- Advanced Materials by Design: Theory and Computation
- African Diaspora and the Atlantic World Research Circle
- Agroecology
- American Indian Studies
- Bioethics
- Biomedical Engineering
- Biophotonics
- Chemical Biology
- Chemistry
- Cognitive Sciences
- Communication Technologies Research
- Comparative Political Economy
- Comparative U.S. Studies
- Computational Sciences
- Computational Systems Biology
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Sciences
- Cultural Studies in a Global Context
- Disability Studies
- Energy Sources and Policy
- Expressive Culture and Diversity in the Upper Midwest
- Food Pathogens and Toxins
- Functional Brain Imaging
- Functional Organic Materials
- Genomics
- Global Governance and International Finance
- Initiative for Studies in Technology Entrepreneurship
- Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program
- International Environmental Affairs and Global Security
- International Public Affairs
- Land Use
- Law, Society and Justice
- Mathematical Physics - String Theory
- Middle Eastern Studies
- Molecular Biometry
- Nanophase Inorganic Materials and Devices
- Political Economy
- Poverty Studies
- Religious Studies
- Science and Technology Studies
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine
- Structural Biology
- Symbiosis
- Translational Research - Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Very High Energy Astrophysics and Cosmology
- Visual Culture
- Vitamin D
- Women's Health Research/Biology of Sex and Gender Differences
- Zebrafish Biology
Cluster focus
From the Bronze Age to the present, materials have played a critical role in our lives. As our need for advanced materials has evolved, we have moved from empirical, trial-and-error development to a combination of experiment and theory. The theoretical component of this effort has in turn led to an emphasis on smaller-size scales, as we discovered that the smallest of features govern all properties of materials. Much of the recent worldwide emphasis on nanoscience and nanotechnology has evolved from our newly acquired understanding that nanoscale features control macroscopic behavior. One of the challenges of nanoscience is the ability to design a material with a desired set of properties by building a model of its atomic structure and deducing from this its macroscopic behavior. One of the major goals of the Advanced Materials by Design: Theory and Computation Cluster is the design of materials using theory and computation that will lead to dramatic advances in the discovery of new materials. Another major goal is to break down barriers between departments and strengthen research on materials design at UW-Madison, which had previously been an area that was underrepresented at the university. Having a strong focus in this area makes UW-Madison more competitive when working on large interdisciplinary grants. The cluster also brought new faculty expertise into the Materials Sciences Program.
Cluster accomplishments
- The cluster brought in an outstanding female professor in materials science and engineering. She will provide mentoring and inspiration to female students across science and engineering fields at UW-Madison.
- New courses have been designed and offered by the cluster faculty, and the faculty have been co-advising students.
- All cluster faculty are involved in the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) where they participate in the center’s lectures, talks and outreach activities, and have collaborated on research grants.
- Cluster faculty have all been involved with the NSF-supported SURE-REU (Summer Undergraduate Research Experience-Research Experience for Undergraduates) program at the MRSEC, which hosts undergraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds and introduces them to academic research activities.
- One cluster faculty member and several affiliated faculty co-authored and published four articles during one year in high-profile publications such as Science magazine and Physical Review Letters.
Cluster structure
The cluster faculty have collaborated well since they came to campus. Cluster faculty are connected through their work in the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center and with the faculty who originally submitted a proposal for this cluster. One faculty member is the lead project investigator on the National Science Foundation (NSF) grant that sponsors MRSEC. Bringing in new cluster faculty with expertise on theory related to materials science has been crucial to the center’s success. This cluster also works closely with the Nanophase Inorganic Materials Cluster, which is also affiliated with MRSEC.
Cluster coordinator, faculty and lead dean
Cluster Coordinator
- Juan de Pablo, Professor, Chemical Engineering
Cluster Faculty
- Dane Morgan, Assistant Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
- Izabela Szlufarska, Assistant Professor Materials Science and Engineering
Lead Dean
- Paul Peercy, Dean, College of Engineering