Newsletter Page 4 Page 10 Page 20 MSEDecember 2017 Faculty Research MSE Spotlight Faculty Awards and Honors

JENA-XING GROUP TAPS CORNELL’S INTELLECTUAL POWER TO PUSH LIMITS OF MATERIALS PAGE 10 TABLE OF MSE GREETINGS CONTENTS

some of whom are featured on Pages 16-19. Andrej also notes Cornell’s exceptional DEAR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS researchinfrastructure, such as the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source TABLE OF CONTENTS (CHESS). I’d also like to acknowledge OF THE DEPARTMENT the prominence of the Cornell NanoScale Science and Technology Facility, which is Welcome Faculty...... 2 I invite you to read about Jin’s work now directed by former MSE director Chris and other research projects on Pages 4-9, Ober and recently celebrated its 40-year the variety of which demonstrates the anniversary (Page 5). Welcome Staff...... 3 wide impact we as materials scientists and There are many other accolades to engineers have on the world. Whether it’s give—too many to list them all here. Faculty Research...... 4 gaining a deeper understanding of how But I can’t avoid using this opportunity breast cancer metastasizes or developing to congratulate former MSE director an oleophobic coating for stain-resistant Darrell Schlom on his induction into the MSE Spotlight...... 10 clothing, we pride ourselves on being National Academy of Engineering—an problem solvers in all realms. extraordinary honor which you can read On Pages 10-11, we take you about on Page 20. And speaking of friends Alumni and Student Awards...... 16 inside the laboratory of Grace Xing and in high places, former MSE director Debdeep Jena—two faculty members who Emmanuel Giannelis has been named Faculty Awards and Honors...... 20 joined us in 2015 and have since been Cornell’s senior vice provost for research making waves, literally. Among their and vice president for technology transfer, breakthroughs has been the fabrication intellectual property and research policy Reunion...... 24 of gallium-nitride-based LEDs that emit (Page 22). Congratulations Emmanuel! the shortest ultraviolet wavelengths ever Please enjoy this newsletter and find Giving Opportunities...... 25 recorded. A group from the lab is now us online to keep up on even more MSE commercializing the technology for use in news. If you’d like to be more directly medical and food sterilization. involved with our faculty, students and Through PARADIM we’ve also facilities, I encourage you to review the launched an on-campus, full-year giving opportunities listed on Page 25. materials engineering program for local high school students, which you can read about on Page 13. The New Visions GREETINGS FROM PROFESSOR R. Sincerely, ABOUT THE COVER program has become a great opportunity Debdeep Jena and Huili Grace Xing, BRUCE VAN DOVER, MSE CHAIR for our own students to engage with professors of electrical and computer the high school students and provide engineering, and materials science and ast year we launched the and our partners. mentoring, promoting the leadership skills Newsletter Page 4 Page 10 Page 20 engineering. MSEDecember 2017 Faculty Research MSE Spotlight Faculty Awards and Honors Platform for the Accelerated It’s been exciting to watch PARADIM we seek to instill in our young scholars. Realization, Analysis and blossom since that time, with many of This year we welcomed several R. Bruce van Dover Discovery of Interface our own faculty and students making new faculty and staff to our MSE family, MSE Department Chair Materials (PARADIM), an discoveries using the platform. For including Andrej Singer, a tenure- NSF-supported five-year, example, assistant professor Jin Suntivich JENA-XING GROUP track faculty member who uses X-ray TAPS CORNELL’S $25 million initiative in which users from is growing single-crystal transition-metal INTELLECTUAL characterization to better understand POWER TO Lthroughout the nation can design and oxides to gain a better understanding PUSH LIMITS OF nanoscale structure and its dynamics in MATERIALS synthesize new interface materials using of what makes for the perfect fuel cell complex materials. On Page 3 he notes the PAGE 10 facilities and expertise located at Cornell catalyst. exceptional strengths of MSE’s students,

