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

• Dynamics of Novel Self-Assembling Protein-Polymer Hydrogels (Seed) @ Northwestern University
  
• Analysis and Design of Genetic and Metabolic Control Systems of Bacterial Cells (Seed) @ Northwestern University
  
• Emergent Properties Resulting from Constraints (IRG I) @ Brandeis University
  
• Patterns, Gradients and Signals in Soft Biomaterials (IRG II) @ California Institute of Technology
  
• Molecular Biomimetics @ University of Washington
  
• Engineering Materials and Techniques for Biological Studies at Cellular Scales (IRG II) @ Harvard University
  
• Materials and Physiology (IRG IV) @ Harvard University
  
• Engineered Multiblock 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
  
• Engineering Living Cells via Nanomaterials (Seed I) @ Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  
• 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 ( (previous IRG I) @ California Institute of Technology
  

Coatings / Ceramics

• Double Perovskite Interfaces and Heterostructures (IRG II) @ Ohio State University
  
• Synergistic Linear and Nonlinear Phenomena in Multifunctional Oxide Ceramic Systems (IRG I) @ Northwestern University
  
• Thermoreversible Gelcasting for Energy-Related Materials (Seed) @ Northwestern University
  
• Issues in Materials Integration on Silicon (IRG I) @ University of Wisconsin-Madison
  
• Engineered Multiblock Polymers (IRG I) @ University of Minnesota
  
• 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 ( (previous IRG I) @ California Institute of Technology
  

Condensed Matter Phenomena

• Double Perovskite Interfaces and Heterostructures (IRG II) @ Ohio State University
  
• Synergistic Linear and Nonlinear Phenomena in Multifunctional Oxide Ceramic Systems (IRG I) @ Northwestern University
  
• Controlling Complex Electronic Materials (IRG IV) @ Cornell University
  
• Towards Spin-Preserving, Heterogeneous Spin Networks (IRG I) @ Ohio State University
  
• New States of Frustrated and Correlated Materials (Seed II) @ Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  
• Atomic Membranes as Molecular Interfaces (IRG III) @ Cornell University
  
• Controlling Electrons at Interfaces (IRG I) @ Cornell University
  
• Dynamics of Growth of Complex Materials (IRG II) @ Cornell University
  
• Issues in Materials Integration on Silicon (IRG I) @ University of Wisconsin-Madison
  
• Engineered Multiblock Polymers (IRG I) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Magnetic Heterostructures (IRG III) @ University of Minnesota
  
• 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
  
• Jamming and Slow Relaxation in Materials Far from Equilibrium (IRG I) @ University of Chicago
  
• Dynamic Transitions of Material Sheets (IRG II) @ University of Chicago
  
• Macroscopic Quantum Coherence (IRG IV) @ University of Chicago
  

Magnetics / Ferroelectrics / Spintronics

• Double Perovskite Interfaces and Heterostructures (IRG II) @ Ohio State University
  
• Synergistic Linear and Nonlinear Phenomena in Multifunctional Oxide Ceramic Systems (IRG I) @ Northwestern University
  
• Controlling Complex Electronic Materials (IRG IV) @ Cornell University
  
• Towards Spin-Preserving, Heterogeneous Spin Networks (IRG I) @ Ohio State University
  
• New States of Frustrated and Correlated Materials (Seed II) @ Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  
• 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
  
• Controlling Electrons at Interfaces (IRG I) @ Cornell University
  
• Dynamics of Growth of Complex Materials (IRG II) @ Cornell University
  
• Organic Optoelectronic Interfaces (IRG II) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Magnetic Heterostructures (IRG III) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Nanoparticle-Based Materials @ University of Minnesota
  
• Nanoscale Magnetism: Structures, Materials and Phenomena (IRG I) @ University of Nebraska
  
• Magnetoelectric Interfaces and Spin Transport (IRG II) @ University of Nebraska
  
• Electrons in Confined Geometries (IRG III) @ Pennsylvania State University
  
• Multifunctional Magnetic Oxides (IRG II) @ 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
  
• Macroscopic Quantum Coherence (IRG IV) @ University of Chicago
  
• 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

• Novel Processing Methods for Nanostructured Polymer Blends, Composites and Supramolecular Structures (IRG II) @ Northwestern University
  
