The University of Oregon has a history of materials science education and research through the Materials Science Institute. Our faculty receive millions of dollars in funding to investigate solutions to some of society’s most pressing problems, from decarbonization to clean energy production and storage.
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MATERIALS SCIENCE RESEARCH FACULTY
Research Across Disciplines
The Materials Science and Technology program is interdisciplinary by nature, bringing together faculty from the Physics and Chemistry and Biochemistry departments who collaborate across disciplines. Our faculty founded the Materials Science Institute and the Oregon Center for Electrochemistry, both of which have been instrumental in launching technology careers and leading innovative research in materials science. Our affiliated centers and institutes include:
Research Facilities
Modern research instrumentation is an integral part of cutting-edge science. Our faculty and students conduct research in world-class materials characterization and advanced fabrication facilities.
News
BIOLOGY - An expert on child and adolescent development and an expert on host-microbe interactions have each been recognized by the Medical Research Foundation of Oregon of the Oregon Health and Science University. Karen Guillemin, professor and Philip H. Knight Chair in biology in the College of Arts and Sciences, received the Discovery Award for her significant contributions to health-related research.
PHYSICS - Physics Professor Richard Taylor blends art and science to create award-winning nature-inspired designs for indoor environments. In collaboration with designers in Austria, Taylor has been using computer-generated fractal patterns, which have been shown to reduce people’s stress levels by up to 60%.
PSYCHOLOGY - Adolescence isn’t a time of dysfunction; it’s a peak period of brain development, adaptability, and growth. Jennifer Pfeifer, a psychology professor at the College of Arts and Sciences, discusses at the 2025 TEDxPortland that it’s time to flip the script and recognize that young people are acting exactly as they’re wired to, and are capable of far more than we’ve been led to believe.
