within a battery, as well as the broader implications for society in terms of their role in decarbonization, use by consumers, and impact on the environment.”
Working across two academic departments also draws parallels in her work with GSA, as both endeavors present opportunities to consider multiple viewpoints and hone problem solving skills.
“It’s been interesting to have the perspective of different departments, both by talking to students in GSA and by being across MSE and EPP,” says Morin. “I appreciate the opportunity to help departments exchange best practices.
“My research lies at the intersection of physical science and policy.”
Hannah Morin, Ph.D. student, materials science and engineering and engineering and public policy
Being able to talk to a broad subsection of students has been incredibly helpful when trying to solve problems.”
Thinking over her accomplishments through her role with GSA, Morin is most proud of the changes brought forth by collaborative efforts that have improved holistic support of graduate students. This work includes ensuring insurance benefits, guaranteeing parental leave for students having children, increasing to the minimum stipend, and developing a preliminary framework for ensuring the minimum stipend is regularly reviewed for increases.
As Morin continues the final leg of her doctoral degree, she intends to carry forth many lessons from her experiences at CMU, but one sticks out in particular.
“I want to solve real-world problems, not just study them,” she says.
NASA mentor guides student’s career trajectory
When Lauren Fitzwater accepted an internship at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory last summer, she wasn’t looking to become a rocket scientist, but the competitive internship in Pasadena, California did help launch her aspiration to work in metals additive manufacturing. She was selected in part because she had spent the previous semester working on research projects in Sneha Prabha Narra’s Engineering Materials for Transformative technologies (EMIT) additive manufacturing lab.
Fitzwater had gained a considerable amount of experience in material characterization of 3D metal parts in both roles. When her mentor at NASA learned that engineering students could earn a minor in additive manufacturing (AM) at Carnegie Mellon, she urged Fitzwater to pursue what she said would be a great opportunity.
Fitzwater, who took that advice, initially found her way to additive manufacturing through Carnegie Mellon’s Highway to Undergraduate Research in the Academic Year (HURAY) program. When she applied for the
program, she chose the AM project with Narra, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering, from among the list of funded research fellowships that were available for students with federal work-study funding and little to no prior research experience.
The HURAY program funded her research work for two semesters. Afterwards, Narra and her team liked Fitzwater, and found a way to keep her on for another semester.
As the only undergraduate student in the group, she relied on the graduate students for help.
“Justin Miner and Mikhail Khrenov were so supportive—always giving me positive feedback and helping me grow within the lab,” said Fitzwater.
She says that thanks to their encouragement, she found the confidence and opportunity she needed to work more independently. She was able to take the lead on a project aimed at characterizing the heat treatment kinetics of the L-59 low-alloy steel used on the wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) equipment at Mill 19.
She says that many setbacks and
“I really like materials characterization, and additive manufacturing is so cool—I want to do it and I want to see others get into it too”
- Lauren Fitzwater, student, Material Science and Engineering
the resulting trial and error it took to obtain usable data provided valuable lessons. Perhaps best of all was how her research experience has enriched her academic studies and created a career path she now wants to follow.
“I really like materials characterization, and additive manufacturing is so cool—I want to do it and I want to see others get into it too,” said Fitzwater.
Fitzwater took her first AM course: Additive Manufacturing and Materials last year with professor of materials science and engineering Tony Rollett, where she studied additive manufacturing processes and how to identify and prevent defects in printed parts. Rollett also taught students how to read and analyze research papers related to AM, and how to get relevant information from it.
Having had so much hands-on experience has put her ahead in her AM classes where she was able to quickly grasp metallography or use line intercept methods, or even polish and etch materials, because she has already done the same work in a lab.
“Some of it was so easy for me that I was able to help my group members—especially the mechanical engineering students, who don’t have the same materials training,” said Fitzwater, who recently completed an internship with Procter and Gamble, where she worked on the characterization of absorbent textiles.
