Research
Research at the MRL is at the vanguard of materials discovery, synthesis, fabrication and understanding. The MRL facilities empower researchers to make highly functional materials and devices and to discover properties never before observed. The MRL research groups focus on solving the world’s greatest challenges. The MRL community fosters the next generation of scientific researchers. As a result, the MRL is one of the top materials research centers in the world.
Start Your Research at MRL
The mission of the MRL is to foster interdisciplinary research at the forefront of materials science by bringing together world-class scientists and engineers in materials science, condensed matter physics, and materials chemistry in a highly collaborative research environment.
The MRL Facilities educates approximately 400 new users each year in advanced methods for materials fabrication and characterization. This is the year to start your research!
MAJOR RESEARCH PROGRAMS
Center for Hypersonics & Entry Systems Studies (CHESS)
The Center for Hypersonics and Entry Systems Studies (CHESS) is a multidisciplinary team of researchers in The Grainger College of Engineering at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. We draw from expertise in high performance computing and state-of-the-art experimental facilities to support fundamental advances in hypersonics and entry system technologies.
Illinois Quantum Information Science and Technology Center (IQUIST)
The Illinois Quantum Information Science and Technology Center (IQUIST) brings together physicists, electrical engineers, computer scientists, mathematicians, entrepreneurs, and other experts to accelerate growing efforts in quantum information science (QIS). The IQUIST team encompasses the development of quantum computing, simulation, and sensing from the exploration of fundamental science while implementing novel quantum algorithms and state-of-the-art equipment for the fabrication of quantum materials and devices. The Urbana campus is primed to take a leadership role in the coming quantum information revolution as IQUIST develops QIS-focused educational programs for the next-generation quantum workforce.
Illinois Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC)
Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF grant DMR-1720633), the Illinois MRSEC performs fundamental, innovative materials research that has applications to societal needs, and supports interdisciplinary education and training of students in materials design, understanding, and application. IRG1 focuses on the study of metallic antiferromagnetic materials, and IRG2 focuses on the study of active interfaces between highly deformable nanomaterials.
BP International Centre for Advanced Materials (BP-ICAM)
In a partnership with BP, the University of Manchester, the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, and the University of Illinois, BP-ICAM aims to further understanding and use of advanced materials in the oil and gas industry.
Energy & Biosciences Institute (EBI)
The Energy & Biosciences Institute (EBI) provides industrial sponsors access to world-class, collaborative research facilities across the energy, chemical, material sciences, data sciences, engineering, and agriculture sectors.
EBI is headquartered at University of California, Berkeley with partners Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
MRL Related News
U of I hosts World Quantum Day event
- News
- April 23, 2025