Spring/Summer 2025
Jon-Paul Maria Receives the Paul F. Robertson Award
for Breakthrough of the Year
Energy powers everything—from the vehicles we drive and the heat in our homes to the data flowing through our computers and phones. Conserving energy is critical to our future. Yet, the demand for computational power—driven by AI servers, the Internet, and other technologies—is expected to triple by 2050.
A recent research breakthrough at Penn State, led by Jon-Paul Maria, professor of materials science and engineering, may change the trajectory of that energy demand. His team’s discovery in the field of ferroelectrics, called proximity ferroelectricity, has significant implications for energy-efficient computing. Read more
Robertson Research Breakthrough: Changing the ferroelectrics game with proximity ferroelectricity
Read: Earth and Mineral Sciences faculty and students honored at college's awards ceremony
Susan Sinnott passes the torch to John Mauro in MatSE leadership transition
Susan Sinnott, head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MatSE) at Penn State, will step down from her leadership role on July 1. After more than a decade of service guiding the department, she will continue her contributions to the University as a researcher and educator. Succeeding her is John Mauro, Dorothy Pate Enright Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, who brings a strong record of research excellence, innovation, and academic leadership to the role. Read more
The Call to Support “Safety First”
Each day, MatSE students, faculty, and staff demonstrate how safety shapes everything they do. In the fall of 2024, many MatSE supporters answered the call to help preserve our safety-first culture. Over the years, through partnerships with academic, industry, research, and alumni communities, MatSE has built one of the strongest safety programs in academia. Read more
Allison Beese: pioneering researcher, visionary leader, and champion of innovation
As a groundbreaking researcher, visionary leader, and dedicated educator, Allison Beese stands out as a highly celebrated faculty member in MatSE. She holds multiple roles at Penn State, serving as a professor of materials science and engineering and of mechanical engineering, director of the Additive Manufacturing and Design Graduate Program, co-director of the Center for Innovative Materials Processing through Direct Digital Deposition, and the department’s associate head for diversity, equity, enclusion, and belonging. Internationally recognized for her expertise in mechanics and the additive manufacturing (AM) of alloys, Beese is helping to define the future of materials science. Read more
Venkatraman Gopalan appointed associate head for graduate education and chair of the Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Materials Science and Engineering
Venkatraman Gopalan, professor of materials science and engineering and of physics, has been appointed associate head for graduate education and chair of the Intercollege Graduate Degree Program (IGDP) in Materials Science and Engineering (MatSE) as of July 1.
Read more
MatSE students, faculty, staff, and alumni honored at annual awards ceremony
MatSE recognized exceptional students, faculty, staff, and alumni for their academic excellence, service, and leadership during its annual Spring Awards Banquet, held on April 9.
“It’s the people of MatSE that make this department a success,” said Susan Sinnott, professor and head of MatSE. “We are very fortunate to be able to honor so many of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni for their contributions with awards that are made possible by our generous donors.” Read more
- View photos from the 2025 MatSE Spring Awards Banquet Flicker album.
- More at 2025 MatSE Spring Awards Celebration
Herbert Alden McKinstry celebrated 100th birthday
Herbert Alden McKinstry, retired faculty member, celebrated an incredible milestone, he turned 100 years old. His century of life has been marked by remarkable contributions to science, education, and social justice.
Born on April 22, 1925, McKinstry showed an early passion for music, singing in church choirs from the age of 10 and playing clarinet, saxophone, and bassoon in high school bands. Though he dreamed of attending the Eastman School of Music, financial realities led him to Alfred University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in glass technology. Read more
Building community at Steidle Café
This spring, the Steidle Café series—sponsored by the MatSE Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee—centered on strengthening connections across the department. Each month, a different research group hosted a themed event that brought together students, faculty, staff, and researchers to enjoy coffee, treats, and camaraderie.
- January kicked off with a professional development session on presentation best practices, led by Professor Jon-Paul Maria and hosted by the JPM group.
- February turned up the heat with the MatSE Bake-Off, hosted by the Beese group.
- In March, the Gopalan group invited the community to unwind with "Let’s Play Board Games!"
- April honored Earth Day with presentations and discussions on sustainable practices in the lab and at home, hosted by MatSE faculty and postdocs.
- The semester wrapped up in May with a relaxing end-of-semester de-stress event, hosted by Professors Sinnott, Sinha, Bobbio, and their research groups.
Steidle Café fosters a more inclusive, connected, and vibrant MatSE community.
Research
EMS experts promote research ties at National Academies US-African symposium
For some pressing research problems, an ocean’s worth of distance isn’t enough to prevent the connection to some common ground. That’s the point behind the annual National Academies U.S.-Africa Frontiers of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) Symposium. And it’s why the College of Earth and Minerals Sciences (EMS) joined Google, the Gates and Rutter Foundations, the Department of Defense and others as sponsors of the event. Read more
‘Patchy’ thermogels show next-gen biomedical material potential, scientists say
Special biomedical materials that can be injected as a liquid and turn into a solid inside our bodies — called thermogels — could provide a less-invasive way to deliver drugs or treat wounds. Scientists at Penn State have developed a new design for these materials that further improves their properties and may hold particular promise for use in tissue regeneration, the researchers said. Read more
$2.7M NIH grant to fund next generation of synthetic blood
Blood loss is the leading cause of death in trauma patients between the ages of 1 and 46 years, largely because they cannot access safe blood sources quickly enough. A possible solution? Freeze-dried synthetic blood. Read more
‘Nanodot’ control could fine-tune light for sharper displays, quantum computing
Newly achieved precise control over light emitted from incredibly tiny sources, a few nanometers in size, embedded in two-dimensional (2D) materials could lead to remarkably high-resolution monitors and advances in ultra-fast quantum computing, according to an international team led by researchers at Penn State and Université Paris-Saclay. Read more
Alumni
Alumni Spotlight
From physics to jet engines: NASA engineer Jamesa Stokes reflects on her materials science journey at Penn State
For first-year MatSE student Tessa Ternullo the chance to virtually interview Jamesa Stokes, Ph.D.—a NASA engineer and Penn State alumna—was more than just an interview; it was an inspiring glimpse into a future of possibilities. Ternullo had the opportunity to ask questions, hear career insights, and learn directly from someone who, not too long ago, stood where she now stands. Their conversation revealed not only the depth of Stokes’ work in extreme-environment materials, but also the power of mentorship, curiosity, and perseverance.
When Stokes began her academic journey at Auburn University she was a studio arts major with a passion for science. It was her passion that eventually led her to change majors and study physics as an undergraduate. While she ultimately shifted her academic focus, her love of art remains a meaningful part of her life, now something she enjoys purely for the joy it brings. Read more
Alumni Notes
Congratulations to alumnus Krishna Parameswaran, Ph.D., who received the 2025 Environmental Stewardship Distinguished Service Award from the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME). The is awarded recognizes significant contributions to environmental conservation by addition to knowledge, by design or invention of useful equipment or procedure, or by outstanding service to government or private organizations devoted to conservation.
Parameswaran is founder and president Trusteeship for Future Generations Mining and Metallurgy (tfgMM) Strategic Consulting focusing on making extractive industries, especially metal mining sustainable located in Irving, Texas. In 2015, he retired from ASARCO LLC (American Smelting and Refining Company)—owned by Grupo Mexico, which is amongst the largest copper producers in the world—as director of environmental services and compliance. Parameswaran received a doctoral degree in metallurgy from Penn State in 1974.
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