1 | MSE Newsletter MSE WELCOME

properties of new X-ray sources and was says Singer, referring to the Cornell High In Singer’s second area of focus, he MSE WELCOMES THREE NEW FACULTY especially interested in their ability to Energy Synchrotron Source. “My research uses the recently developed X-ray free- generate interference patterns, similar interests align well with the philosophy of electron lasers to study ultrafast processes LISA THOMPSON PETER BOCKO ANDREJ SINGER to lasers in optics. In 2012, Singer took a Cornell Engineering: Apply a ‘break the in strongly correlated electron systems. ADJUNCT PROFESSOR ADJUNCT PROFESSOR ASSISTANT PROFESSOR postdoctoral research position in the lab of rules’ attitude to help solve some of the He seeks to drive the systems out of professor Oleg Shpyrko at UCSD. While world’s most pressing problems.” equilibrium and explore new phases hompson teaches fter a 35- inger has there, he applied coherent X-ray scattering Singer has three active research of matter, which have the potential for a laboratory year career joined MSE as techniques to study materials. projects underway. The first uses state- technological applications. T course that A in research S an assistant Now that he is at Cornell, Singer of-the-art X-ray scattering and imaging The third research project underway spans both the fall and development professor after is excited to expand his work applying techniques in situ to see just what is in Singer’s lab uses coherent X-ray and spring semesters. at Corning, Inc., completing a X-rays to a wide range of materials. happening inside real devices, for example, imaging and ptychography to study the Thompson’s focus Bocko, Ph.D. ’79, has postdoctoral position “Cornell is one of the top engineering batteries, as we charge and discharge self-assembly processes underpinning the is to help MSE returned to Cornell at the University of schools in the world. The students here are them. Until scientists better understand the formation of biological photonic crystals in undergraduates to teach a graduate California, San Diego exceptional and the research infrastructure mechanisms at work, it will be difficult to various species. The process is interesting build skills in careful experimentation, course in glass theory and technology. (UCSD). Singer uses X-ray characterization on campus is unique worldwide. Access to create electrode materials with advanced in its own right, but could also have formal data analysis, publication quality At the time of his retirement as to better understand nanoscale structure the CHESS facility is a big selling point,” functionality. applications in metamaterial research. plotting and technical communication chief technology officer of Corning and its dynamics in complex materials. that will prepare students for senior Glass Technologies in 2014, Bocko was He then aims to use what he learns about research, internships, graduate school considered one of the foremost leaders in mesoscale phenomena to improve material and employment in materials science and glass innovation for consumer electronics. functionality. MSE WELCOMES THREE NEW STAFF engineering. He joined Corning in 1979 as a glass Singer, who earned his undergraduate ALEXANDER DEYHIM Practice in Aerospace Engineering at She joined MSE in 2015, bringing Thompson received a B.S. in chemist and was a principal in Corning’s degrees in physics and math at the ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, Cornell for a number of years, taking with her knowledge of material synthesis materials science and engineering from participation in the flat-panel display University of Muenster in Germany, found M.ENG. PROGRAM the course from the lowest ranked in the and purification, safety and laboratory Northwestern University in 1987 while revolution. He focused most of his career himself drawn to mathematics before he department to above-average student management. She stays busy at home with fter working in working as a co-op engineer for a year and on technology applications for engineered even started secondary school. ratings. He loves challenging himself and her three young-spirited daughters. manufacturing a half at National Steel in Portage, Indiana. glass in the information age, including “I was always good at math,” says being back at Cornell as the associate at Ford Motor CORINNE RUSSELL She received an M.S. and Ph.D. from optical amplifiers, LCD substrates and Singer. “By the time I was in high school I A director of the MSE M.Eng. Program. He Company, Deyhim ACCOUNTS Cornell University in 1993 doing research glass for semiconductor packaging. started to see the beauty of mathematical intends to grow the program and work earned his MBA from in the area of microstructural scale design Bocko was the technical advisor for theorems and proofs.” Singer received his with students to help them become leaders REPRESENTATIVE Cornell’s Johnson of metal-ceramic composites. Corning’s acclaimed “A Day Made of master’s degree in physics from Muenster in their respective fields. ussell started School in 1998 and She was a lecturer at MSE from Glass” internet video series, was featured and then moved to the University of working at founded Advanced BRENDA FISHER 1995-2000, teaching courses on the in a NOVA episode, frequently spoke Hamburg for his doctoral studies in R Cornell in 2004 Design Consulting, Inc., based in Lansing, LAB MANAGER, CENTER structure and processing of materials. at industry conferences and still guest physics. and before joining New York. FOR NANOMATERIALS ENGI- During a professional hiatus to raise her lectures in business schools on leadership Singer gives partial credit for his MSE, was an account For over 20, Deyhim managed NEERING AND TECHNOLOGY two children, Thompson spent 10 years and innovation. decision to pursue physics rather than representative in the contracts and designed complex as director of a summer camp for 150 Bocko holds 11 patents in diverse mathematics to a particular officer in the isher joined Financial Transaction instruments for government laboratories, students, developed STEM curriculum areas of materials science and is credited German army. “When I did my mandatory Cornell in Center where she international organizations and academic for students participating in several local with over $20 billion of revenue. In military service I had lots of time to F the spring of supported multiple departments for six institutions. Clients included NASA, summer camp organizations, and has 2012, he was presented with a Special read,” says Singer. “I read multiple books 2011, supporting the years. She graduated from Tompkins Argonne National Laboratory, ITER and worked as the director of music and an Recognition Award from the Society for by Stephen Hawking and it gave me research in KAUST- Cortland Community College with an similar organizations in more than 26 organist for a church in Ithaca. Information Display for his contributions a big push toward physics. One of my CU Center for Energy associate degree. countries around the world. During his to that field. commanding officers gave me support and and Sustainability. Russell and her husband Jason have tenure at Advanced Design Consulting, the encouragement. He said ‘just mention me Her experience prior a 15-year-old son who is very active in company developed over 14 patents and when you discover something important.’” to joining Cornell includes time at a large soccer and lacrosse and an 11-year-old had 16 patents pending. At Hamburg, Singer studied in the pharmaceutical company and a small start- daughter who is very active in soccer, Deyhim has a passion for teaching lab of professors Edgar Weckert and up, where she served as a bench scientist, basketball and softball. In her spare time and taught MAE 4300: Professional Ivan Vartanyants. He specialized in the laboratory and project manager. she enjoys playing softball.

2 | MSE Newsletter 3 | MSE Newsletter FACULTY RESEARCH

METASTATIC BREAST CANCER AFFECTS NANOSCALE FACILITY CELEBRATES 40 BONE MINERAL BEFORE SPREADING YEARS OF NANOTECH, FOCUSES

hen breast cancer metastasizes, or spreads, ON FUTURE one of its most likely he Cornell NanoScale Science equipment. say, ‘These are the instructions, don’t break destinations is bone. and Technology Facility Today, CNF is part of a larger national the equipment,’” Ober said. “Our staff In fact, four in five (CNF) celebrated its 40-year network of facilities and conducts research invests the time in teaching people how to Wmetastatic breast cancer patients will anniversary on Sept. 14 with on the nanometer scale—about 50,000 design processes.” develop bone lesions, according to research a full day of presentations times smaller than the width of a human CNF has facilitated breakthroughs in published by the National Institutes of andT panel discussions that reflected on hair. With about $75 million in equipment, micro- and molecular electronics. It has Health. its contributions to nanotechnology and the Duffield Hall facility operates 24/7, also helped lead the fields of magnetic Most research studies have focused focused on its future. serving about 600 users a year who storage and nanobiotechnology, and on the cellular and molecular mechanisms When it opened in 1977 as the conduct research in the fields of biology, studies in energy-related systems like involved in cancer metastasis, but little is National Research and Resource Facility electronics, materials science, optics and batteries and carbon nanotubes. known about how the physical properties for Submicron Structures, it was the only physics. To understand the facility’s impact of bone are altered by cancer. facility of its kind, welcoming scientists One aspect of the facility that hasn’t on science, one need look no further than An international collaboration led and engineers across the country to changed in 40 years is its expert staff and its research output. About 100 patents by Claudia Fischbach-Teschl, associate conduct research on a scale approximately service-oriented culture, according to and patent applications are rooted in CNF professor of biomedical engineering, 75 times smaller than the width of a Christopher Ober, CNF director and MSE research each year, as well as about 500 and included Lara Estroff, MSE associate human hair. It operated out of Phillips Hall professor. publications, many in top-tier academic professor, reports that not only does and contained about $4 million in research “A lot of other places bring you in and journals. the cancer favor a certain state of bone “Also, look at research that has mineral, but that breast cancer tumors been translated into real companies,” actually remotely enhance that favorable said Ober. “Just in recent times: state—“talk,” in effect, with the region of microelectromechanical company Kionix, choice—before metastasizing there. laser-technology company Binoptics— The group’s paper, “Multiscale which was sold to MACOM—and Pacific Characterization of the Mineral Phase at Biosciences, which is a half-billion-dollar Skeletal Sites of Breast Cancer Metastasis,” An illustration of bone material properties on a cross-section of mouse tibia. The dots near the top biotech company.” published online Sept. 18 in Proceedings of indicate decreased hydroxyapatite mineral maturity, which makes it more prone to metastatic cancer But CNF’s 40th anniversary wasn’t cell colonization. Used with permission of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. the National Academy of Sciences. just about looking back. People from Even before breast cancer cells spread Metastasis in the bone triggers a vicious HA crystals in the remaining bone were academia, industry and government were to the skeleton, they interact with bone cycle: Cancer cells migrate to a region even less mature than before the cancer asked to participate in workshops to help cells to facilitate later tumor growth at that’s suited for their growth, and their arrived. predict the future of nanotechnology these sites. This region of interest for presence degrades the region, making it The surprising result came after research. The information is being disseminated cancer cells is known as the even more suited to tumor growth. breast cancer cells were injected directly compiled into a document that will help pre-metastatic niche. Analysis of the metaphyseal bone into mammary tissue. Not only did the guide future CNF decisions. At the same time this remote cellular after breast cancer cell injection into cells produce a localized tumor, but they “You would think after 40 years we’d interaction is taking place, the cancer the bloodstream, a procedure that will affected the metaphysis—even before the have it all down pat,” Ober said, “but in cells are disrupting the bone’s natural produce tumors in bone, confirmed that formation of metastasis. fact there’s just tremendous opportunities remodeling, a constant process in which metastatic breast tumors degrade bone. to try new things, and there’s constantly old tissue is shed and new tissue forms. Additionally, this analysis showed that the Lynn Rathbun, CNF laboratory manager, examines an Auger electron microscope in 1978. new challenges.”

