Materials Science and Engineering

Carnegie Mellon's Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) aims to determine and exploit the connection between the processing, structure, and properties of materials; by doing so, engineers can develop materials that fit the performance criteria for specific applications, which are useful for the technological needs of our society. In addition to this product-specific knowledge, MSE is concerned with the implications of materials production and their sustainable use on the environment and energy resources.

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Programs

Undergraduate

Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering

Master’s

Ph.D.

Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Science and Engineering

Welcome to Materials Science and Engineering

MSE graduates go on to...

Work at companies like:

3M
Apple
Epic
Ford Motor Company
Intel
Merck
Naval Nuclear Laboratory
Nike
Procter and Gamble
Samsung

Pursue graduate degrees or careers in academia at universities like:

Carnegie Mellon University
Cornell University
Duke University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Pennsylvania State University
Stanford University
University of California Berkely
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Michigan

Research areas

Advanced materials processing and manufacturing

Materials computation and informatics

Materials for information technology

Soft and bioactive materials

Sustainable energy production, conversion, and storage

News

Feb 28

News & Events

Exploring alternatives to silicon semiconductors

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

Carolyn Duran (MSE '92) was named to the 2024 elected class of inductees to the National Academy of Engineers.

MSE Alumna Elected to NAE

Feb 9

News & Events

Powering a vision for the future

Ankur Gupta (MSE’10) is working to develop the battery technologies needed to bring augmented and mixed reality products to market at Meta.

Dec 20

News & Events

Family, colleagues honor Harry Paxton

An endowed scholarship, created in Harry Paxton's name, works to increase diversity among undergraduates in materials science and engineering.

Dec 14

News & Events

Sustaining an interest in global goals

MSE undergraduate student Aleena Siddiqui is taking her interest in environmental issues beyond the classroom with the CMU Sustainability Initiative

Nov 20

Energy & Environment

Dowd Fellowship encourages ambitious student research

Four Ph.D. students in the College of Engineering have received funding to pursue research on valuable, relatively unexplored topics.

Nov 9

Health & Biomedicine

Boosting oxygenation for transplanted cell-based therapies

To advance cell-based therapies, researchers have identified a novel device that makes on-site oxygen for biological cells transplanted inside the body.

Research paper

Doctoral and postdoctoral scholars from around the country convened at CMU for a program focused on developing their academic careers in MSE.

Rising Stars workshop hosted at CMU

Oct 26

Artificial Intelligence

New center to investigate quantum computing

A new National Science Foundation Industry-University Cooperative Research Center at CMU will create an ecosystem that advances quantum computing and information technologies.

Oct 12

Health & Biomedicine

MSE alum discovers fundamental advance in understanding of cells

Cliff Brangwynne (MSE ’01) wins the 2023 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for discovering a cellular process with the potential to revolutionize treatments for neurodegenerative diseases like ALS.

Watch the Video

Oct 2

News & Events

Faculty and alumnus inducted into the National Academy of Engineering

College of Engineering dean, professor, and alumnus inducted in the National Academy of Engineering.

Sep 26

Health & Biomedicine

ARPA-H fast tracks development of new cancer implant tech

ARPA-H has awarded $45 million to a multi-institutional team of researchers to rapidly develop sense-and-respond implant technology that could slash U.S. cancer-related deaths.

Eight students participated in a 10-week summer research program at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom.

Making international research connections

Aug 18

Health & Biomedicine

Rollett Receives International Additive Manufacturing Award

MSE professor Anthony Rollett recently received the International Freeform and Additive Manufacturing Excellence (FAME) Award at the International Solid Freeform Fabrication (SFF) Symposium.

Aug 1

Health & Biomedicine

A Slice of Summer in MSE

MSE students and recent graduates have a broad range of opportunities throughout the summer, from internships to research to working in their communities.

Jul 28

News & Events

Engineering alumni double team innovation in sport

Two CMU materials science and biomedical engineering alumni are at the forefront of the development of an airless basketball made through additive manufacturing techniques.

Watch the Video

Jul 25

News & Events

Lisa Porter to lead Faculty and Graduate Affairs

Lisa Porter has been named the next Associate Dean for Faculty and Graduate Affairs in the College of Engineering.

Jul 17

News & Events

Krause and Abbott receive NSF CAREER Awards

CMU College of Engineering’s Krause and Abbott receive NSF CAREER Awards for their research in materials science and biomedical engineering.