Working with polymers, textiles, and different characterization techniques will expand her experience, but she also believes it will confirm her decision to pursue a career in metals additive manufacturing.
Pictured: Lauren Fitzwater at her summer internship at NASA in Pasadena, CA.
MSE hosts undergraduate research experience
Over the summer, ten undergraduate students from across the country participated in a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program, “Materials for Future Computing,” hosted by the CMU Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
Supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the program aimed to support the development of an engaged and qualified workforce in the semiconductor industry, as well as to provide opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds who have not historically had as many opportunities to conduct scientific research.
“Advancements in new materials are driving innovations in computing technologies,” said professor Vincent Sokalski, who co-directed the program along with professor Lisa Porter. “As computer chip fabrication becomes more compatible with next-generation devices, it will be important to have a workforce who can understand the fundamentals of electronic materials.”
Each student was paired with a faculty mentor to work on an individual project, which was presented to peers and members of the campus community at the end of the program.
Over the course of ten weeks, the experience incorporated field trips to local companies and use of the state-ofthe-art CMU Materials Characterization and Nanofabrication facilities. Students also attended seminars with peers and faculty to learn about best practices in conducting research.
Student awards
College of Engineering Fellowship Awards
Ronald F. and Janice A. Zollo Fellowship
Samuel Gershanok
Neil and Jo Bushnell Fellowship in Engineering
Liyang Wang
ATK-Nick G. Vlahakis Graduate Fellowship
Jixuan Dong
Presidential Fellowship in the College of Engineering
Inkyu Lee
Bradford and Diane Smith Graduate Fellowship in Engineering
Andrew Timmins
Doctoral candidate, Spencer Matonis, is co-founder of Edulis Therapeutics, which won pre-seed funding at the firstever Future of Capitalism Tech Startup Competition held in London in February. Edulis is modernizing gastrointestinal medicine with an innovative drugdelivery implant. (Matonis, pictured in center top left)
Samuel Gershanok has been named an Innovation Commercialization Fellow by the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship. The Innovation Commercialization Fellows Program has the goal of accelerating the process of commercializing university research.
Connor Sullivan won a Best Poster Award at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Magnetics Society Summer School in Taipei
Malachi Chou-Green, Sarah Birchall, Junwon Seo and Katie Eisenman earned recognition for their poster presentations at the ASM Young Members Night.
Matt Melfi and Zhaoxuan Ge earned first and second places respectively at the Energy Week student poster competition hosted by the Scott Institute for Energy Innovation. (Melfi, pictured top right)
2024 Graduate Student Symposium winners
Technical talks
First Place: Junwon Seo; Second Place: Sam Gershanok; Third Place: Ke Zhong; People’s Choice Award: Amaranth Karra
Ph.D. poster presentations
First Place (tie): Jirameth ‘Mett’ Tarnsangpradit and Ben Glaser; Second Place: Gregory Wong; Third Place: Andrew Timmins; People’s Choice: Matthew Melfi
Masters’ poster presentations
First Place and People’s Choice Winner: Aditya Rohan Narra
Krivobok Brooks Awards
Each year, the Materials Science and Engineering Department holds a contest to recognize students who have displayed the greatest evidence of excellence in the art of microscopy.
Graduate Student Awardee: Nate Roblin
Title: Evaluating In Vivo Mouse Tissue Ingrowth into Silk Fibroin Scaffolds
Undergraduate Awardee: Ellen Angwin (principal author) and group members Kevin Murphy and Ethan Livingston Title: “f Shaped Inclusion in Cast Al Alloy”
Xinsheng Wu was selected for a “Best Poster Award” for his presentation of “Next-Generation EV Battery Materials— Bridging Academic, Government, and Industry Research” from the Materials Research Society (MRS).
Siya Scindia and Zoe Jacobs were selected as 2024 Andrew Carnegie Society (ACS) Scholars. Scholars are chosen by the university’s deans and department heads for their exemplary achievement in academics, leadership and volunteerism and involvement in the campus community.