4 | MSE Newsletter 5 | MSE Newsletter FACULTY RESEARCH

MATERIALS SCIENTIST JIN SUNTIVICH WIESNER TEAM IMAGES TINY TO STUDY FUEL CELLS DIFFERENTLY QUASICRYSTALS AS THEY FORM

growing them at Cornell’s Platform for hat makes quasicrystals the Accelerated Realization, Analysis and so interesting? Their Discovery of Interface Materials. unusual structure: Atoms Once the catalysts are created, in quasicrystals are Suntivich will use a suite of arranged in an orderly characterizations to evaluate their Wbut nonperiodic way, unlike most crystals, performance and reaction mechanisms, which are made up of a three-dimensional, focusing on finding the best atomic orderly and periodic (repeating) arrangements for converting carbon arrangement of atoms. monoxide and oxygen into energy. The lab of Uli Wiesner, MSE “To convert natural gas to electricity, professor, has joined scientists pursuing one possibility is put it in a reformer that this relatively new area of study. While cracks the natural gas molecules and working with silica nanoparticles—from A transmission electron microscope image of a mesoporous silica nanoparticle, showing the tiling with converts them to carbon monoxide and which the Wiesner lab’s patented Cornell triangles and squares, and the Fourier analysis (inset) showing 12-fold symmetry. hydrogen,” said Suntivich, describing dots (or C dots) are made—one of his Wiesner said. nanoparticle structure changes, starting carbon monoxide as a gateway molecule to students stumbled upon an unusual “The structures are so small, you as a hexagonal and winding up as a more complex ones. non-periodic but ordered silica structure, can only see them through an electron dodecagonal (12-sided) quasicrystal. Connecting a catalyst’s structural directed by chemically induced self- microscope,” he said. “Silica degrades “The more TMB we add, the broader variables with its ability to produce assembly of groups of molecules, or under the electron beam, so to look at one the pore size distribution,” Wiesner said, energy will ultimately help scientists and micelles. particle over a longer period of time is not “and that perturbs the crystal formation engineers establish a design route toward “For the first time, we see this possible.” and leads to the quasicrystals.” future high-performing catalysts for fuel Jin Suntivich [quasicrystal] structure in nanoparticles, The solution? Conduct many The other way to make these cells of all types. And Suntivich notes t the heart of every fuel cell is when a transition-metal oxide is working which had never been seen before to the experiments, stopping the growth process structures evolve is mechanical. Starting that the foundational knowledge will be a catalyst that controls how as a catalyst, and that makes it difficult best of our knowledge,” said Wiesner, of the quasicrystals at varying points, with a hexagonal crystal structure, the valuable beyond fuel cells, as transition- the cell converts fuel into to study how a reaction fundamentally whose research team proceeded to conduct imaging with transmission electron team found that by simply stirring the metal oxides are used as coatings and energy. The better the catalyst, happens,” said Suntivich. His solution is to hundreds of experiments to capture the microscopy (TEM), and comparing results solution more and more vigorously, they catalysts for other reactions, such as for the the more efficient, powerful use a single-crystalline form of transition- formation of these structures at early with computer simulations, conducted by introduced a disturbance that also changed manufacturing of plastics. Aand cost-effective the fuel cell. metal oxides to gain an unprecedented stages of their development. Kao. This imaging, done by Sun and Ma, the micelle size distribution and triggered The Early Career Research Program Transition-metal oxides are a class look at the role defects, strain and Their work resulted in a paper, gave the team a sort of time-lapse look at the same structural changes “all the way to supports the development of individual of high-performance catalysts with great subsurface laying of atoms play in how “Formation Pathways of Mesoporous the quasicrystal growth process, which the quasicrystal,” Wiesner said. research programs of outstanding potential, but the way in which they the catalyst performs. The simple structure Silica Nanoparticles With Dodecagonal they could control in a couple of different A lot of the discovery in this work scientists early in their careers. Suntivich’s govern electrochemical reactions that will allow Suntivich to test each variable Tiling,” published Aug. 15 in Nature ways. was “serendipity,” Wiesner said, the result proposal, “Rational Selection of Transition- turn fuel into energy remains poorly and record the performance to understand Communications. Lead authors are former One way was to vary the of “hundreds and hundreds” of growth Metal Oxide Electrocatalysts From understood. Jin Suntivich, MSE assistant mechanisms and scientific principles that MSE doctoral student Yao Sun, current concentration of the chemical compound experiments conducted by the students. Structure-Electronic Structure-Activity professor, hopes to change that by make for the best catalyst. postdoc Kai Ma and doctoral student mesitylene, also known as TMB, a pore The more insight gained into the Relations: The Role of Defects, Strain and studying catalysts in a new way, and he “Growing a single crystal is really, Teresa Kao. expander. The imaging, including cryo- early formation of these unique particles, Sub-Surface Layering,” was one of about has been awarded $750,000 by the U.S. really hard. It’s one of the reasons why our To study the evolution of silica TEM performed by Spoth, showed that the better his understanding of silica 700 submitted this year for consideration, Department of Energy’s 2017 Early Career work has not been carried out anywhere nanoparticle quasicrystals, the best as TMB concentration increased, micelles nanoparticles, which are at the heart of his with the U.S. Department of Energy Research Program. else,” said Suntivich, who plans to solution would be to take video of the became bigger and more heterogeneous. group’s work with Cornell dots. selecting 59. “There are many things going on work with engineers who specialize in growth process, but that was not possible, Adding TMB induced four mesoporous

