10/22/2026 Lauren Laws
The Grainger College of Engineering announced Thursday that Qian Chen, professor and Racheff Faculty Scholar, will be the next director of the Materials Research Laboratory, effective November 1.
Written by Lauren Laws
The Grainger College of Engineering announced Thursday that Qian Chen, professor and Racheff Faculty Scholar, will be the next director of the Materials Research Laboratory, effective November 1.
Chen is an internationally recognized materials scientist whose research focuses on imaging, understanding, and engineering soft, biological, and energy materials at the nanoscale, as well as self-assembly and electron microscopy. Her research has been published in leading journals such as Science, Nature, and Nature Materials. Chen's accolades include the MRS Outstanding Early-Career Investigatory Award, the NSF CAREER Award, the Hanwha-TotalEnergies IUPAC Young Scientist Award, and she has also been named a Sloan Research Fellow in Chemistry and was named on the Forbes 30 under 30 Science List.
"As director, Professor Chen brings a compelling vision for MRL’s future, with opportunities to advance AI-enabled research and autonomous instrumentation, strengthen capabilities in areas such as energy materials and bioengineering, deepen industry engagement, and pursue new funding opportunities," said Dean Rashid Bashir in his announcement. "Her experience leading interdisciplinary research initiatives, national collaborations, and professional organizations positions her well to build upon MRL’s strengths and expand its impact."
Chen joined the University of Illinois faculty in 2015 but has been active with MRL for nearly sixteen years, beginning when she was a graduate student. MRL has played an important role in her research, giving her a deep understanding of the laboratory's capabilities, operation, and strategic importance to the research enterprise.
“MRL has been an important part of my academic journey, and I am deeply honored to serve as its next Director," said Chen. "What makes MRL truly special is not only its world-class scientific capabilities, but also the exceptional people and collaborative spirit that drive discoveries and innovation. I look forward to working with our community to build on this remarkable foundation, push new scientific frontiers, and shape an exciting future for MRL.”
Chen earned her PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign under her advisor Professor Steve Granick. She completed her postdoctoral work at the University of California, Berkeley under Professor A. Paul Alivisatos as a Miller Fellow.
Chen will replace Professor Pascal Bellon who has been the Interim MRL Director since August 16.
Qian Chen is an Illinois Grainger Engineering professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. She is also affiliated with the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, the Department of Chemistry, the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, the Materials Research Laboratory, the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology. She is also the Racheff Faculty Scholar within the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
Pascal Bellon is an Illinois Grainger Engineering professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. He is affiliated with the Materials Research Laboratory. Bellon holds the Donald W. Hamer Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering appointment.
Rashid Bashir is the Dean of The Grainger College of Engineering and is a professor in the Department of Bioengineering and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He is affiliated with the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, the Materials Research Laboratory and the University of Illinois Holonyak Micro + Nanotechnology Laboratory. Bashir holds the Grainger Distinguished Chair in Engineering.