What is MSE?

Engineering disciplines focus on addressing human problems by constructing tools and shaping solutions. Materials science and engineering (MSE) does so by studying, understanding, designing, and producing the materials those tools and solutions are made of — and on creating new materials that serve human needs.

MSE combines the power of intellectual curiosity and scientific discovery with the tangible impact of engineering disciplines. By integrating approaches from diverse academic and engineering specialties that range from physics and biology to metallurgy and ceramics, MSE addresses complex problems through a materials-focused approach. This deeply interdisciplinary field encompasses nearly every form of matter — from the atom-by-atom construction of nanomaterials and the directed growth of biological substances to the forging of heat-treated steel.