Materials Science and Engineering

Materials scientists and engineers explore the relationships between the structure of a material – from the atomic level to the macroscopic – and its properties, such as heat resistance, conductivity, ductility, strength, etc. Based on these structure/property relationships, an almost limitless array of new materials may be designed and engineered to meet performance needs. While materials scientists and engineers “design” a material to fit a set of characteristics, they must also develop an economical process to make that new material. Thus materials science is multidisciplinary, drawing on a wide range of fields in the sciences and engineering.

MSE at Ohio State

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering is ranked among the top programs in the world and enjoys the respect of industry leaders and academicians worldwide. From its beginnings in ceramic and metallurgical engineering, the department has grown to encompass the study of nanotechnology, exotic composite materials, fuel cells, advanced structural materials, biomaterials and more.

Student Life

One of our students gives this description of our department: “This is family!” The program offers students both a small, nurturing environment and all the benefits of a major academic research institution. Our graduate student-to-faculty ratio is 4:1, so whether in the classroom, the lab or at one of our many social events, students have ready access to some of the leading authorities in materials science and engineering.

Financial Support for All Students

The department is strongly committed to graduate education. It is our desire to see our students succeeding in the field and making significant contributions in research, development and the application of advanced materials. To this end, all applicants admitted to the program are sponsored by research grants, fellowships or corporate funding. The majority of our students are supported by Graduate Research Associateship (GRA) positions. GRA positions allow students to focus on their academic pursuits while gaining important research experience.

Our GRAs receive:

Full payment of tuition expenses
Monthly stipend
80% of health insurance premiums covered by the GRA project
Full payment of lab and research costs
Use of advanced equipment only available at a major research university
Total annual value of this position can exceed $45,000

Department Research

Faculty Research Areas

Biomaterials
Fuel Cells
Nanotechnology
Corrosion Prevention and Control
Microstructure and Property Relationships in Materials
Mechanical Properties and Responses to Deformation
Materials Characterization
Materials Performance
Materials Forming and Heat Treatment in Manufacturing
Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials, including Superconductors and Sensors

Research Capabilitie

Electron Microscopy and X-Ray Analytical Services
Microstructural Characterization
Corrosion Research
Thermal Analysis
High-Temperature Equilibria and Kinetic Measurements
Wear Testing and Characterization
Mechanical Testing and Forming
Ceramic Processing
Solidification and Liquid Processing
Sensors and Measurements
Superconducting Materials and Characterization
Thin Film Preparation and Characterization

MSE Research Centers

The MSE department is home to six acclaimed centers:

Center for Accelerated Maturation of Materials: CAMM integrates computational methods with experimental techniques to speed the lengthy development time involved in bringing a theoretical material through the development stage to final fabrication and use.
Director: Hamish Fraser
Center for Industrial Sensors and Measurements: CISM provides leadership, focus and direction in the development of novel materials and microfabrication approaches for sensors and sensor systems in hostile environments. CISM is a cooperative research center with support from NSF, State of Ohio, Ohio State University and several industry sponsors.
Directors: Henk Verweij and Sheikh Akbar
Fontana Corrosion Center: The FCC focuses on the study of aqueous corrosion in an effort to protect materials from the harmful effects of degradation.
Directors: Jerry Frankel and Rudy Buchheit
Fuel Cell Research Center: The FCRC is a newly funded State of Ohio initiative that seeks to provide R&D support for the growing fuel cell community. This includes research leadership in various cell fields, cell manufacture, and cell integration.
Director: John Lannutti
Laboratory for Applied Superconductivity and Magnetism: LASM researches the processing and properties of superconducting wires for high magnetic field applications.
Directors: Ted Collings and Mike Sumption
Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center: NSEC carries out advanced research at the nanometer scale. Currently, most nanotechnology research remains exploratory, and commercialization is hindered by the need for mass-producible, reliable and affordable manufacturing processes. NSEC develops affordable manufacturing methods to form, reinforce, bond and assemble polymer structures at the nanoscale for biomedical and other applications.
Directors: John Lannutti

Graduate Applications

Applications to Ohio State University must be submitted online. Please visit the Ohio State University Office of Graduate Admissions Web site to apply online with a credit card. Also, the material science and engineering department’s Web site provides links to the university admissions Internet site.