Congratulations to the class of 2024! Awards
The William W. Mullins Undergraduate Award
Siya Scindia
The Hubert I. Aaronson Undergraduate Award
Malachi Chou-Green
The James W. Kirkpatrick & Jean Kirkpatrick Keelan Award
Jack Sonne
The William T. Lankford Memorial Scholarship Award Jack Beardshear
ASM Outstanding Senior
Sona Marukyan
Award for Academic Excellence in the Masters Program
Hayden Nuyens
Award for Research Excellence in the Masters Program
Prakruti Vora
The Paxton Award for Best Doctoral Dissertation
Gaurav Balakrishnan
Forging the way for community connections
This year, materials science and engineering students started the Forge Club, through which they participated in workshops led by Rivers of Steel, a nonprofit founded on the principles of heritage development, community partnership, and a reverence for the region’s natural and shared resources.
The group was initiated by Josiah Shuman, who started the club out of interest in learning how to create sword and knife blades. Members participated in a “Hooks & Hairpins” workshop, where they learned about forging fundamentals and introductory techniques during the fall semester. In the spring, students took part in the first-ever Intercollegiate Iron Pour, where they poured their own iron creations and made connections among the metal arts community.
In addition to Carnegie Mellon, the event drew students from Alfred University, Shepherd University, SUNY Cortland, Seton Hill, Chicago Art Institute, and NYU, who were joined by seasoned Rivers of Steel staff and alumni from past ironpouring events to the national historic landmark, Carrie Furnace.
“Before this weekend, I knew little of iron and steelmaking in Pittsburgh,” said Shuman. “I’d love to do more of these pours and see what other collaborations could come out of it.”
In addition to expanding knowledge of the industry and regional history, Shuman notes that involvement with the club has also encouraged community connections and the opportunity to explore a more creative side of engineering.
STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN THESE EVENTS WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE MSE STUDENT IMPACT FUND. TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS IN ACTIVITIES LIKE THIS, SCAN THE QR CODE.
ALUMNI
Embracing fundamentals for future success
When Craig Hillman was applying to colleges, Carnegie Mellon stood out because of the reputation of its engineering programs, with an experience meeting students solidifying his choice. Materials science first entered Hillman’s radar of disciplines to study when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded. “There were a lot of questions about materials and what they could do,” recalled the 1991 graduate, “and so I took the Intro to Materials class to get a better understanding.”
After graduating from Carnegie Mellon, Hillman went on to receive a Ph.D. in materials science focusing on ceramics from University of California, Santa Barbara. He then took on a postdoctoral position at the University of Cambridge, where he pivoted his focus from ceramics to electronics. During his time as a research associate at the University of Maryland, he developed an interest in electronic reliability.
“From a materials perspective, there are so many ways you can fail. That’s what’s cool to figure out, the mechanisms driving that failure,” Hillman said. Focusing on electronic reliability also gives him a chance to collaborate with a diverse range of specialists and companies from other disciplines.
This focus on electronic reliability led him to found his own electronics consulting company, DfR Solutions. Under his company, Hillman developed software that predicts electronic reliability, which he then sold to Ansys, who he still works with today. “The software was based upon the fundamentals I learned in that first class,” Hillman recalled. While his career shifted from academia to business-related ventures, he emphasized how skills he gained from his early coursework remains relevant to his career.
Hillman recounts three faculty members who made a significant impact on his career trajectory, Alan Cramb, Warren Garrison,
and Henry Peeler. “Peeler showed us that materials could be involved in that intersectionality with technology,” Hillman said. He emphasized that receiving a degree in materials science gave him both a strong work ethic and technical engineering knowledge. Hillman recalled Garrison explaining that CMU was “giving you the tools to succeed anywhere,” and that understanding the fundamentals can enable students to solve any problem.
