Research
The Center for Materials Science and Engineering (CMSE) at MIT funds three different levels of research:
- Interdisciplinary Research Groups (IRGs)
- Initiative Projects
- Seed Projects
Highlights of IRG research are reported on an on-going basis to the NSF MRSEC program.
Interdisciplinary Research Groups (IRGs)
IRGs are composed of MIT faculty who, with their students and postdoctoral associates, investigate fundamental scientific questions and pathways to reach significant technological goals that can only be properly explored in a collaborative, multidisciplinary mode. These problems are too large in scope to be addressed by individual faculty members and their students. The research goals and accomplishments are reviewed regularly so that appropriate adjustments can be made to insure the quality of the Center's research effort. Four IRGs are presently supported.
IRG-I: Microphotonic Materials and Structures
IRG-II: Nanostructured Polymer Assemblies
IRG-III: Electronic Transport in Mesoscopic Semiconductor and Magnetic Structures
IRG-IV: Science and Engineering of Solid-State Portable Power Sources
Initiative Projects
The purpose of Initiative funding is to incubate and develop a nascent interdisciplinary group that has the potential to become a future IRG. Typically, an initiative comprises three or four faculty members sharing a common vision for a newly emerging area of research. One such initiative is funded at present.
Seed Projects
The primary goal of seed funding is to support research that has the potential to redefine the direction of an existing IRG or to lead to the creation of a completely new IRG. The fresh direction may be motivated by a newly appreciated opportunity for scientific discovery or by a specific issue of technological relevance. Strong preference is given to junior and new faculty members to draw them into collaborative interdisciplinary research. Five seed projects have recently concluded; new seeds will join the Center in 2008.
