Research Groups

Interdisciplinary research groups (IRGs) involve several faculty members and associated researchers, addressing a major topic or area, which may range from fundamental to applied research, in which sustained support for interactive effort by several participants with complementary backgrounds, skills, and knowledge is critical to progress.

The IRGs in a Center may be topically related, or they may address different topical aspects of materials research; they contribute to the synergy arising from the research and education activities of the Center and its common infrastructure, shared facilities and outreach programs. Thus, the Center as a whole is expected to be more than the sum of its parts.

Listed by Research Field

Biomolecular / Biomimetic Materials

• Electrostatically “Patchy” Nanoparticle Coatings for Applications in Biomaterials and Flexible Electronics (Seed) @ Northwestern University
  
• Nanocomposite Elastomers for Vascular Tissue Engineering (Seed) @ Northwestern University
  
• Analysis and Design of Genetic and Metabolic Control Systems of Bacterial Cells (Seed) @ Northwestern University
  
• Patterns, Gradients and Signals in Soft Biomaterials (IRG II) @ California Institute of Technology
  
• Engineering Materials and Techniques for Biological Studies at Cellular Scales (IRG II) @ Harvard University
  
• Materials and Physiology (IRG IV) @ Harvard University
  
• Microstructured Polymers (IRG I) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Specific, Reversible and Programmable Bonding in Supra- and Macromolecular Materials (IRG I) @ University of California at Santa Barbara
  
• Molecular and Nanoscale Motors (IRG II) @ Pennsylvania State University
  
• Seed Projects @ Cornell University
  
• IRG1: Design and Synthesis of Response Driven Macromolecules @ University of Southern Mississippi
  
• SEED: Template Synthesis of Nanowire / Nanotube Heterostructures @ University of Maryland
  
• Bio-Interfacial Science (IRG IV) @ University of Chicago
  
• Designed Programmable Membranes (IRG III) @ University of Pennsylvania
  
• Filamentous Networks & Structured Gels (IRG I) @ University of Pennsylvania
  
• De Novo Synthetic Protein Modules for Light-Capture and Catalysis (IRG IV) @ University of Pennsylvania
  
• Biological Synthesis & Assembly of Macromolecular Materials (IRG I) @ California Institute of Technology
  

Coatings / Ceramics

• Synergistic Linear and Nonlinear Phenomena in Multifunctional Oxide Ceramic Systems (IRG I) @ Northwestern University
  
• Microstructured Polymers (IRG I) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Proto-IRG: Nanoparticle-Based Materials @ University of Minnesota
  
• IRG2: Responsive Films and Film Formation @ University of Southern Mississippi
  
• Oxide-Based Hierarchical Interfacial Materials (IRG V) @ University of Pennsylvania
  
• Biological Synthesis & Assembly of Macromolecular Materials (IRG I) @ California Institute of Technology
  

Condensed Matter Phenomena

• Exotic States of Correlated Electrons in Single Crystals (Seed) @ Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  
• Electronic Interfaces (IRG I) @ Cornell University
  
• Nanoscale Growth (IRG III) @ Cornell University
  
• Microstructured Polymers (IRG I) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Magnetic Heterostructures (IRG III) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Proto-IRG: Nanoparticle-Based Materials @ University of Minnesota
  
• Electrons in Confined Geometries (IRG III) @ Pennsylvania State University
  
• Spin and Spin Coherence Dynamics of Tunable Electrochemically Synthesized Nanostructures (Seed) @ University of Maryland
  
• Interplay of Magnetism and Transport in Correlated Electronic Materials (IRG I) @ Princeton University
  
• Microphotonic Materials and Structures (IRG I) @ Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  
• Fluid Flows-Singularities and Microscales (IRG I) @ University of Chicago
  
• Jamming, Slow Relaxation and Rigidity Onset in Materials Far from Equilibrium (IRG III) @ University of Chicago
  

Magnetics / Ferroelectrics / Spintronics

• Synergistic Linear and Nonlinear Phenomena in Multifunctional Oxide Ceramic Systems (IRG I) @ Northwestern University
  
• Ferroelectric Photonic Materials (IRG I) @ California Institute of Technology
  
• Seed Project: Spin and Charge Quantum Transport in Organic/Magnetic Heterostructures for Spintronics and Optoelectronics @ California Institute of Technology
  
• Science and Engineering of Magnetoelectronics @ Johns Hopkins University
  
• Yale University CRISP IRG @ Yale University
  
• Electronic Interfaces (IRG I) @ Cornell University
  
• Nanoscale Growth (IRG III) @ Cornell University
  
• Crystalline Organic Semiconductors (IRG II) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Magnetic Heterostructures (IRG III) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Proto-IRG: Nanoparticle-Based Materials @ University of Minnesota
  
• Nanomagnetism: Fundamental Interactions and Applications (IRG I) @ University of Nebraska
  
• Spin Polarization and Transmission at Nanocontacts and Interfaces (IRG II) @ University of Nebraska
  
