Message from the Director

Welcome back to IMS News. We hope this issue finds you all well and safely navigating our new reality. The past few years have required adjustments for all of us, and everyone here has risen to the challenge.

Our students have worked extremely hard during this time, including during the closure of labs early on. Our faculty members have continued to conduct meaningful research and advise students as they work toward, and achieve, their graduate degrees. Our faculty members also provide good balance as regards educating students about opportunities in industry, academia, and government. Our students continue to be recruited by many of the most well-respected organizations in the science and technology sector as well as organizations on the cutting edge of new technologies.

I want to acknowledge the efforts of our administrative and technical staff members. Because of their hard work and dedication, IMS remains strong and viable.

Our big news for this annual issue is our move from Gant North to Science 1, the new home of IMS. I share my thoughts in an IMS News interview where you can also view photos of this amazing new facility. Some key new features include a state-of-the-art clean room; an active learning classroom; consolidated labs for Materials Science and Engineering students; a common area for IMS Core Labs; the NANObyte Café; and many engaging and comfortable spaces for teaching, research, and service. On June 15, 2023, we invite you to join us for the Ribbon Cutting Grand Opening of Science 1. But please feel free to visit us anytime.

We want to thank several industrial and government sponsors for their dedicated support of IMS. We have managed to obtain new instrumentation for many of our Core Labs. The CAMMA microscopy facility is attracting support from all over the Northeast. In addition to academic users, we have welcomed industry partners conducting characterization projects in some of our labs.

In this issue, you will also read about new staff and faculty members. Several of our faculty members have received prestigious awards during this past year or so and these are detailed here. Our students continue to achieve outstanding accomplishments about which we hope you will read with as much pride as we have in sharing them with you.

While our new home is a great place to work, the people inside the building are most important. The people who work and learn in IMS are top notch and you will find just a few stories about their accomplishments in this issue of IMS News.

Wishing all of you the best from all of us,