FALL 2018 MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING DAVID SEIDMAN MSE 60th Anniversary Reunion ELECTED TO The Department celebrated 60 years of materials science at Northwestern with a two-day celebration in May for alumni, NATIONAL ACADEMY faculty, staff, and friends. Read more about the event on page 6. OF ENGINEERING Seidman’s research aims to understand Seidman honored for his contributions to physical phenomena in a wide range of material systems on an atomic scale. His understanding materials on the atomic scale research group uses highly sophisticated microscopy and spectroscopy instru- orthwestern Engineering’s David mentation to study interfaces on a N. Seidman, whose work has led subnanoscale level. He uses these tools to Nto an improved understanding of develop high-temperature cobalt-based materials on the atomic scale, was one alloys for use as turbine blades in aircrafts of 83 new members and 16 new foreign and for producing electricity. members elected to the National Academy Seidman has received several awards, of Engineering (NAE) in February. including being selected twice as a Among the highest professional John Simon Guggenheim Memorial distinctions accorded to an engineer, Foundation Fellow and receiving an Seidman was cited by NAE for Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung Prize. “contributions to understanding of He also has received an IBM Faculty materials at the atomic scale, leading to Seidman Research Award, the Materials Research advanced materials and processes.” Society’s David Turnbull Lecture Award, Seidman is a Walter P. Murphy Professor how those properties have temporally ASM International’s Albert Sauveur of Materials Science and Engineering and evolved. This information can be used to Achievement Award and its Gold Medal, the founding director of the Northwestern improve various materials’ properties, and the Max Planck Research Award from University Center for Atom-Probe such as making them lighter and stronger. the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Tomography (NUCAPT), the largest “We are tremendously proud to see and Max Planck Society. atom-probe tomography group in the David recognized at the highest level in He is a fellow of the American United States. NUCAPT’s equipment gives his field,” said Julio M. Ottino, dean of Academy of Arts and Sciences, American researchers the ability to see the internal the McCormick School of Engineering. Association for the Advancement of structures of materials — on the subnano- “Since joining Northwestern more than Science, Materials Research Society, TMS, to nanoscale — to help them better 30 years ago, he has been an example of American Physical Society, International understand the materials’ properties and an outstanding researcher, collaborator, Field-Emission Society, Microscopy and colleague.” Society of America, and ASM International. FROM THE CHAIR PROFESSOR EMERITA On a more somber note, our also happy to note that we have Dear Friends, universally beloved and admired received the green light to proceed faculty emerita Julia Weertman planning a renovation of the JULIA WEERTMAN PASSES AWAY he past year seems to passed away on July 31 at the undergraduate teaching lab, aided have passed in a whirlwind blessed age of 92. I, along with by a generous donation from one of T of activities, and it is a many other faculty, had the our alumni. I will keep you informed Expert on nanocrystalline materials was the first pleasure to highlight some of opportunity to attend her memorial, of progress on this front. them in this newsletter. Without and left with a deep admiration of In closing, allow me to thank woman to chair a materials science department a doubt, one of the highlights was how a person could simultaneously you again for your interest in our the reunion and celebration of the be so accomplished, have so many department. I am always happy to Erik Luijten in the United States Department of Materials Science interests, and be such a beacon hear your stories and will be glad to Department Chair and Engineering’s 60th anniversary for the people around her. We will catch up in person if you happen to ulia R. Weertman, Walter P. Murphy In 1987, Weertman was appointed chair in May. From the alumni panel greatly miss her and wish Hans be in Evanston! Professor Emerita of Materials of Northwestern’s Department of Materials discussion on Friday — which and her children strength. I would Science and Engineering at Science and Engineering, becoming the first greatly inspired alumni, students, like to add that we will celebrate Northwestern University, passed woman in the country to hold the position staff, and faculty alike — to the lab Julia’s impact on the department Jaway at age 92 on July 31. She will be within an engineering department. During