UM MRSEC Selected for Continued Support through NSF

The Materials Research Science and Engineering Center at the University of Maryland, under the directorship of Professor Ellen Williams, has been selected for continued support through the National Science Foundation.

The Maryland MRSEC carries out nationally recognized fundamental research on surfaces and interfaces of materials with potential impact on the next generation of opto- and nano-electronic devices, and on complex oxides with potential applications in memory, switches and sensors. The research is closely integrated with a continuing educational outreach program that has a direct impact on the education of a diverse population of K – 12 students and teachers.

Two specific research thrusts are supported as interdisciplinary research groups (IRGs) in the center, as well as additional “Seed programs” in which young faculty develop new and exciting research directions.

IRG 1   Low-Dimensional Interfaces (Leader: Ellen Williams)

IRG 2   Multifunctional Magnetic Oxides (Leader: Dennis Drew)

2005-2007 Seed programs

The members of the University of Maryland MRSEC are active participants in furthering the goals and philosophies of the NSF MRSEC program, which addresses interdisciplinary materials research and education addressing fundamental problems of importance to society.

Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers are supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to undertake materials research of scope and complexity that would not be feasible under traditional funding of individual research projects.

• require outstanding research quality, intellectual breadth, interdisciplinarity, flexibility in responding to new research opportunities, support for research infrastructure, and they foster the integration of research and education in the materials field;
• address fundamental, complex problems of intellectual and societal importance,
• contribute to national priorities by fostering active collaboration between academia and other sectors, and
• are the basis for a national network of university-based Centers in materials research.

Center Characteristics

The MRSECs constitute a spectrum of coordinated Centers of differing scientific breadth and administrative complexity that may address any area (or several areas) of materials research.

• Each MRSEC encompasses one or more Interdisciplinary Research Groups (IRGs).
• Each IRG involves several faculty members and associated researchers addressing a major topic in materials research.
• In each IRG, sustained support for interactive effort by several participants with complementary backgrounds, skills, and knowledge is critical to progress.

Each MRSEC also incorporates most or all of the following activities to an extent commensurate with the size of the Center:

• Programs to stimulate interdisciplinary education, including research experiences for undergraduates accessible to students from other institutions, and the development of human resources (including support for under-represented groups).
• Active cooperation with industry, other institutions, and other sectors, including international collaborations, to stimulate and facilitate knowledge transfer among the participants and strengthen the links between university-based research and its application.
• Support for shared experimental facilities, properly equipped and maintained, and accessible to users from the Center and elsewhere.

Each MRSEC has the responsibility to manage and evaluate its own operation with respect to program administration, planning, content and direction.

NSF support is intended to promote optimal use of university resources and capabilities, and to provide maximum flexibility in setting research directions, developing cooperative activities, and responding quickly and effectively to new opportunities. To this end, NSF encourages MRSECs to include support for junior faculty, high-risk projects, and emerging areas of interdisciplinary materials research.

The MRSEC Program

• is responsive to recommendations by the National Science Board (NSB) and the scientific community expressed in the 1992 NSB Commission Report, A Foundation for the 21st Century: A Progressive Framework for the NSF.
• reinforces NSF’s commitment to excellence in interdisciplinary research and education is national in scope and significance, requiring coordination among Centers.
• complements, but does not substitute for, NSF programs supporting individuals, small groups, instrumentation and national user facilities in materials research.

MRSEC Review and Awards

MRSECs are reviewed initially as pre-proposals, then by invitation as full proposals. See the latest MRSEC Proposal Solicitation (NSF 04-580) for details. NSF does not normally support more than one MRSEC based at any one institution. Awards range in size from about $1 million to $4 million per year and are made for an initial period of up to six years. Renewed NSF support will be awarded only on the basis of comprehensive, competitive merit review. Awards for the FY 2005 competition were announced in September 2005. . Pre-proposals for the 2008 competition are expected to be due September 2007.

For more information: http://www.mrsec.org