• Electrons in Confined Geometries (IRG III) @ Pennsylvania State University
  
• IRG2: Multifunctional Magnetic Oxides @ University of Maryland
  
• Spin and Spin Coherence Dynamics of Tunable Electrochemically Synthesized Nanostructures (Seed) @ University of Maryland
  
• Interplay of Magnetism and Transport in Correlated Electronic Materials (IRG I) @ Princeton University
  
• Electronic Transport in Mesoscopic Semiconductor and Magnetic Structures (IRG III) @ Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  
• Oxide-Based Hierarchical Interfacial Materials (IRG V) @ University of Pennsylvania
  
• Dynamics and Transport in Nanostructured Magnetic Materials (IRG I) @ University of Alabama
  

Mechanics of Materials

• Strain-Enabled Multiferroics (IRG V) @ Pennsylvania State University
  
• Stress In Thin Film and Small Scale Structures (IRG I) @ Brown University
  
• Atomic Membranes as Molecular Interfaces (IRG IV) @ Cornell University
  
• TAILORED INTERFACES (IRG I) @ University of Massachusetts Amherst
  
• Mechanics of Amorphous and Nanoscale Metal Composites and Foam Structures (IRG III) @ California Institute of Technology
  
• IRG I: Multiscale Mechanics of Films and Interfaces @ Harvard University
  
• Engineering Materials and Techniques for Biological Studies at Cellular Scales (IRG II) @ Harvard University
  
• Microstructured Polymers (IRG I) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Adhesion, Deformation and Transport at Contacts in Small Structures (IRG III) @ Princeton University
  
• Science and Engineering of Solid-State Portable Power Structures (IRG IV) @ Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  
• Mesoscale Interface Mapping Project (MIMP) @ Carnegie Mellon University
  

Nano Focused

• Atomic Membranes as Molecular Interfaces (IRG IV) @ Cornell University
  
• Electronic Interfaces (IRG I) @ Cornell University
  
• Photonic Particles (IRG II) @ Cornell University
  
• Nanoscale Growth (IRG III) @ Cornell University
  
• Synthesis and Application of Nanostructured Materials (IRG I) @ Stanford/ IBM ARC/ UC Davis/ UC Berkeley
  
• Microstructured Polymers (IRG I) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Crystalline Organic Semiconductors (IRG II) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Magnetic Heterostructures (IRG III) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Proto-IRG: Nanoparticle-Based Materials @ University of Minnesota
  
• Electrons in Confined Geometries (IRG III) @ Pennsylvania State University
  
• Chemically Advanced Nanolithography (IRG I) @ Pennsylvania State University
  
• Seed Projects @ Cornell University
  
• Low Dimensional Interfaces (IRG I) @ University of Maryland
  
• Electronic Transport in Mesoscopic Semiconductor and Magnetic Structures (IRG III) @ Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  
• Hierarchically Assembled Molecular and Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Materials (IRG II) @ University of Chicago
  

Nanostructures / Nanoparticles

• Strain-Enabled Multiferroics (IRG V) @ Pennsylvania State University
  
• Novel Processing Methods for Nanostructured Polymer Blends, Composites and Supramolecular Structures (IRG II) @ Northwestern University
  
• Molecular Plasmonics: Fundamentals, New Tools, and Devices (IRG III) @ Northwestern University
  
• Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Nanoelectronic Materials from Molecules to Printable Thin Films (IRG IV) @ Northwestern University
  
• Electrostatically “Patchy” Nanoparticle Coatings for Applications in Biomaterials and Flexible Electronics (Seed) @ Northwestern University
  
• Atomic Membranes as Molecular Interfaces (IRG IV) @ Cornell University
  
• Mechanics of Amorphous and Nanoscale Metal Composites and Foam Structures (IRG III) @ California Institute of Technology
  
• Nanostructures - Growth and Characterization @ University of Oklahoma / University of Arkansas
  
• Micro- and Nano- Mechanics of Electronic and Structural Materials Research (IRG II) @ Brown University
  
• Electronic Interfaces (IRG I) @ Cornell University
  
• Photonic Particles (IRG II) @ Cornell University
  
• Nanoscale Growth (IRG III) @ Cornell University
  
• Directed Nano-assemblies and Interfaces for Advanced Electronics (IRG III) @ Stanford/ IBM ARC/ UC Davis/ UC Berkeley
  
• Nanostructured Materials as Interfaces to Biology (IRG III) @ University of Wisconsin-Madison
  
• Microstructured Polymers (IRG I) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Crystalline Organic Semiconductors (IRG II) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Magnetic Heterostructures (IRG III) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Proto-IRG: Nanoparticle-Based Materials @ University of Minnesota
  
• Nanostructured Materials by Molecular Beam Epitaxy (IRG IV) @ University of California at Santa Barbara
  
• Electrons in Confined Geometries (IRG III) @ Pennsylvania State University
  
• Seed Projects @ Cornell University
  
• Spin and Spin Coherence Dynamics of Tunable Electrochemically Synthesized Nanostructures (Seed) @ University of Maryland
  