tours, faculty presentations, and with a symposium on the Evanston remembered as a dedicated teacher, her five-year tenure, the number lively closing reception on Saturday, campus on November 16, featuring Julia Weertman Symposium pioneering researcher, and valued of materials science undergraduate it was a wonderful celebration of friends, collaborators, and students. and Remembrance colleague and friend. students more than doubled, and she the department and the people As the upcoming academic that have made it what it is. year begins, we are preparing Weertman made many noteworthy recruited two new female faculty members Furthermore, per September 1, to welcome our incoming class contributions to understanding the to join the department. Friday, November 16, 2018 Jon Emery has been promoted to of 39 PhD students and 23 MS basic deformation processes and failure Weertman’s career has been marked 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Julia and Johnannes Weertman assistant professor of instruction. students. Graduate students and mechanisms in a wide class of materials, by many honors. In 2014, she received Guild Lounge, Evanston Campus Jon plays an important role in postdocs form the heart of our from nanocrystalline metals to high- the prestigious John Fritz Medal from Reception to follow modernizing our curriculum and I research activities, and every temperature structural alloys. Her 1964 the American Association of Engineering “SHE IS REMEMBERED am happy that we can count on his year it is exciting to welcome new For details, please contact Kristina Yi Lugo textbook, Elementary Dislocation Theory Societies (AAES) in recognition of her role (847) 491-3533 continued strong involvement in the members to our materials science (Reprint, Oxford University Press, 1992), in the understanding of failure in materials BY MANY OF HER department. and engineering “family.” I am [email protected] which she co-authored with her husband, and for inspiring generations of young FORMER COLLEAGUES Emeritus Professor Johannes Weertman, women to pursue careers in the science and FOR HER WARMTH, stands as the first book written specifically engineering fields. INSPIRATION, for undergraduate students on dislocation That same year, the Department of theory, an important factor in determining Materials Science and Engineering AND SEMINAL CBES Receives $12 Million for Energy Research the behavior of crystalline materials. established the Johannes and Julia Randall CONTRIBUTIONS She was the first woman admitted to Weertman Graduate Fellowship in honor TO THE FIELD.” the College of Science and Engineering of the couple’s impactful contributions to By Julianne Beck, ISEN at the Carnegie Institute of Technology, materials science and to Northwestern. ERIK LUIJTEN now Carnegie Mellon University, where In 2017, The Minerals, Metals & Materials orthwestern’s Center for Bio- The new research questions address she earned her bachelor’s, master’s, Society (TMS) renamed its TMS Educator Inspired Energy Science (CBES) innovative approaches to photocatalysis and DSc degrees in physics. She Award to the TMS Julia and Johannes “I can’t imagine wanting any career other Nhas received $12 million in renewal that include hierarchical structures joined Northwestern’s Department of Weertman Educator Award. This award than engineering,” Weertman wrote in funding for a four-year term from the and mechanical enhancement of Materials Science and Engineering in celebrates an individual who has made 2012. “My advice to young women who are Department of Energy for the most recent photocatalysis, synthesis of materials that 1972 as an assistant professor, teaching outstanding contributions to education considering engineering as a major involves funding round of the national Energy behave as artificial muscles leading to the courses at both the undergraduate and in metallurgical engineering and/or the usual clichés, but they are nonetheless Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) program. development of “robotic soft matter,” and graduate levels. materials science and engineering. valid: work hard and try to be the very CBES is directed by Samuel I. Stupp, new ways to store energy that are inspired “Julia was an illustrious faculty member Her other honors include membership best, keep your sense of humor active, and Board of Trustees Professor of Materials by biomolecular structures. in our department and has always been in the American Academy of Arts and don’t take yourself too seriously. Stick with Science and Engineering, Chemistry, “Developing synthetic soft matter that deeply committed to it,” said Erik Luijten, Sciences as well as the National Academy of top-notch people. And most of all, enjoy Medicine, and Biomedical Engineering at can behave in an autonomous way, the professor