Materials Science and Engineering Newsletter - Winter 2023

Prof. Michael McGehee is leading a major Department of Energy project to develop more stable and affordable tandem solar cells that combine perovskite with existing silicone-based technology to increase power while lowering costs. This idea has received national attention and was recently showcased in Nature as a news feature.

Prof. Mija Hubler received a $10M contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for reinforced concrete repair, drawing inspiration from biological interconnected networks (e.g., human vascular systems and filamentous fungi) to create a novel way to heal cracks and increase the longevity of concrete.

Assoc. Prof. Wil Srubar was selected as a 2023 Schmidt Science Polymath. This high honor includes $500k/year for up to five years to explore risky new research ideas that will accelerate scientific breakthroughs. Professor Srubar is recognized for his strong track record in engineered living materials.

Professors Michael McGehee and Michael Toney have been named by Clarivate as highly cited researchers in 2023. Researchers earning the designation have “demonstrated significant and broad influence in their field(s) of research," ranking in the top 1% by citations in their field.

Professor Hendrik Heinz and MSE PhD Student Jordan Winetrout received a prestigious NASA Group Achievement Award for their design of lightweight, high-strength materials for spaceflight.

Recently tenured Professor Adam Holewinski received a Fulbright to research efficient ways to produce sustainable chemical products and fuels using electricity from renewable sources like solar and wind.

Assistant Professor Sanghamitra Neogi received a $1M DARPA contract to address the problem of heat generation in tiny electronics.

We launched an undergraduate MSE minor earlier this Fall. We are excited to provide undergraduates at CU Boulder an opportunity to formally enrich their education with a focus on materials, complement multiple bachelor’s degrees and open new career opportunities for our students.

MSE is officially starting an NSF REU Site “Engineering Materials for a Healthy World" to provide opportunities for students to participate at the forefront of materials research at CU Boulder.

Three students in materials science and engineering have earned National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships for 2023, a recognition of their strong potential for outstanding research in graduate school and beyond.

MSE PhD student Elliot Strand wins Best PhD Thesis Award from the journal Sensors for his work developing printed organic electronics for plant and environmental monitoring, which is the foundation for his new start-up company PAGE Technologies, Inc.