As an alumnus, Hillman wants students to continue to thrive on the department’s reputation and emphasis on the fundamentals. Through his engagement with the department as a volunteer and philanthropic supporter, he aims to strengthen the bonds of the MSE community and provide students with incredible opportunities. He became a member of MSE’s Alumni Advisory Council in 2023 and within the last year, he has made matching gift donations to the Materials Science and Engineering Student Impact Fund to encourage alumni and donors to support opportunities for students both inside and outside of the classroom.
The Alumni Advisory Council convened on-campus in April and met with MSE faculty, staff, and students over the course of two days. Thank you to this year’s members for sharing your time and expertise with our department.
Pictured below: 2024 council members include: (L-R) Jason Harman (B.S. ‘95, M.S. ‘96), Craig Hillman (B.S. ’91), Lisa Salley (B.S. ’87), Michelle Wolf (B.S. ‘14), Bill Slye (B.S. ‘92, M.S. ‘95, Ph.D. ‘00), Stephanie Bojarski (M.S. ‘11, Ph.D. ‘14) and Rachel (Ferebee) Maher (M.S. ‘12, Ph.D., 2016)
Not pictured: James Rogers (BS ‘07)
MSE Alumni honored by College of Engineering
n April 11, distinguished guests from across the university and alumni communities gathered to honor eight individuals whose leadership, creativity, and volunteerism underscore what can be achieved with an engineering degree at the inaugural College of Engineering Alumni Awards ceremony. Among the awardees were four materials science and engineering alumni.
Recent Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award
Conferred to alumni who have graduated within the last decade for their remarkable professional accomplishments, groundbreaking innovations, or notable advancements that positively impact society.
Olivia Dippo, MSE/BME ‘15
CEO and Co-Founder, Limelight Steel
Dippo pioneers laser light technology in ironmaking, achieving energy savings and zero CO2 emissions, demonstrating a commitment to global challenges like climate change. She is currently an Activate Fellow, through which she empowers scientists to launch startups addressing global issues. She pursued a Ph.D. at UC San Diego, where she received a Powell Foundation Research Fellowship and the Gordon Engineering Leadership Award. Her research work includes optimizing alloys for 3D printing and developing ceramics for extreme environments. Recognized on the Forbes “30 Under 30” list in 2023, she also served as a Distinguished Lecturer at the Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation.
Dylan Lew, MSE’21 CEO,
Ecotone Renewables
Lew leads sustainability in food and agriculture beyond industrial scales, having achieved notable milestones since the inception of Ecotone Renewables in 2017. His leadership secured over $2 million in equity investments, formed strategic partnerships with equipment financing partners for hardware expansion, and developed and filed two utility patents and trademarks. Outside his professional role, Lew champions inclusivity in STEM as founder and president of oSTEM, promoting LGBTQ+ representation. Lew’s advocacy extends to creating internship opportunities for Carnegie Mellon University students through the Ecotone Internship Program, fostering environmental conservation efforts and professional growth.
Alumni Service Excellence Award
Honors alumni who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to the college community through their volunteer service. Recipients of this award have made a significant impact by generously contributing their time and expertise to support the college and its departments.
Philip “Phil” Dowd, MSE ‘63, Trustee
Managing Director, Sherick Enterprises LLC
Dowd has made significant contributions to both the engineering industry and his alma mater. After earning his bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering in 1963 and completing his MBA at the University of Chicago in 1967, he served with distinction in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, including a tour in South Vietnam with the 168th Engineer Battalion. Dowd’s professional journey ultimately led him to become the co-founder and senior executive of SunGard Data Systems, a prominent provider of specialized software and processing solutions. As a co-founder of SunGard Investment Systems Inc., he played a pivotal role in the company’s growth and success, holding various senior leadership positions until retiring in 2002. Phil currently serves as the managing director of Sherick Enterprises LLC.
His steadfast advocacy has played a pivotal role in advancing the mission and initiatives of Carnegie Mellon and its College of Engineering. Dowd joined CMU’s Board of Trustees in 1996 and was named emeritus in 2017. He is also a longtime member of the College of Engineering’s Dean’s Advocacy Council, providing invaluable insights and guidance, contributing to the enhancement of academic programs and the overall student experience.