• SEED: Template Synthesis of Nanowire / Nanotube Heterostructures @ University of Maryland
  
• SEED: Diffusion and Wettability in Porous Nanoparticles @ University of Maryland
  
• Guided Self-Assembly (IRG II) @ Princeton University
  
• Adhesion, Deformation and Transport at Contacts in Small Structures (IRG III) @ Princeton University
  
• Electronic Transport in Mesoscopic Semiconductor and Magnetic Structures (IRG III) @ Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  
• Nanostructured Polymer Assemblies (IRG II) @ Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  
• Hierarchically Assembled Molecular and Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Materials (IRG II) @ University of Chicago
  
• Structural integrated films containing nanoparticles @ Columbia University
  
• Materials for information storage (IRG II) @ University of Alabama
  

Polymers

• Novel Processing Methods for Nanostructured Polymer Blends, Composites and Supramolecular Structures (IRG II) @ Northwestern University
  
• Nanocomposite Elastomers for Vascular Tissue Engineering (Seed) @ Northwestern University
  
• Seed Project: Methanol Generation and its Efficient Use in Fuel Cells @ California Institute of Technology
  
• Structure and Dynamics of Polymeric and Biomolecular Materials at Interfaces (IRG II) @ Stanford/ IBM ARC/ UC Davis/ UC Berkeley
  
• Microstructured Polymers (IRG I) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Seed Projects @ Cornell University
  
• Soft Cellular Materials (IRG III) @ University of California at Santa Barbara
  
• SEED: Template Synthesis of Nanowire / Nanotube Heterostructures @ University of Maryland
  
• Guided Self-Assembly (IRG II) @ Princeton University
  
• Nanostructured Polymer Assemblies (IRG II) @ Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  
• Hierarchically Assembled Molecular and Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Materials (IRG II) @ University of Chicago
  
• Functional Cylindrical Assstrongblies (IRG II) @ University of Pennsylvania
  

Semiconductors / Photonics / Organic Electronics

• Molecular Plasmonics: Fundamentals, New Tools, and Devices (IRG III) @ Northwestern University
  
• Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Nanoelectronic Materials from Molecules to Printable Thin Films (IRG IV) @ Northwestern University
  
• Electronic Interfaces (IRG I) @ Cornell University
  
• Photonic Particles (IRG II) @ Cornell University
  
• Nanoscale Growth (IRG III) @ Cornell University
  
• Crystalline Organic Semiconductors (IRG II) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Magnetic Heterostructures (IRG III) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Proto-IRG: Nanoparticle-Based Materials @ University of Minnesota
  
• Electromagnetic Nanostructures (IRG IV) @ Pennsylvania State University
  
• Oxides as Semiconductors (IRG II) @ University of California at Santa Barbara
  
• Low Dimensional Interfaces (IRG I) @ University of Maryland
  
• Interplay of Magnetism and Transport in Correlated Electronic Materials (IRG I) @ Princeton University
  
• Adhesion, Deformation and Transport at Contacts in Small Structures (IRG III) @ Princeton University
  
• Microphotonic Materials and Structures (IRG I) @ Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  

Soft Materials, Colloids

• Patterns, Gradients and Signals in Soft Biomaterials (IRG II) @ California Institute of Technology
  
• Single Interdisciplinary Research Group @ University of Colorado
  
• IRG III: Interface-Mediated Assembly of Soft Materials @ Harvard University
  
• Microstructured Polymers (IRG I) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Proto-IRG: Nanoparticle-Based Materials @ University of Minnesota
  
• Molecular and Nanoscale Motors (IRG II) @ Pennsylvania State University
  
• Seed Projects @ Cornell University
  
• SEED: Template Synthesis of Nanowire / Nanotube Heterostructures @ University of Maryland
  
• Guided Self-Assembly (IRG II) @ Princeton University
  
• Jamming, Slow Relaxation and Rigidity Onset in Materials Far from Equilibrium (IRG III) @ University of Chicago
  
• Functional Cylindrical Assstrongblies (IRG II) @ University of Pennsylvania
  
• Filamentous Networks & Structured Gels (IRG I) @ University of Pennsylvania
  

Synthesis / Processing

• Synthetic Development of Novel Organic Electron Transport Materials (Seed) @ Northwestern University
  
• Atomic Membranes as Molecular Interfaces (IRG IV) @ Cornell University
  
• Photonic Particles (IRG II) @ Cornell University
  
• Nanoscale Growth (IRG III) @ Cornell University
  
• Synthesis and Application of Nanostructured Materials (IRG I) @ Stanford/ IBM ARC/ UC Davis/ UC Berkeley
  
• Microstructured Polymers (IRG I) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Crystalline Organic Semiconductors (IRG II) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Magnetic Heterostructures (IRG III) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Proto-IRG: Nanoparticle-Based Materials @ University of Minnesota
  
• Chemically Advanced Nanolithography (IRG I) @ Pennsylvania State University
  
• Seed Projects @ Cornell University
  
• Guided Self-Assembly (IRG II) @ Princeton University