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Penn State scientists to lead three Genesis Mission projects

Jul 23, 2026
Penn State leads three Phase I Genesis Mission projects—AI-enabled catalysts for converting natural gas into chemicals; AI-driven 2D materials manufacturing; neurosymbolic AI for smart manufacturing. The university also participates in Phase II Prometheus, using AI to streamline nuclear reactor design, fabrication, and operations, advancing fast, safe deployment.
Penn State scientists to lead three Genesis Mission projects
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Penn State awarded $20M to lead an NSF ‘programmable cloud laboratory’

Jul 23, 2026
Penn State received $20 million from the NSF to lead one of 20 Genesis Mission teams in a four-year effort. Led by Professor Joan Redwing, the LATTICE PCL will be an AI-enabled cloud lab for thin-film materials discovery, with partners including Argonne National Laboratory and MIT.
Penn State awarded $20M to lead an NSF ‘programmable cloud laboratory’
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UCSB to Lead National Cloud Laboratory for Advanced Materials

Jul 23, 2026
UC Santa Barbara will lead COAST PCL, a remotely accessible cloud lab for automated polymer and soft-materials research, funded by NSF with $20 million over four years. The system links instruments, robotics, AI, and data to design and run experiments remotely, capture all results, and accelerate materials discovery nationwide.
UCSB to Lead National Cloud Laboratory for Advanced Materials
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Quantum material opens new path for studying unusual electronic behavior

Jul 9, 2026
Researchers from Penn State and Saint Louis University show a magnetic topological insulator (quantum anomalous Hall insulator) naturally supports non-Hermitian dynamics in electronic transport. Ring devices reveal Hatano-Nelson–like conductance and a non-Hermitian skin effect without external fields, tunable by gate voltage—poised for novel sensors.
Quantum material opens new path for studying unusual electronic behavior
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Penn State names five new Evan Pugh University Professors

May 8, 2026
Five Penn State faculty members—W. Niel Brandt, Long-Qing Chen, Runze Li, Karen Thole, and Adri van Duin—were named Evan Pugh University Professors, the university’s highest honor since 1960, effective July 1, recognizing leadership, teaching, research, and service, in honor of founder Evan Pugh.
Penn State names five new Evan Pugh University Professors
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Director Javier Read de Alaniz Named AAAS Fellow

Mar 31, 2026
Director Javier Read de Alaniz of UCSB has been elected a 2025 AAAS Fellow, joining UCSB colleagues. AAAS honors scientists for advancing fields and public good. Read de Alaniz is recognized for designing stimuli-responsive organic materials that change optical properties under visible light, enabling smart materials and energy-efficient technologies.
Director Javier Read de Alaniz Named AAAS Fellow
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Karen Wooley elected to the 2026 Class of the National Academy of Engineering

Mar 21, 2026
Texas A&M Professor Karen Wooley has been elected to the 2026 National Academy of Engineering, recognizing her leadership in polymer chemistry and materials science. Her work on advanced macromolecular systems spans medicine, sustainability, and nanotechnology. The honor also positions her on BioPACIFIC MIP’s External Advisory Board.
Karen Wooley elected to the 2026 Class of the National Academy of Engineering
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BioPACIFIC MIP Expands Capabilities with Move to UCSB’s OASIS Facility

Mar 21, 2026
BioPACIFIC MIP’s UCSB labs moved to OASIS, a 105,000-sq-ft innovation hub for advanced materials R&D, prototyping, and scale-up. Most instruments relocated; SAXS, microrheology, and texture tools stay at CNSI. The OASIS–CNSI partnership enables seamless synthesis, analysis, and translation from discovery to deployment.
BioPACIFIC MIP Expands Capabilities with Move to UCSB’s OASIS Facility
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2DCC-MIP Collaboration Expands Undergraduate Research at Kenyon College

Jan 18, 2026

Frank Peiris, professor of physics at Kenyon College, is leveraging the capabilities of the 2D Crystal Consortium–Materials Innovation Platform (2DCC-MIP) at Penn State to engage undergraduates in cutting-edge studies of thin-film growth and electronic structure.

2DCC-MIP Collaboration Expands Undergraduate Research at Kenyon College
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Q&A: Growing Novel Ultra-Pure Materials for Tomorrow’s Electronics

Jan 9, 2026
Jamie Oberdick profiles Qihua 'David' Zhang, a Penn State 2DCC postdoc advancing chalcogenide materials (S, Se, Te with metals) for electronics. Using molecular beam epitaxy in ultra-high vacuum, he achieves pristine, precise films. The 2DCC and Stephanie Law foster collaboration. Zhang aims to reveal new properties to enable future devices.
Q&A: Growing Novel Ultra-Pure Materials for Tomorrow’s Electronics
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