Alongside his wife, Marsha, Dowd has generously supported Carnegie Mellon University and their local community in Chicago. Their support in the College of Engineering has made an extraordinary impact, especially through The Philip L. and Marsha Dowd Professorship in Engineering, The Philip L. and Marsha Dowd Teaching Fellowship in the College of Engineering, and the Dowd Engineering Seed Fund for Graduate Student Fellowships.
Lisa Salley, MSE ‘87
Board Committee Chair, Patent & Strategy Committee Product Development Advisor, Arduro Sustainable Rubber Salley is a thought leader on national security at the intersections of manufacturing, materials science, recyclability, and future workforce. She is the founder of Heritage Solutions Group, a boutique strategic growth consultancy focused on economic development from environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and commercialization of emerging technologies that enable net carbon reduction and accelerate the 2050 energy grid. She has previously advised four start-up companies from virtual stage to fully operating and teaches business growth and risk assessment in the Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses Program.
Her experiences span multiple sectors, including energy, manufacturing, and specialty chemicals, with previous roles at General Electric, Dow, Underwriters’ Laboratories, and the American Petroleum Institute. She currently serves as the Board Director, Committee Chair and Patent & Strategy Committee Product Development Advisor to the CEO at the cleantech startup Arduro. In addition to her B.S. in materials science and engineering, she holds an M.S. in decision sciences and engineering sciences from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Her multifaceted contributions to corporate leadership and community service exemplify her dedication to driving positive change and fostering sustainable growth for future generations. Her service to Carnegie Mellon spans across many levels - University, College, and Department of Materials Science and Engineering. She has been a speaker at events sponsored by both the University and the department, which have served to motivate students and inform alumni. She also serves on the College of Engineering Dean’s Advocacy Council, providing strategic assistance in advancing the priorities of the College, and acting as an ambassador and advocate for the College.
Making magnetic connections
Magnets are fundamental to billions of devices - from phones to cars to power tools. The materials that power these devices face numerous challenges related to sustainability, supply chain, and cost. Materials science and engineering alumnus Frank Johnson is part of a team that is creating an environmentally friendly alternative that offers higher magnetization without the supply chain challenges.
Niron Magnetics is using patented manufacturing techniques to precisely control and manipulate the crystal structure of iron nitride in order to produce highstrength magnets that are free of rare-earth materials.
Johnson joined Niron in 2018 as VP of R&D and Senior Metallurgist, and as the company has expanded, he has transitioned into the role of Chief Technology Officer.
While working at a small start-up after his previous experience at General Electric was somewhat daunting, the skills that he had developed at CMU prepared him for the work that lay before him.
“The interdisciplinary nature of the work I did at CMU was fundamental to my career path,” said Johnson. “The challenges we face are rarely limited to the materials themselves. Gaining knowledge that crosses many aspects of operations, from intellectual property to environmental factors, was instilled during my time as a student.”
One could say Johnson’s connection to CMU was “magnetic” from the beginning of his academic career.
As a high school student, he attended a pre-college program that gave him a taste for life on a college campus. When asked about what stuck out from that experience, he recalls that all of the residence halls had network outlets - a progressive technology at the time. Because his father worked in the specialty steel industry, he was exposed to the study of metallurgy at an early age, which furthered his interest in studying materials science.
The timing of his introduction to Professor Mike McHenry was fortuitous, due to the recent discovery of “buckyballs,”
or buckminsterfullerene, a previously unknown allotrope of carbon consisting of 60 carbon atoms linked in the form of a soccer ball. This discovery had spurred multidisciplinary research projects at CMU, including the CMU Buckyball Project, which was an undergraduate project that had 2030 undergraduates working on it over several years in the 1990s. It was supervised by professor Mike McHenry in MSE and professor Sara Majetich in Physics and Johnson was enthusiastic to participate.
Johnson delivers a lecture to materials science and engineering graduate students and faculty.