6 | MSE Newsletter 7 | MSE Newsletter FACULTY RESEARCH

MECHANISMS FOUND TO EXPLAIN COLLABORATION YIELDS PROMISING ATYPICAL FEMORAL FRACTURES INNOVATION IN STAIN RESISTANCE being resurfaced, such that the entire adult hen you spill pasta sauce research, and Jintu Fan, professor and not worked on previously, but one of the skeleton is overhauled every 10 years or so. on your favorite shirt chair of the Department of Fiber Science great things about being at Cornell is that But that resurfacing process begins but there is no trace of it and Apparel Design. Work from their labs we have great students and postdocs who with resorption, and if resorption is slowed after being washed, you has yielded a promising new material that can take this kind of challenge and do by bisphosphonates, the remodeling process can thank oleophobicity, could help change the way oleophobicity great things.” is also affected. The result: The existing Wa resistance to oil commonly applied to is developed. Postdoctoral researcher Genggeng Qi bone ages and gets brittle over time. textiles. They worked with an apparel maker developed a polymer that combines well- “It’s kind of a double-edged sword,” That resistance, however, comes at on creating a polymer that could make known chemistry with a rough surface Donnelly said. “It’s extremely good to a price. The coating that makes textiles fabric more breathable while retaining texture that creates little air pockets. Fluids prevent bone loss, but the drugs will also oil resistant is fluorine-based and wrinkle resistance—always a challenge— with a high enough surface tension will slow this natural process, which allows breaks down into chlorofluorocarbon and Giannelis said they made good ball up on this fiber and not stick, making Radiograph imaging showing morphology of a typical fragility fracture of the hip (A), compared with an atypical femoral fracture, or AFF (B). The nature of the AFF indicates a brittle fracture process, possibly due to excess turnover.” gas, a greenhouse gas harmful to the progress along that line. for easy cleaning. mineralization of the bone. The other unforeseen side effect to environment. “The company came back and said, This roughness uses the same long-term bisphosphonate use involves But that may change, as a result of ‘That is good and great—but can you principle as the water-resistant quality here is no disputing that the use It’s been known for some time that crack-deflection—the resurfaced bone’s a Cornell cross-campus collaboration do something similar with oleophobic of the lotus leaf, which has a rough of bisphosphonates—with brand prolonged use of bisphosphonates can put ability to stop a microscopic crack from involving Emmanuel Giannelis, MSE coatings?’” he said. “It’s a very different nanostructure and naturally repels water. names such as Fosamax, Boniva people at risk for atypical femoral fracture propagating, which can lead to a break. professor and Cornell’s vice provost for kind of chemistry, and something we had Fan is excited by early results of this and Reclast—is proven to combat (AFF), a break in the shaft of the femur that New layers of bone can act as a “firewall” of material, noting that they’ve just done bone loss and fragility fractures in can occur as a result of little or no trauma. sorts, stopping a crack from spreading, but testing using mineral oil, which has a low Tmillions of osteoporosis patients for whom The Donnelly group set out to understand mineralized, older bone loses that function. surface tension. a fracture could be debilitating, even life- the link between the drugs and AFF. The Food and Drug Administration “We’ve found that even after 30 threatening. For this study, the team examined is now recommending patients use washings, it’s still durable, which is But there is a caveat: Prolonged use biopsies of cortical bone—the outer layer— bisphosphonates for three to five years, great,” he said. “Even if we can achieve of these drugs can alter the composition from the shaft of the femur obtained from followed by reassessment of their risk. [oleophobicity] that’s even close to of bone, making it more brittle and more postmenopausal women during fracture Donnelly makes it clear that her study is not fluorine-based [polymers], that would be a susceptible to a rare but serious form of repair surgery. The participants were placed proposing doing away with bisphosphonate huge breakthrough.” fracture. And a group led by Eve Donnelly, in five groups, based on fracture type and treatment. Studies have estimated the risk Giannelis is cautiously optimistic MSE assistant professor, has put forth a bisphosphonate use. Some of the women of AFF among bisphosphonate users at about the work. couple of possible explanations for this in the study had used bisphosphonates for between one and 10 in 10,000, and have “I don’t want to declare complete phenomenon. more than eight years. shown the benefit of bisphosphonates victory,” he said with a smile, “but we Her group—in collaboration with The testing pointed to a couple of continues to far outweigh the risk of AFFs. believe we are the first group to show that researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine contributing factors: Bisphosphonate- “That’s one of the cautions I’d like to non-fluorine-based chemistry opens up the and the Hospital for Special Surgery in New treated women with AFF had bone that impart,” Donnelly said. “What we have possibility to create oleophobic coatings York, among others—detail their findings was harder and more mineralized than observed is really the result of long-term that are probably good enough to resist in “Atypical Fracture with Long-Term bisphosphonate-treated women with treatment, well beyond what the FDA is stains from vegetable oils, olive oil, and Bisphosphonate Therapy is Associated with typical osteoporotic fractures. Donnelly recommending for these drugs now. Our other oils. Altered Cortical Composition and Reduced said this is due to bisphosphonates’ main work explains some of the underlying Fracture Resistance,” published July 31 in function: slowing the resorption (shedding) mechanisms of AFFs and can inform the the Proceedings of the National Academy of of old bone, which is typically followed by Samples of cloth both untreated, left, and treated with a fluorine-free oleophobic coating developed in the refinement of dosing schedules for patients Sciences. Ashley Lloyd, doctoral student in remodeling, the growth of new bone. In labs of Emmanuel Giannelis, professor of materials science and engineering, and Jintu Fan, professor of fiber at risk of fragility fractures.” science and apparel design. The oil beads up and can be easily removed from the treated material. MSE, was lead author. healthy adults, cortical bone is constantly

8 | MSE Newsletter 9 | MSE Newsletter MSE SPOTLIGHT

JENA-XING GROUP TAPS CORNELL’S INTELLECTUAL POWER TO PUSH LIMITS OF MATERIALS

ilicon semiconductors are at the ultra-violet-light wavelength. The deep With the team’s combined knowledge, heart of just about every electronic ultra-violet light produced by the LED can it hopes to capitalize on recent advances device, but as the demand for be used to purify water, disinfect medical in the physics of magnetic switching to S smaller, more powerful and more equipment and preserve food. One of the make a memory device that is essentially efficient electronics grows, the technical group’s postdoctoral associates is now a computing element itself, as opposed limitations of silicon and other traditional commercializing the technology. to being a storage element that relies semiconductors are being realized. With their feet firmly planted at on processing from another unit. This The Jena-Xing Group at Cornell is Cornell, Jena and Xing now see a greater reimagining of computational memory challenging conventional thought in search potential for materials discovery by could provide an entirely new paradigm for of the semiconductors, superconductors introducing their work to researchers the semiconductor industry. and topological insulators of tomorrow. outside of the materials science realm. Another attraction to Cornell, says Based jointly in the Department of Materials “We came to Cornell because we were Jena, was the ability to expand his scope of Science and Engineering and the School attracted to the intellectual power at this research. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, place,” says Xing. “We also wanted to create “I wanted to explore certain classes of the group is focused on understanding more collaborative projects in synergy with materials which exhibit properties that I the fundamental limits of materials—how the activities on campus.” always wished I had a chance to work with, electron, light and heat waves move That collaborative mindset is what such as superconductivity and topological Debdeep Jena and Huili Grace Xing, professors of electrical and computer engineering and materials science and engineering. through materials, and how they can will create the research breakthroughs the insulators,” says Jena. “Having colleagues, be controlled—as well as finding new semiconductor industry needs, according and motivated and extremely talented One of Jena’s first major successes in disciplinary problem solving is something new materials, but to produce the next applications for them. to the National Science Foundation. students to work on these areas is necessary superconductivity came earlier this year Jena and Xing try to instill in all of their generation of scientists and engineers who While faculty members at the The foundation established the Energy- to do that, and I knew Cornell would have when, working in conjunction with other students. understand that sometimes you have to University of Notre Dame, Debdeep Jena Efficient Computing: From Devices to those kind of students.” materials science faculty and students, he “We always encourage them to take break the rules to make great discoveries. and Huili Grace Xing began examining Architectures program to fund what it calls discovered a way to seamlessly combine classes outside of electronic materials “The group has an intimate mix of potential uses for gallium nitride—a “revolutionary solutions” to computational “WE ENCOURAGE the superconductor niobium nitride with and devices,” says Xing, noting the Jena- students from Materials Science, Electrical semiconductor with a wider energy performance. The funding is aimed STUDENTS NOT TO semiconductor gallium nitride. The result Xing Group hosts about 35 students, and Computer Engineering, and Applied bandgap than silicon. They continued the specifically at interdisciplinary groups of BE DEFINED BY THE is a promising new class of materials that postdoctorates and research associates. and Engineering Physics by design, because work when they arrived at Cornell in 2015 researchers. KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR combine the best characteristics of each “We tell them, ‘go to physics, go to breaking rules starts with breaking the and created a gallium nitride power diode Xing is leading one of the program’s ADVISORS, NOT TO BE conductor family. computational science.’ For example, one artificial walls between disciplines,” says capable of supporting over 1,400 volts of latest grants, which aims to change the CONFINED BY WHAT “It fills this gap of these two families student took a computer science class in Jena. electricity despite only being about one- way computers and other devices process WE’VE DONE BEFORE. which is holding them back from being a machine learning and he immediately “We encourage students not to be tenth the width of a human hair. memory. The project has nine co-principal WHEN THEY GRADUATE, real technology for quantum computation applied it to develop device modeling, defined by the knowledge of their advisors, The Jena-Xing Group also developed a investigators, all at Cornell, spanning THEY SHOULD BE BETTER in the future,” says Jena, who plans to leading to an elegant and general solution.” not to be confined by what we’ve done gallium-nitride-based light-emitting diode expertise in materials science, devices, THAN US.” publish the research in the coming months. This philosophy is leading the before. When they graduate, they should be (LED) that has recorded the shortest known circuits and computer architectures. – Huili Grace Xing Just like their research, creative, cross- Jena-Xing Group to not only produce better than us,” Xing says with a smile.