• Molecular Logic for Nanoelectronics (Seed) @ Northwestern University
  
• Analysis and Design of Genetic and Metabolic Control Systems of Bacterial Cells (Seed) @ Northwestern University
  
• 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 III) @ 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
  
• Multiscale Mechanics of Films and Interfaces (IRG I) @ Harvard University
  
• Engineering Materials and Techniques for Biological Studies at Cellular Scales (IRG II) @ Harvard University
  
• Issues in Materials Integration on Silicon (IRG I) @ University of Wisconsin-Madison
  
• Engineered Multiblock Polymers (IRG I) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Adhesion, Deformation and Transport at Contacts in Small Structures (IRG III) @ Princeton University
  
• Mechanomutable Heteronanomaterials (IRG II) @ Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  
• Dynamic Transitions of Material Sheets (IRG II) @ University of Chicago
  
• Mesoscale Interface Mapping Project (MIMP) @ Carnegie Mellon University
  

Nano Focused

• Double Perovskite Interfaces and Heterostructures (IRG II) @ Ohio State University
  
• Molecular Plasmonics: Fundamentals, New Tools, and Devices (IRG III) @ Northwestern University
  
• Shaping Plasmonic Nanomaterials by Chemical Synthesis (Seed) @ Northwestern University
  
• Towards Spin-Preserving, Heterogeneous Spin Networks (IRG I) @ Ohio State University
  
• Nanoscale Interface Studies (IRG II) @ University of Oklahoma / University of Arkansas
  
• Atomic Membranes as Molecular Interfaces (IRG III) @ Cornell University
  
• Controlling Electrons at Interfaces (IRG I) @ Cornell University
  
• Dynamics of Growth of Complex Materials (IRG II) @ Cornell University
  
• Synthesis and Application of Nanostructured Materials (IRG I) @ Stanford/ IBM ARC/ UC Davis/ UC Berkeley
  
• Engineered Multiblock Polymers (IRG I) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Organic Optoelectronic Interfaces (IRG II) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Magnetic Heterostructures (IRG III) @ University of Minnesota
  
• 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
  
• Design of Nanomaterials for Electrochemical Energy Storage (IRG I) @ Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  
• Mechanomutable Heteronanomaterials (IRG II) @ Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  
• Engineering Living Cells via Nanomaterials (Seed I) @ Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  
• Rational Design of Nanoparticle and Molecule-Based Functional Materials (IRG III) @ University of Chicago
  

Nanostructures / Nanoparticles

• Double Perovskite Interfaces and Heterostructures (IRG II) @ Ohio 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
  
• Shaping Plasmonic Nanomaterials by Chemical Synthesis (Seed) @ Northwestern University
  
• Towards Spin-Preserving, Heterogeneous Spin Networks (IRG I) @ Ohio State University
  
• Nanoscale Interface Studies (IRG II) @ University of Oklahoma / University of Arkansas
  
• Strain-Enabled Multiferroics (IRG V) @ Pennsylvania State University
  
• Atomic Membranes as Molecular Interfaces (IRG III) @ Cornell University
  
• Mechanics of Amorphous and Nanoscale Metal Composites and Foam Structures (IRG III) @ California Institute of Technology
  
• Nanostructures - Growth and Characterization (IRG I) @ University of Oklahoma / University of Arkansas
  
• Micro- and Nano- Mechanics of Electronic and Structural Materials Research (IRG II) @ Brown University
  
• Controlling Electrons at Interfaces (IRG I) @ Cornell University
  
• Dynamics of Growth of Complex Materials (IRG II) @ 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
  
• Functional Organic-Inorganic Electronic Interfaces (IRG II) @ University of Wisconsin-Madison
  
• Issues in Materials Integration on Silicon (IRG I) @ University of Wisconsin-Madison
  
• Engineered Multiblock Polymers (IRG I) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Organic Optoelectronic Interfaces (IRG II) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Magnetic Heterostructures (IRG III) @ University of Minnesota
  
• 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
  
• Design of Nanomaterials for Electrochemical Energy Storage (IRG I) @ Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  
• Mechanomutable Heteronanomaterials (IRG II) @ Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  
• Multimaterial Multifunctional Nano-Structured Fibers (IRG III) @ Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  
• Engineering Living Cells via Nanomaterials (Seed I) @ Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  
• Rational Design of Nanoparticle and Molecule-Based Functional Materials (IRG III) @ 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
  
