The MRSEC Center for Nanoscopic Materials Design at the University of Virginia is an NSF-funded Materials Research Science & Engineering Center.

Established in 2000, the Center has a dual focus on ground-breaking interdisciplinary research and educational outreach in the area of nanotechnology.

The Center's research targets the understanding, control, and application of localized nucleation of nanostructures upon patterned surfaces (the concept of "templated assembly") .