Lincoln, Neb., Sept. 23, 2002 -- Materials researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have won a prestigious $5.4 million grant from the National Science Foundation. The grant establishes a Materials Research Science and Engineering Center at UNL, making it one of 27 such elite centers in the nation.
"This is a very exciting accomplishment for UNL. Competition for these centers is intense and only the top research programs in the country win these awards," said UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman.
The MRSEC is an outgrowth of UNL's Center for Materials Research and Analysis, and involves scientists from the departments of physics and astronomy, chemistry, and mechanical engineering, and the School of Biological Sciences whose research focuses on nanomagnetic structures. Their work in magnetic materials at the nanoscale -- as small as one-billionth of a meter -- has applications in advanced computing and data storage systems, handheld electronic devices, advanced sensors, and possible future medical technologies.
"Nanoscience and nanotechnology are amazingly creative new subfields of materials science," said David Sellmyer, UNL physicist and director of the new center. "We are delighted at the opportunities this center will bring to students at UNL."
UNL nanomagnetics researchers are nationally recognized for their theoretical and experimental work, and fabrication of new materials. In just the last two years, their research has included the synthesis of the first magnetic polymer or "plastic magnet" and has generated six patents granted or filed on devices for data storage, portable electronics and optical sensors.
The MRSEC grant illustrates the success of Nebraska's investments in UNL research, said Prem Paul, UNL vice chancellor for research and dean of graduate studies.
"Our stature in materials research and nanotechnology is a direct result of Nebraska Research Initiative funding in the past decade. Now we are seeing the return on that investment," Paul said.
The grant funds more than research projects, Sellmyer said. Training of graduate and undergraduate students, and programs for educational outreach and technology transfer to business and industry are included in the center. The six-year grant will fund salaries for two post-doctoral fellows, 14 graduate students and 10 undergraduate students. It also funds a program that brings high school teachers and students to campus for research experiences, recruitment of graduate students from underrepresented groups, and supports a "Women in Science" program for high school students.
The center's research and its collaborations with industry partners such as IBM, Seagate, Hewlett-Packard, and developing relationships with Nebraska companies, hold high potential for inventions and discoveries that can be patented and commercialized. A recent example is a small, powerful neutron detector developed at UNL that could be used to detect hidden nuclear devices.
UNL's MRSEC grant is one of only three new awards made this year. Other institutions with MRSEC grants include the California Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon University, Harvard University and Princeton University.
UNL officials will celebrate receipt of the grant at a campus celebration set for 9:30 a.m. Sept. 24 in the Nebraska Union Heritage Room. Perlman and Paul will discuss the details of the grant with the campus community and introduce the research team.
Contact: Dave Fitzgibbon, University Communications, (402)
472-8520 (dfitzgibbon1@unl.edu)
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