MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR Hello again or for the first time. This past year has been a very exciting time for the Institute of Materials Science (IMS). Faculty members have been working very hard to obtain enhanced funding for their research programs. In fact, the grant support has increased by about $1.5M. In addition, the Industrial Affiliates Program (IAP) welcomes a new director, Dr. Paul Nahass and a new associate director, Hatice Bodugoz Senturk. Tremendous support from industry and from State and Federal sources have led to numerous new research programs throughout IMS. A major development is the United Technologies Aerospace Systems (UTAS) Center of Excellence established in IMS. This initial 5-year program brings a true partnership to UConn. Several research projects are underway in this program. The UConn/FEI Partnership in Electron Microscopy is continuing with numerous state-of-the-art projects and graduate student fellowships. In addition, several research proposals of the Academic Plan were funded that will lead to unique research capabilities including new instrumentation. Such developments do not happen overnight, nor do they happen without the strong support of many of you. For that tremendous support we are very thankful. These new efforts have fortified the three major programs of Materials Science, Materials Science and Engineering, and Polymer Science and Engineering in IMS. In turn, the Administration under the leadership of Provost Mun Choi has promised that a new building, Science Building 1, will be the new home of IMS in a few years. We are currently planning the new labs and facilities and how such a move will smoothly occur. Finally, new instrumentation in the Innovation Partnership Building of the UConn Technology Park is being purchased and we will update you when this occurs.
Alicia Huckle, our new financial manager, brings considerable experience from the Hartford Regional Campus of UConn. Josh Strecker is our new building manager who also brings considerable experience in building management from UConn Storrs. We are very fortunate to have such talented people as part of IMS. We are dedicated to continually improving the teaching, research, and outreach efforts of the Institute of Materials Science. We have received outstanding guidance from the IMS External Advisory Board and from faculty members of the Internal Advisory Board. We look forward to hearing from all of you. Materials Efforts are alive and well in IMS. We appreciate all of the help each of you has given to IMS. Sincerely, Steven L. Suib Director, Institute of Materials Science
There are several new staff members in IMS that are making a major difference in our everyday lives.
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