The Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) at Harvard University supports world-class research, education, and outreach activities at the forefront of soft matter science through the auspices of the U.S. National Science Foundation.
Our two Interdisciplinary Research Groups (IRGs) seek to develop artificial intelligence (AI) models in combination with automated experimental (AE) platforms to understand complex phase transitions inmolecular and supramolecular materials and create architected microgels and vesicles for biotechnology applications. An important mission of the Center is the intellectual rigor and broad training that it provides to the next generation of students in materials science and engineering by cultivating innovation and entrepreneurship in our students, postdocs, and the whole community. By forging new scientific directions, the Center focuses on unraveling complex phenomena in soft materials with the goal of translating these advances to benefit society.
Designing and Controlling Phase Transitions in Functional Molecular Materials
This IRG is aimed at establishing new principles for the design of functional molecular and supramolecular materials via a multimodal approach that elucidates their complex phase transitions in three classes of functional materials will be studied: barocalorics, metal-organic frameworks (MOF), and proteins.
Machine Learning-Enhanced Design and Automated Assembly of Architected Microgels and Vesicles for Biotechnology
This IRG is creating the fundamental knowledge required to guide the design, discovery, and development of architected microgels and vesicles with controlled composition, structure, and properties, including their ability to assemble/disassemble on demand. Our team’s research will advance biotechnology by creating architected soft matter for cell encapsulation, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and biofabrication using an automated manufacturing platform based on ultra-high throughput, droplet microfluidics.