• Thermoreversible Gelcasting for Energy-Related Materials (Seed) @ Northwestern University
  
• Dynamics of Novel Self-Assembling Protein-Polymer Hydrogels (Seed) @ Northwestern University
  
• Emergent Properties Resulting from Constraints (IRG I) @ Brandeis 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
  
• Engineered Multiblock 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
  
• Engineering Living Cells via Nanomaterials (Seed I) @ Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  
• Rational Design of Nanoparticle and Molecule-Based Functional Materials (IRG III) @ 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
  
• Molecular Logic for Nanoelectronics (Seed) @ Northwestern University
  
• Shaping Plasmonic Nanomaterials by Chemical Synthesis (Seed) @ Northwestern University
  
• Controlling Complex Electronic Materials (IRG IV) @ Cornell University
  
• Towards Spin-Preserving, Heterogeneous Spin Networks (IRG I) @ Ohio State University
  
• Controlling Electrons at Interfaces (IRG I) @ Cornell University
  
• Dynamics of Growth of Complex Materials (IRG II) @ Cornell University
  
• Functional Organic-Inorganic Electronic Interfaces (IRG II) @ University of Wisconsin-Madison
  
• Issues in Materials Integration on Silicon (IRG I) @ University of Wisconsin-Madison
  
• Organic Optoelectronic Interfaces (IRG II) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Magnetic Heterostructures (IRG III) @ University of Minnesota
  
• 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
  
• Multimaterial Multifunctional Nano-Structured Fibers (IRG III) @ Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  
• Rational Design of Nanoparticle and Molecule-Based Functional Materials (IRG III) @ University of Chicago
  

Soft Materials, Colloids

• Novel Processing Methods for Nanostructured Polymer Blends, Composites and Supramolecular Structures (IRG II) @ Northwestern University
  
• Dynamics of Novel Self-Assembling Protein-Polymer Hydrogels (Seed) @ Northwestern University
  
• Analysis and Design of Genetic and Metabolic Control Systems of Bacterial Cells (Seed) @ Northwestern University
  
• Emergent Properties Resulting from Constraints (IRG I) @ Brandeis University
  
• Patterns, Gradients and Signals in Soft Biomaterials (IRG II) @ California Institute of Technology
  
• Liquid Crystal Frontiers IRG @ University of Colorado
  
• Interface-Mediated Assembly of Soft Materials (IRG III) @ Harvard University
  
• Issues in Materials Integration on Silicon (IRG I) @ University of Wisconsin-Madison
  
• Engineered Multiblock Polymers (IRG I) @ University of Minnesota
  
• 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 and Slow Relaxation in Materials Far from Equilibrium (IRG I) @ University of Chicago
  
• Dynamic Transitions of Material Sheets (IRG II) @ University of Chicago
  
• Functional Cylindrical Assstrongblies (IRG II) @ University of Pennsylvania
  
• Filamentous Networks & Structured Gels (IRG I) @ University of Pennsylvania
  

Synthesis / Processing

• Double Perovskite Interfaces and Heterostructures (IRG II) @ Ohio State University
  
• Molecular Logic for Nanoelectronics (Seed) @ Northwestern University
  
• Thermoreversible Gelcasting for Energy-Related Materials (Seed) @ Northwestern University
  
• Controlling Complex Electronic Materials (IRG IV) @ Cornell University
  
• Towards Spin-Preserving, Heterogeneous Spin Networks (IRG I) @ Ohio State University
  
• Atomic Membranes as Molecular Interfaces (IRG III) @ Cornell University
  
• Dynamics of Growth of Complex Materials (IRG II) @ Cornell University
  
• Synthesis and Application of Nanostructured Materials (IRG I) @ Stanford/ IBM ARC/ UC Davis/ UC Berkeley
  
• Issues in Materials Integration on Silicon (IRG I) @ University of Wisconsin-Madison
  
• Engineered Multiblock Polymers (IRG I) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Organic Optoelectronic Interfaces (IRG II) @ University of Minnesota
  
• Magnetic Heterostructures (IRG III) @ University of Minnesota
  
• 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
  
• Dynamic Transitions of Material Sheets (IRG II) @ University of Chicago
  
• Rational Design of Nanoparticle and Molecule-Based Functional Materials (IRG III) @ University of Chicago