“Opportunities such as this for an undergraduate were still fairly novel,” recalls Johnson. “Working on this project laid the groundwork for my future research experiences.”
After pursuing a master’s degree at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Johnson was drawn back to CMU for his doctoral degree. He had kept in contact with Dr. McHenry, and saw abundant opportunities to study nanomaterials arising from new facilities and equipment, such as the Materials Characterization Facility (MCF) in Roberts Hall.
Ultimately, Johnson’s doctoral work enabled his path to working at Niron Magnetics, as he gained experience in their processing methods through his thesis work. The company has grown from a handful of employees to working with more than 70 individuals, as well as partners across government, academia, and industry. The skills acquired as a student continue to serve Johnson as a leader at Niron.
“It’s extremely valuable to have the depths of connections created at CMU,” says Johnson. “The disciplines and coursework gave me the foundation to understand what is possible.”
A magnet created by Niron with a quarter for scale. Source: Niron Magnetics
Alumni Accomplishments and Awards
Carolyn Duran (B.S. ’92) received the prestigious honor of election to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). Duran was appointed to the role of Senior Director of Product Integrity at Apple in 2023, where she leads a global team of approximately 350 technologists focused on analysis and compliance engineering for Apple’s hardware products. Prior to joining Apple, she worked at Intel Corporation for 25 years, most recently as Vice President of Components Research.
Michelle Wolf (B.S. ‘14) was selected by Carnegie Mellon University as a “Tartan on the Rise,” an honor that celebrates recent alumni who are making an impact in their organizations and in their communities, across the nation and around the world through leadership, innovation and career achievements. Wolf co-founded New Wave Foods and formulated its flagship product, a sustainable shrimp alternative made from plant-based ingredients. The innovation earned Michelle a spot on the Forbes “30 under 30” Food & Drink list.
Julia Yang (B.S. ‘16) will be joining the faculty of Georgia Institute of Technology in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, starting January 2025. The group will merge materials science with chemical engineering principles to study electrochemical interfaces and battery recycling, using first-principles calculations, machine learning, and experiments.
Scott Roberts (B.S. ’07) won a Lew Allen Award for Excellence from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The award is given to four early career scientists at JPL per year. Scott received his for outstanding intellectual leadership in printed porous materials technology foundational to advancements in thermal, structural, and propulsion applications.
Nicole Reilly (B.S. ‘11) and Florent Lebreton were married July 20, 2024 in Nantes, France, where they met in 2010 during an MSE Department exchange program with Polytech’Nantes. Both have Ph.D. degrees in materials science. Nicole is currently a Blast Furnace Process Engineer with ArcelorMittal Méditerranée and Florent an Engineer Researcher in nuclear fuels at CEA Marcoule, a French energy research institute.
Kevin Cao (M.S. ‘17) was promoted to Senior Process Engineer and Manager at Leia Inc. in 2022, overseeing the R&D Development team for 3D Display and Waveguide Display optics.
Sophie Paul (B.S. ’22), who is currently pursuing her doctorate degree at University of California-Santa Barbara, has been awarded a 2024 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.
Amir Mostafaei, who completed his post-doctoral research in the MSE department at CMU, has been awarded an NSF CAREER Award (2339857), focused on the innovative use of non-spherical powder in laser powder bed fusion.
Ankur Gupta (B.S.’10, M.S.’10) is working to develop the battery technologies needed to bring augmented and mixed reality products to market at Meta.
Check out the full highlight on Gupta in the Fall 2024 issue of the College of Engineering Magazine, or visit the alumni news section at mse.engineering.cmu.edu/alumni
Center for Iron and Steelmaking Research (CISR)
to celebrate its 40th Anniversary in 2025!
Save the Date for Friday May 9, 2025 for a dinner commemorating this milestone.
mse.engineering.cmu.edu
Save the date: The MSE Deck Party during Carnival weekend will be held on Friday, April 4, 2025. Stay tuned to your email for more details!