10 | MSE Newsletter 11 | MSE Newsletter MSE SPOTLIGHT

MSE TEAMS UP WITH PBS MSE LAUNCHES AFFILIATE FOR SCIENCE MATERIALS PROGRAM FOR COMMUNICATIONS COURSE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS f you can’t communicate your ideas, graduate students interested in effectively Engineer Your World curriculum created then their potential can’t be realized. and innovatively sharing their research will by University of Texas at Austin for high Julie Nucci, MSE adjunct professor, is especially benefit from taking ENGRG 3360. school students. A key feature of Engineer I teaming up with Ithaca’s PBS affiliate It is expected that the videos and taped Your World’s curriculum is its low financial to teach students this lesson through a new presentations created will enhance faculty barrier to implementation. This sets it course on science communications. and engineering project team websites, in apart from other nationally distributed Nucci is the principal investigator of an addition to being featured as educational K-12 engineering programs and makes it Engaged Cornell grant that is funding the tools via PBS’s various media outlets. accessible to all schools. As word of this new curriculum. Co-principal investigators A hallmark of community engaged curriculum spreads, it is being taught to include Jim Overhiser, director of K-12 learning is reciprocity between the more students in more states. education at PARADIM; Darrell Schlom, community partners. The ENGRG 3360 We are teaming with UT Austin to MSE professor; and Bruce van Dover, MSE participants will directly engage the create MSE focused content with the lead chair. community by mentoring the New Visions role coming from graduate students Alicia ENGRG 3360: Developing Engineering (see Page 13) students as Cintora (Ober Group), Lindsey Noskin Communicative Practice Through they choose colleges and by sharing their (Schlom Group), and Ben MacMurray Transmedia and Community Engagement research and engineering activities with (Shepherd Group). Engineer Your World will launch in spring 2018, and will them. Later in the semester they will team students analyze the earthquake resistance tackle the challenge of 21st century up to visit the New Visions students’ former of a wooden tower. Our activity first adds science communication by providing middle school physical science classrooms a mechanical isolation to the tower for instruction and practice creating innovative to talk about spending their senior year earthquake protection. Next, students will presentations and videos. The course will exploring engineering on the Cornell explore different materials to discover ompkins-Seneca-Tioga BOCES and endeavors as well as learning the broader credit for honors physics as well as high also focus on the responsible use of social campus, getting an engineering degree and which are most effective at further reducing Cornell Engineering are pleased impact of engineering on society. school credit for English, participation media platforms. careers in engineering. the tower’s acceleration and displacement to welcome a new high school Central to the New Visions program in government and in economics. The WSKG, a PBS television station, is a Reaching out to middle schools is beyond the mechanical solution. The program to the Cornell campus: is the Engineer Your World curriculum latter three credits are earned through community partner on the grant and Nancy critical. While all students take middle level New Visions Engineering students will T New Visions Engineering. New Visions created by the University of Texas at Austin. interactions with local and state legislators, Coddington, WSKG’s director of science physical science, only a fraction of these be empowered by beta testing the base programs are offered across New York State Engineer Your World is taught to over readings around engineering and its content, services and programming, will middle school students ever find their way isolation activity and sharing their insights to high-achieving seniors in fields ranging 10,000 students in 216 schools in 24 states impacts on society, and a variety of other co-teach the course to provide combined into upper level high school science and with the Cornell students, who will benefit from audio engineering to zoo wildlife. across the U.S. It introduces students to interdisciplinary activities. technical and communication expertise. math classes. It is clear what the Cornell from having this ideal population critique These one-year programs are designed to engineering design, processes and practices New Visions Engineering offers The content created will become part of PBS students bring to the K-12 community. In the activity they created. give students a concrete way to experience through a series of well-crafted hands-on students the opportunity to explore the Learning Media—a nationally distributed return, this K-12 audience is an ideal one We anticipate that UT Austin will a potential career before making a college challenges. Students will receive credit for many facets of the engineering field and widely used educational resource—if to help the Cornell students develop an launch this activity in fall 2018 and look or career choice. Thurston Hall Room 204 is ES 301: Engineering Design and Problem through an “experiential Friday” program approved by the WSKG Scientific Advisory engaging, honed message for the general forward to introducing MSE to over 10,000 now a high school classroom where a cohort Solving from UT Austin upon successful that leverages the Cornell campus and Board. WSKG will also curate a YouTube public. high school students in states across the of high-achieving high school seniors from completion of this course. The balance local industry. Students have already been channel dedicated to content that is created. A second effort funded by the Engaged country. across the TST BOCES region are sampling of the New Visions curriculum includes inspired and enthused about engineering Engineering project team members Cornell grant involves infusing MSE into the wide variety of engineering careers and concurrent TC3 enrollment and college in September by touring labs, exploring involved in marketing or fundraising, and the highly lauded, nationally distributed

