MSE Networking Event Promotes Collaboration

William Bowman

April 24, 2019 - The Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) recently held a workshop and networking event, MSE@UCI, for faculty to share their research expertise and interests. More than 20 faculty members from various engineering disciplines and physical sciences participated, each providing an overview of his/her work.

Department Chair Julie Schoenung organized the full-day event. “Our goal was to promote collaboration and build collegiality within our MSE community,” said Schoenung. “We were successful, as many people expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to participate and meet new collaborators.”

Associate Dean of Research and Innovation Efi Foufoula-Georgiou and Vice Chancellor for Research Pramod Khargonekar both attended and spoke of the importance of the new department to the Samueli School and wider campus.

The MSE department resulted from the reorganization last year of the chemical engineering and materials science department into two new departments: MSE and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.

MSE faculty member Allon Hochbaum found the workshop valuable as it provided a different kind of information from what he would have derived by reading a colleague’s technical publications. “There is a wide range of top-notch materials research happening on campus, and this event showcased them comprehensively and in a way that was instrumental to appreciating the impact of others’ work,” said Hochbaum, an assistant professor of material science and engineering. “As faculty, I think it’s easy to narrowly focus on one’s own research and that of close collaborators, but just like at broad national conferences, watching presentations from disparate fields is a great way for me to think outside the box in my own field. This event was perfect for exactly that kind of thinking.” 

– Lori Brandt