The Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) at the California Institute of Technology supports an interdisciplinary research program on advanced materials, as well as a wide range of educational activities, including outreach to minority communities in California both at the pre-college and college level, and development of pre-college instructional materials. The Center supports well maintained shared experimental facilities and also supports interactive efforts with industry and other sectors.

The Center's research is organized into two interdisciplinary research groups (IRG). IRG 1, Biological Synthesis and Assembly of Macromolecular Materials, uses powerful biological approaches for the synthesis and assembly of polymeric materials. IRG 2, Bulk Metallic Glasses and Composites, explores new strategies to produce bulk metallic glasses and their composites with enhanced mechanical properties. The Center also provides seed support for emerging research opportunities in photonic and ferroelectric materials.