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for several weeks in PARADIM’s thin film her voice. “I had all of the glassware packed facility, giving them access to world-class, up very carefully in a U-Haul.” cutting-edge research to complement their It has been two years since the move engineering experiences. and Terapore Technologies has expanded Julie Nucci, MSE adjunct professor and from two employees to 10. “Our filters PARADIM education and outreach director, are very well structured—they are fast, spearheaded the program’s creation and fine and have high resolution,” says she manages it alongside James Overhiser, Dorin. “The biopharmaceutical industry PARADIM’s K-12 education director. The is driven by science and performance, and New Visions Engineering teacher, who is a our filters are earning a great reputation TST BOCES employee, is David Syracuse. for reliability. I am excited to be a part of The program is very fortunate to have this. This technology has the potential to David, as he is an inspiring and engaging revolutionize healthcare.” teacher who has New Visions off to a When asked how her years at Cornell fantastic start. prepared her for life as a nanomaterials the engineering project teams, interacting Inc., learning about entrepreneurship at The program is graciously funded by entrepreneur, Dorin does not hesitate: “The with professors and students at Cornell Rev, and touring the Cayuga power plant NYSTAR as a part of a NYS match to the group I was part of in the Wiesner Lab felt Engineering, and touring Incodema3D. and Lake Source Cooling/Central Heating NSF-funded materials innovation platform, like a family—a family that was committed A selection of upcoming events includes Plant at Cornell. This spring, students will PARADIM. to collaborate to solve big problems that visiting Advanced Design Consulting, work with graduate students and postdocs no one has been able to solve before,” says Dorin. “In fact, some of those people have moved to California and now work at Terapore. Also, I had a lot of freedom ALUMNI PROFILE: in Uli’s lab to try new things; he was very me and it really felt like a family.” on the work she had been doing in the supportive. Cornell was an excellent place While Dorin was learning all about Wiesner Lab. for me to explore hard problems without RACHEL DORIN, PH.D. ’13 polymers, she was also earning a minor in Six months before she finished her being afraid.” achel Dorin, Ph.D. ’13, says “I “Both of my parents were professors a valuable mentor in Dr. Yujiang Song, a business from Cornell’s Johnson Graduate Ph.D., she applied for an National Science have always been a bit of a risk- of medicine at University of New Mexico member of the technical staff at Sandia. School of Management. At the same time, Foundation (NSF) grant. She graduated “THE taker and trouble-maker. So I am (UNM) as I was growing up,” says Dorin. Dorin applied to Cornell for her husband started his own business in in May and won the NSF award a month BIOPHARMACEUTICAL R lucky to have found a place where “They wore lab coats and did research, but graduate studies and was impressed by Rochester. All these threads came together later. That money became the funding she INDUSTRY IS DRIVEN these traits are valued and even rewarded.” they also saw patients.” Dorin wanted to the camaraderie in the MSE department one day when Dorin had a conversation used to get her business started. “I was BY SCIENCE AND The place Dorin found is the CEO’s follow in their path and become a medical and inter-disciplinary nature of Cornell with David BenDaniel, the Don and Margi flying blind,” says Dorin. “I felt a bit like PERFORMANCE, AND chair at Terapore Technologies, Inc., in the doctor, so she decided to major in biology Engineering evident during her visit. She Berens Professor of Entrepreneurship at the how a professor must feel when they start OUR FILTERS ARE San Francisco Bay Area. And she didn’t as an undergraduate. Then Dorin found came to Cornell hoping to work on the SC Johnson College of Business. a new lab, but I didn’t have the structure of find that place so much as she created it. materials science and it changed her life. creation of platinum nanostructures using “I told David that I was going to go a department and the guidance of faculty EARNING A GREAT Terapore is a nanomaterials company that “While I was at UNM working on block copolymers. That changed when into management consulting,” says Dorin. colleagues.” REPUTATION FOR serves the biopharmaceutical industry by my B.S. in biology I found a job at Sandia professor Uli Wiesner proposed a project “He casually mentioned that he was a bit The first two years were hard, with RELIABILITY. I AM making highly-specialized membrane filters National Laboratories in the Advanced using block copolymers to create new disappointed—he thought I was going to Dorin doing much of the work herself EXCITED TO BE A PART OF used in pharmaceutical manufacturing and Materials Lab,” says Dorin. “It paid better types of filters. “With Yujiang Song’s help, start a company and be an entrepreneur. and asking friends and family to invest in THIS. THIS TECHNOLOGY other types of separation processes. The than the hotel desk clerk job I was working I was able to see it as an exciting chance to It was probably a nothing conversation to Terapore. It became clear to Dorin in 2015 HAS THE POTENTIAL company is four years old and was started at the time and it seemed much more be in on something new and to advance him, but it was life-changing to me.” Dorin that she needed to move the company from TO REVOLUTIONIZE by Dorin just one month after she received interesting.” Based on her experiences at knowledge and technology,” says Dorin. says she left the meeting terrified. She knew Rochester to the San Francisco Bay Area. HEALTHCARE.” her Ph.D. from Cornell’s Department of Sandia, Dorin added a B.S. in chemistry “At first I didn’t know anything about he was right and she knew how hard it was “I drove a lot of the lab equipment cross- Materials Science and Engineering (MSE). to her undergraduate studies and found polymers—the other grad students taught going to be to start her own company based country myself,” says Dorin with a laugh in – Rachel Dorin

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MATERIALS SCIENCE AND AWARDS ENGINEERING AWARDS DINNER DINNER he 2017 Materials Science and The annual event honors one or more the year. Students also presented research Engineering Awards Dinner distinguished alumni of the department posters and had the opportunity to T was held on Saturday, May 6, at and recognizes over a dozen students who network with corporate collaborators. the Statler Hotel Terrace Restaurant. have earned various awards throughout

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD dean of undergraduate education and the Russell Sage Professor in Materials Science and Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. After receiving her B.S. in materials science and engineering from Cornell, Schadler received a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. After two years of postdoctoral work at IBM Yorktown Heights, she served as a faculty member at Drexel University before coming to Rensselaer. Active in materials research for over 25 years, Schadler is an experimentalist and her research has focused on the behavior of two-phase systems, primarily polymer composites. Schadler has co-authored more than 140 journal publications, several book chapters and one book. She is a fellow of the Materials Linda Schadler and Bruce van Dover Research Society and ASM International, , and is an associate editor for the Journal Linda Schadler 85 science and engineering of polymer of Materials Research. In 2011, Schadler Schadler received the 2017 MSE composites, as well as her achievements as was named one of the ‘Top 100 Materials Distinguished Alumni Award in an educator. Scientists’ worldwide in the last decade by recognition of her contributions to the She is currently the vice provost and Times Higher Education.

