MIT Department of Materials Science and Engineering (DMSE)

09/10/2026

Former DMSE postdoc Benjamin Mowbray was named one of MIT Technology Review’s 2026 Innovators Under 35 for co-inventing a cleaner, cheaper way to extract critical minerals.

Mowbray’s family has roots in mining, but he never planned to follow that path. Then, during his postdoc at MIT, he found himself drawn back to the industry. “This has come full circle,” he says. https://buff.ly/zyKVzgt

He’s created a new way to process minerals.

09/09/2026

In a special DMSE seminar, Stefano Martiniani of New York University will show how designing disordered materials—and leveraging noisy processes to build generative AI models—can accelerate the discovery of novel materials across the periodic table. Join us: Thursday, September 10 | 4 pm–5:15 pm | 6-104 (Chipman Room)

Home Events Though This Be Disorder, Yet There Is Order in’t September 10, 2026 Though This Be Disorder, Yet There Is Order in’t In this special seminar, Stefano Martiniani of New York University will show how designing disordered materials—and leveraging noisy processes to build generative AI...

09/08/2026

Storing renewable energy will require batteries that are affordable, durable, and made from abundant materials. DMSE researchers found a way to improve sodium-ion batteries by changing how their cathode material is manufactured, making the batteries more stable and longer-lasting. https://buff.ly/9JXQKFT

09/05/2026

“Quantum science and technology is in a period of extraordinary opportunity, opening new pathways to solving problems across computation, materials, sensing, and communication,” says MIT provost Anantha Chandrakasan about the MIT Quantum Initiative’s new postdoctoral program to accelerate interdisciplinary quantum research. “Programs like this help MIT attract outstanding researchers whose ideas will shape the future of the field.”

The MIT Quantum Initiative has launched a postdoctoral fellowship program supporting interdisciplinary research across quantum computing, sensing, materials, simulation, and networks while developing the next generation of quantum science leaders. ; quantum technology; quantum research; quantum comp...

09/05/2026

A student in ’s Materials Genome Camp pours a molten alloy over a mold with shape memory wires to make “Frankensteel,” a material that can heal itself after damage. The shape-memory wires pull the surfaces of a crack together, helping the material repair itself.

Led by Professor Greg Olson’s research group, the camp trains middle and high school teachers in hands-on experiments they can bring back to their classrooms. Fifteen teachers from across the U.S. and abroad came to MIT for the camp in July.

09/04/2026

"I often think about mentorship through the image of a rock," says DMSE’s Iwnetim Abate, recognized through MIT’s Committed to Caring initiative. "A structure built on rock can withstand storms and the test of time. In the same way, I believe the most important role of a mentor is not simply to help students complete a project or publish papers, but to help them build a strong foundation."

Home News Building foundations that last Leila Hudson | Office of Graduate Education | September 2, 2026 Building foundations that last Assistant Professor Iwnetim Abate creates space for ambitious research and sustainable growth for his graduate students. Categories: Faculty, Energy and the Environ...

09/03/2026

“The field of archaeometallurgy is unique,” explained Professor Polina Anikeeva, head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. She was speaking about Assistant Professor Thomas Rose, who died September 2 after sustaining injuries in a bicycle accident in Cambridge, Mass. “We had been looking for a faculty with the right skill set for at least 20 years. We needed someone who was world class in archaeology and materials science. We were looking for a unicorn, and we found him.” https://dmse.mit.edu/news/assistant-professor-thomas-rose-an-expert-in-archaeometallurgy-dies-at-37/

09/02/2026

It’s not too late to check out MIT News’ 2026 summer reading! Two DMSE faculty are featured: Lorna Gibson, author of “Birds Up Close,” explores the hidden microscopic structures and engineering principles that keep birds aloft and alive. And in “The Invisible Engine,” Eugene Fitzgerald explores what innovation really is and what drives value creation.

Check out the full selection of books by MIT faculty and staff.

A summer reading list featuring books by MIT faculty and staff that were published from July 2025 to June 2026.

09/01/2026

MIT spinout Form Energy has raised another $750 million in venture capital, bringing its total funding to more than $2 billion. The new funding will help scale up manufacturing and deployment of its iron-air battery systems. Form Energy was founded in 2017 by DMSE alum William Woodford PhD ’13 and Professor Yet-Ming Chiang. Read the MIT Energy Initiative story.

Form Energy, Inc., an MIT-spinout energy storage company, has raised another $750 million in venture capital, bringing its total funding to date to more than $2 billion, the company announced last week. The new funding will be used to accelerate Form’s manufacturing scale-up in West Virginia and a...

08/31/2026

DMSE’s Professor Eugene Fitzgerald argues that research investments fall into three categories—“altruistic science,” strategic research, and what he calls “fundamental innovation”—each with a different purpose and approach. In his new book, The Invisible Engine, he explains why understanding those differences matters for creating economic value. https://buff.ly/Dni1wID