Rachel Segalman of UC Santa Barbara has been elected a 2025 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, recognizing her contributions to materials science and polymer engineering. She is one of 46 UC researchers honored, showcasing the university's leadership in scientific advancement.

Researchers from Penn State and Université Paris-Saclay have developed precise control over light emitted from nanodots embedded in two-dimensional materials. This breakthrough could enhance high-resolution screens and advance quantum computing by manipulating light frequency and wavelength via quantum confinement. Their work involves combining different 2D materials to optimize light emission.

BioPACIFIC MIP congratulates Elizabeth Murphy on winning the 2025 Henkel Award for Outstanding Graduate Research in Polymer Science. Her innovative research on block copolymers and contributions to the MIP community were pivotal. Murphy, set to graduate from UCSB in March 2025, will join Dow Chemical as a Senior Research Specialist.

M. Scott Shell, a professor at UC Santa Barbara, has been elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers for his pioneering work in multiscale modeling and computational techniques. This prestigious title recognizes significant professional accomplishments in the field of chemical engineering.

BioPACIFIC MIP has selected eight projects for the CAPS Fellowships, which utilize high-throughput automation for advancements in polymer science. The awarded researchers will optimize materials and processes through training and access to cutting-edge technology. Each fellowship provides up to $10,000 for research at UC Santa Barbara and UCLA.

Professor Craig Hawker from BioPACIFIC MIP has been awarded the 2025 Herman F. Mark Polymer Chemistry Award, recognizing his leadership in polymer science. The award is given biennially at the ACS meeting, and a symposium in his honor will take place at the Fall 2025 ACS National Meeting.

The scientific focus of the MIP program is subject to change from competition to competition. Information about the existing MIPs, from two previous competitions in 2015 and 2019, can be found at mip.org. The third MIP competition, in 2025, will accept proposals on alloys, amorphous, and composite materials.

Penn State researchers received a $3 million DARPA grant to integrate gallium nitride with silicon for more efficient microelectronics. This hybrid approach aims to improve performance in power-intensive applications while reducing costs. The project's innovation in using 2D materials as seed layers could revolutionize semiconductor integration and energy efficiency.

Imagine charging your smartphone once a month, having flexible video screens that you can roll up into your pocket, and sending information through an internet that uses quantum mechanics to keep your data safe. The 2DCC MIP is working on advancing materials that can contribute to these ideas. Learn all about the platform’s ongoing research and efforts.

The BioPACIFIC MIP Summer School 2024, held at UCSB and UCLA, successfully gathered 40 students and faculty from diverse backgrounds for hands-on workshops on sustainable polymers. Attendees praised the event for its informative sessions and networking opportunities. Plans for a 2025 summer school are underway, emphasizing ongoing commitment to education in sustainable materials.