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JAMES L. GREGG PRIZE SENIOR THESIS POSTER SENIOR LAB AWARD TEACHING ASSISTANT OUTSTANDING M.S. OUTSTANDING PH.D. Matti Thurston ’18 AWARDS Addie Nolan ’17 (right) EXCELLENCE PRIZES RESEARCH PAPER AWARD RESEARCH PAPER AWARD Lindsey Noskin ’17 Wes Forster ’17 (not pictured) Abby Goldman, Liheng Zhang ’17 Zhengyuan Tu, doctoral student Eli Alman ’17 (left) doctoral student (left) Ethan Susca, doctoral student (right)

Awarded to outstanding juniors based on GPA. Awarded for the poster “Growth of Awarded for the paper “Materials Awarded for the paper “Stabilizing NbO2 by Molecular-Beam Epitaxy and Awarded to a senior lab team for Processing of Gallium Oxide” Reactive Metal Electrodeposition ADVANCED MATERIALS Characterization of its Metal-Insulator effectively conducting and communicating Through Nano-Structured Electrolyte and FELLOWSHIP Transition” a rigorous research project. Awarded to graduate students for exem- EXCELLENCE IN PH.D. Interphase Protection.” Divya Srinivasan ’18 plary performance as teaching assistants (right) Christian Waibel ’17 RESEARCH AWARD Lauren Kilcullen ’18 (not pictured) OUTSTANDING M.ENG. based on faculty nominations and student Zhengyuan Tu, doctoral student PROJECT AWARD evaluations. Zhiqi Wang, M.Eng. ’17 EXCELLENCE IN M.S. RESEARCH AWARD Yuanmeng Zhang ’17

Awarded for the poster “Examining The Awarded to a Ph.D. student for an MSE NANOTECHNOLOGY Phase Space of Triblock-Terpolymer and Additive Systems” innovative contribution to materials ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS Awarded for the project “Synthesis and science or engineering research. Lauren Morehouse ’18 Soham Agarwal ’17 Characterization of Copper Tin Sulfide” Emily Greenstein ’18 (No photo provided) Awarded for the poster “Synthesis and Mechanical Properties of Na0.7CoO2”

Awarded for the poster “Methanol Oxidation Catalysis on IrO2(110) and RuO2(110) Single Crystals”

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SCHLOM ELECTED TO MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM WINS $1M NATIONAL ACADEMY OF GRANT FROM KECK FOUNDATION ENGINEERING cross-campus collaboration led The team’s project is titled “A great minds working together, and I think by MSE professor Darrell Schlom Materials-by-Design Approach to an Odd- we have not only the expertise, but also the championed by companies like Intel, IBM honest interactions that cross scientific has been awarded $1 million Parity Topological Superconductor,” and strong desire to tackle this tough problem and Global Foundries. disciplines, within an atmosphere of respect from the W.M. Keck Foundation its goal is to discover a material that will that is bigger than any of us working alone More recently, Schlom and his and trust. The combination of scientific A to transition its groundbreaking research lay the foundation for a stable and scalable could conquer.” collaborators demonstrated how a new excellence and collegiality makes Cornell from bold theory, based on extensive quantum computing technology. The group’s proposal involves creating material—a layered combination of ideal for the discovery of atomically calculation, to creating a specific topological One of the problems, which the an artificial material in which pairs of strontium, titanium and oxygen—is capable engineered materials that will revolutionize superconducting material that could pave Cornell group will tackle with this funding: ground-state non-abelian anyons can be of extending cell phone technology from electronics.” the way to quantum computing. In virtually all quantum computing braided in two dimensions. An anyon is today’s approximately 1 GHz frequency Today, Schlom is empowering others “We have state-of-the-art capabilities implementations to date, one of the states a typically electronic quantum state that, range into the tens of GHz frequency range from around the country to discover new to make artificial materials and interrogate is an excited state that must, by its nature, if transported around another anyon, desired for fifth-generation cell phones. materials through a new national user their properties that are relevant to decay spontaneously into its ground state. develops a quantum phase that can take on The NAE praises Schlom’s “materials- facility called PARADIM—the Platform arrell Schlom, the Herbert Fisk quantum computing, and this is a This “decoherence” quickly destroys the any value depending on the type of anyon. by-design” approach in which he works for the Accelerated Realization, Analysis Johnson Professor of Industrial particularly exciting system for materials quantum calculation, and no mitigation And crucial to quantum computing: An closely with experts in theory, synthesis and and Discovery of Interface Materials. He Chemistry in MSE, has been discovery because of its complexity and exists for this fundamental effect. anyon is not an excited state and, therefore, characterization to discover materials with founded and leads the platform, which D elected a member of the National potential payoff,” said Schlom, the Herbert “It’s a really important problem in does not suffer decoherence. Quantum properties superior to those in existence. is using a $25 million grant from the Academy of Engineering (NAE). Fisk Johnson Professor of Industrial quantum computing,” Schlom said. “To information would be preserved. Schlom and his Cornell collaborators National Science Foundation to make Election to the NAE is among the Chemistry. challenge this problem today really takes highest professional distinctions accorded create these new materials with atomic- facilities and expertise from Cornell and its to an engineer. Membership honors those layer precision by a technique known as partner institutions available to materials who have made outstanding contributions molecular-beam epitaxy, which Schlom innovators from industry, academia and to “engineering research, practice or likens to “atomic spray painting.” They also national labs across the country. education, including, where appropriate, scrutinize the atomic structure of what they “I couldn’t be more pleased to hear the significant contributions to the engineering have created using powerful microscopes news about Darrell,” said Lance Collins, U.S. NEWS RANKS CORNELL NO. 14; literature,” as well as to “the pioneering of and techniques that can measure the the Joseph Silbert Dean of Engineering. “It new and developing fields of technology,” band structure of the materials for direct was his leadership that led to PARADIM, ENGINEERING NO. 10; MATERIALS according to the academy. comparison with theoretical predictions. which will enable the discovery of new Schlom has dedicated much of his This powerful, targeted approach to materials for applications ranging from NO. 8 materials discovery has enabled Schlom and energy storage to water purification. career to discovering new materials that ornell University advanced one alumni giving. 10 in civil and in industrial/manufacturing. collaborators to invent multiple materials And the brilliant discoveries that come possess properties of great value to the spot to No. 14 in the 2018 edition The College of Engineering is ranked The university ranked No. 11 in with unparalleled performance. out of Darrell’s lab help keep Cornell electronics industry. In the mid-1990s of U.S. News & World Report’s Best No. 10 for undergraduate engineering environmental/environmental health. “This recognition by the NAE is at the forefront of advanced materials he and his senior thesis student were National Universities among 311 programs in Ph.D.-granting institutions. U.S. News includes eight lists in really a testament to the talented students, worldwide.” C the first in the world to suggest the schools ranked. Brown, Rice and Vanderbilt Among the engineering specialties, a section called “A Focus on Student postdocs and collaborators with whom After earning his Ph.D. from Stanford thermodynamic stability of the interface join Cornell—which had been No. 15 Cornell placed in the top 10 in seven of 12 Success,” which looks at programming I have had the pleasure of interacting,” University, Schlom worked under two between halfnium oxide and silicon. The for three years—at No. 14. The annual categories. The university ranked No. 4 in factors thought to help undergraduate said Schlom. “Our progress comes Nobel Prize winners as a postdoc at IBM replacement of silicon dioxide in all modern assessment is based on academic reputation, biological/agricultural; No. 8 in materials; students thrive. Cornell was recognized for from jamming together daily to better Research’s lab in Zurich, Switzerland. He silicon-based transistors with halfnium faculty resources, graduation and retention No. 9 in computer, electrical/electronic/ internships/co-ops, service learning and understand the intricate inner workings then joined the faculty at Penn State where oxide enabled faster and more energy- rates, selectivity, financial resources and communications, and mechanical; and No. writing in the disciplines. efficient transistors—a breakthrough that of materials at the atomic level. A critical he spent 16 years before coming to Cornell contributed to the materials revolution element of our successful team approach to in 2008. He’s published more than 500 accelerating materials discovery is direct, research papers and holds eight patents.

