It's a Material World | Materials Science Podcast

Among the most versatile supermaterials on earth and the hardest known to man, diamonds are uniquely suited to advance technological discovery, owing to their thermal conductivity, chemical stability, and insulator properties. Episode 51 uncovers the parallels between the diamond production process and the semiconductor industry, while also diving into what exactly makes these processes sustainabl...

In this special episode #50, we share what made us choose MSE as our major, strategies for marketing yourself as an MSE that are often not taught in school, and how to find roles you’re qualified for as a Materials Engineer! Check out our MSE Company Database and free professional development guide for materials scientists and engineers! In today’s episode, co-hosts Punith and David answer a few o...

What does it take to build a materials company from the ground up? How can venture capital (VC) investments facilitate the growth of a company? Episode 49 reveals the strategic process of building a successful material science company as well as advice on how to properly add business value, innovation, and potential growth.   Check out our MSE Company Database and free professional development gui...

Nanotechnology is having a profound impact on the development of a new class of biosensors known as nanobiosensors. Episode 48 reveals the world of nanobiosensors, how they work, and their impactful applications as diagnostic devices.   Check out our MSE Company Database and free professional development guide for materials scientists and engineers!   Today's guest is Dr. Arben Merkoci, Professor...

Metamaterial s are said to have the ability to manipulate light, heat, and other forms of electromagnetic waves in ways not found in nature. In this episode, we find out how they can deliver breakthrough performance for applications across a range of industries.   Check out our MSE Company Database and free professional development guide for materials scientists and engineers!   Today’s guest is D...

It’s an outstanding achievement for students to finish their courses and get a degree in college. However, there is one question ahead that comes to mind: Should you go to industry or grad school? Check out our MSE Company Database and free professional development guide for materials scientists and engineers! Today’s guests are Lily Turaski, a Ph. D. student in MSE at Stanford University, and Sam...

While the world remains excited for the conceivable outcomes of graphene, another 2D material can possibly change the world close by it. MXenes have unimaginable versatility, from supercapacitors to dialysis therapies to malignant growth treatments. Check out our MSE Company Database and free professional development guide for materials scientists and engineers! Today’s guest is Dr. Yury Gogotsi,...

Ancient civilizations have built incredible monuments and artifacts which are the subject of intense research and study to this day. Their use of cement and rubber tells a lot about their culture and is a source of inspiration to modern scientists that hope to create materials that can last for millennia to come.  Check out our MSE Company Database and free professional development guide for mater...

The early career of an engineer is often stressful because acquiring experience in the field seems like an impossible challenge. However, there are many opportunities for MSE students to develop their skills aside from internships, such as in research and academic clubs. These experiences add to any person’s portfolio, and some companies look exactly for this kind of background in a new intern.  C...

While there is a great deal of interesting research that gives a glimpse of what the technologies of the future will be, many challenges we face today go unnoticed by the scientific community. Thus, the communication between policy makers and the scientific community is essential in tackling these challenges and finding the existing technologies that will solve those problems. Before we introduce...

The Curie brothers discovered a class of materials that, with an asymmetrical crystal structure, could produce an electric potential upon mechanical deformation. These piezoelectric materials are now widely used in the medical, naval, and space industries. Before we introduce our guest, check out our free professional development guide for materials scientists and engineers! Today’s guest is Dr. S...

Although not initially obvious, there is a significant overlap between what an artist does and what a “traditional” materials engineer does. Both experiment with different materials or iterations of the same material to identify the best fit, making continuous adjustments and using our creativity until the final product is just right. This episode uncovers the vast overlap between materials scienc...

In recent years there has been a big push for renewable energy sources and electric vehicles, but one aspect that is essential in fully implementing these technologies is the energy storage required at a large scale. Li-ion batteries are everywhere in our mobile devices, allowing great performance at more affordable prices year after year. However, there are a lot of issues with Li-ion, and resear...

Cars have traditionally been made out of steel, because of its low cost and high performance. However, other materials like aluminum, carbon fibers, and magnesium alloys are being used because of their unique properties such as low weights and high corrosion resistance. In a few years you might find yourself driving a car that is mostly magnesium and aluminum.  Before we introduce our guest, check...

Your smartphone is so essential to your everyday life that the complexity behind its design might go unnoticed. You carry billions of transistors and about 38 elements in your pocket every day. This technology is a culmination of decades of computing and materials advancements, and it evolves every day, becoming even more impressive than it already is. Before we introduce our guest, check out our...

The materials used in the aerospace field have been evolving, composites are playing a larger role in the next generation of aircrafts, and the materials engineering behind it all is fascinating. Boeing is one of the companies looking to increase the efficiency of their aircrafts by developing their materials science technology, and we engineers will play a big role in the growth of this industry....

Surface to volume ratio is one of the most heard terms in the materials community, and it is an extremely important parameter in nanoscience. Surface science in general is imperative to the understanding of material properties and interactions with other species. Tuning the surface allows for a drastic change in the behavior of materials, allowing them to go from hydrophilic to superhydrophobic or...

We know that the job search process can be a stressful time, as you have to balance networking, resume building, filling out applications, and preparing for interviews with your existing class workload. As such, we wanted to share our lessons learned from our 5 years of experiences to hopefully save time and increase chances of success. Learn more about our MSE Career Development Online Course , w...

Women in engineering can face a variety of challenges in these male-dominated fields, from unconscious biases to a lack of acknowledgement of good ideas in the workplace. Although awareness of these challenges has continued to increase, to actually effect change, we must all be effective allies. And regardless of if it’s in an academic or industry setting, we must start the conversation.  Before w...

Humankind has been using metals for thousands of years, using complex compositions and alloys to tailor tools for various applications. Back then we were able to do a lot without a proper understanding of materials, and we can now see a future where A.I. will help us develop new alloys with specific properties just by using simulations.  Before we introduce today’s guest, check out our MSE-themed...

Imagine being able to eliminate the waiting list for organ transplants by creating patient-specific organs through biomaterials. Or replacing animal testing altogether through improved tissue models. That’s the power of 3D bioprinting, which could entirely revolutionize the healthcare industry.  Before we introduce today’s guest, check out our MSE-themed merchandise if you want to support us or si...

The emergence of thermoplastic urethane (TPU) and other flexible materials may completely revolutionize the 3D printing world as we know it. Additive manufacturing methods permit the production of designs that are otherwise not feasible, but maybe more exciting, is that anyone can own a printer. As the understanding of the printing process with flexible filaments develops, we will be able to scale...

Telecommunications are arguably the most important factor in the advancement of modern technology, and our lives are deeply impacted by the internet, cable, radar, etc. From warfare to healthcare, satellite technologies enable connections to the most remote places on the planet, but there are a lot of material considerations to be made when dealing with components that must work underwater, on lan...

The goal of many materials engineers is to develop more sustainable packaging to reduce environmental impact. However, the history of packaging shows us that manufacturers prefer to meet performance and design standards to make unique and long-lasting products. Soon, customers will expect their favorite brands to be more conscious about the impact of their products on our planet, so companies like...

In the light of the energy and agriculture industries, we forget that the textile industry has a substantial carbon footprint. Large-scale production is easily impacted by small shifts in price, so the offering of green alternatives has to match not only the performance of oil-based chemicals but their cost too. Before we introduce today’s guest, check out our MSE-themed merchandise if you want to...