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three women. He nearly doubled the Archer, the King Abdullah University of in inorganic chemistry from Michigan State EMMANUEL GIANNELIS department’s research expenditures, from Science and Technology-Cornell University University (1985). $5.6 million in fiscal year 2005 to $10.5 Center for Energy and Sustainability, which NAMED VICE PROVOST million in fiscal year 2012. operated from 2008 to 2015. He also co-founded, with chemical and Giannelis is a 1980 graduate of the FOR RESEARCH biomolecular engineering professor Lynden University of Athens, Greece, with a Ph.D. Giannelis succeeds Robert Buhrman, and technology commercialization. Ph.D. ’73, who held the vice provost A key focus for Giannelis will be position for 10 years. Buhrman, the John identifying and promoting innovative Edson Sweet Professor of Engineering in the research, including that which fosters School of Applied and Engineering Physics, collaboration across Cornell’s Ithaca and VAN DOVER AWARDED added vice president for technology New York City campuses. transfer, intellectual property and research As vice president for technology $7.5M TO STUDY policy to his title when the position was transfer, intellectual property and research created in 2011. policy, Giannelis will report to President AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS Kotlikoff thanked Buhrman for his Martha E. Pollack. Their goal is to develop a multi-agent associate dean for undergraduate programs, steady leadership over the past decade. A member of the faculty since 1987, system that accelerates the science of and computer science faculty. Researchers “Bob has worked tirelessly on several Giannelis leads a research group that is one materials discovery and development by from Colorado University, Northwestern fronts during a transformative time at the of the world leaders in nanohybrids and integrating quantum physics principles, University and California Institute of mmanuel Giannelis, MSE professor university, all the while maintaining his nanocomposites. He is author or co-author experimental materials synthesis, Technology are also on the team. Staff and associate dean for research, research and teaching responsibilities,” of more than 270 papers, has been granted processing, characterization and AI-based scientist Jacob Ruff from the Cornell High graduate and professional Kotlikoff said. 19 patents, and is a fellow of the American algorithms. Energy Synchrotron Source will work with programs in the College of “I am deeply honored by the Chemical Society and a member of the E The system will be augmented by the group as an unfunded collaborator. Engineering, has been named vice opportunity to represent and be the European Academy of Sciences. human insights so that artificial intelligence provost for research and vice president for advocate for all researchers at Cornell,” As associate dean for research, leverages that of expert scientists. This, technology transfer, intellectual property said Giannelis, who served as director of graduate and professional programs, the group said in its summary, will create and research policy, Provost Michael MSE from 2004 to 2012. “I look forward to Giannelis has championed several an unprecedented platform for human- Kotlikoff announced July 20. working with the staff of the Office of the initiatives that foster a culture of innovation machine collaboration. The Executive Committee of the Vice Provost for Research, the university and entrepreneurship, with a focus on group led by Robert Bruce van The group claims that SARA will Cornell University Board of Trustees leadership and stakeholders across all graduate students and postdoctoral Dover, MSE chair, has received realize the vision of the Materials Genome approved Giannelis’ five-year appointment, campuses to build on the successes of my researchers. He is looking forward to up to $7.5 million funding from Initiative, a multi-agency initiative launched which began July 24. predecessors and advance Cornell research extending that effort across the university. A the Department of Defense under in 2011 to create a new era of policy, “Emmanuel has proven over to even higher levels.” “Part of my role as associate dean its Multidisciplinary University Research resources and infrastructure by discovering, many years his abilities, not only as an The mission of the Office of the Vice has been to develop new ways to use Initiative (MURI) for the project “Scientific manufacturing and deploying advanced outstanding researcher and educator, but as Provost for Research is to advance and research as a vehicle to offer a new Autonomous Reasoning Agent (SARA): materials. an effective administrator who motivates support Cornell research. It advocates educational paradigm for our Ph.D. Integrating Materials Theory, Experiment Van Dover will work with Michael those around him, and I congratulate for the division within the university students and postdocs,” he said. “I see this and Computation.” Thompson, MSE associate professor and him on this well-deserved appointment,” and with external agencies, sponsors and new role as an opportunity to take some Kotlikoff said. “We’re at a critical juncture governmental representatives; facilitates of those opportunities and make them from a research perspective at Cornell and provides specialized research facilities universitywide rather than engineering- in terms of funding and supporting and services; provides campuswide centric.” innovation, and I am confident he has the research administration support services; In more than eight years as director experience and knowledge to lead us into furthers major interdisciplinary research of MSE, Giannelis recruited and hired the future.” initiatives; and promotes entrepreneurship seven new faculty members, including

22 | MSE Newsletter 23 | MSE Newsletter GIVING MSE REUNION OPPORTUNITIES

REUNION WEEKEND 2017 GIVING OPPORTUNITIES

We are grateful to the many alumni and friends of the department for their generous support of its programs over the last 50 years. Your generosity allows us to sustain and enhance our programs reputation as a top-tier materials science and engineering department. Please consider a gift that will help the department accomplish its goals.

ENHANCE THE GRADUATE EXPERIENCE Gifts in support of the MSE Instructional Labs can be earmarked to either of the following two funds: A current- Graduate Fellowships use fund which will support immediate needs and upgrades; and endowment, which will support continuous Attracting talented graduate students to the department improvement of the laboratory infrastructure. is a key goal in our pursuit of excellence in research. Your gift will allow MSE to meet its goal of providing ATTRACT TALENTED FACULTY competitive graduate fellowships to every first-year graduate student enrolled in the Materials Science and Gifts in support of faculty can be earmarked to either of the Engineering program. following funds: A current-use fund to support salary and Awards for Students research startup costs for hiring a new faculty member in materials science and engineering; or to establish a named Junior Class Awards to recognize highest achieving faculty endowment. students.

The Department of Materials Science and Teaching Assistant Awards in recognition of the top graduate teaching assistants each academic year. Engineering held a reception for Reunion Research Excellence Awards, awarded to MSE Ph.D. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON Weekend on Friday, June 9, 2017 in the students and post-docs in recognition of their research THESE OR ANY OTHER GIVING Bard Hall Lobby. The event was attended by contributions. OPPORTUNITIES, CONTACT alumni, faculty and guests. MODERNIZE & UPGRADE THE INSTRUCTIONAL LABORATORIES June Losurdo, Director of Development [email protected] • 607-254-1643 Modernizing the instructional laboratories is a high priority for sustaining the department’s reputation for excellence in educating students. The Instructional labs are used by undergraduates from across the College of Engineering, in addition to the MSE Junior and Senior lab teams.

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