UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
This multifaceted MRSEC enables important areas of future technology, ranging from biomedicine, separations, and plastic electronics to security, renewable energy, and information technology. The UMN MRSEC manages an extensive program in education and career development. Center research activities are integrated with educational programs, providing interdisciplinary training of students and postdocs. The MRSEC is bolstered by a broad complement of over 35 companies that contribute directly to IRG research through intellectual, technological, and financial support. International research collaborations and student exchanges are pursued with leading research labs in Asia and Europe. The UMN MRSEC benefits from an extensive suite of materials synthesis, characterization and computational facilities.
Highlights
IRG 3 Research Highlight: Phase-Locking of Spin Transfer Torque Oscillators
Spin waves are the magnetic analog of acoustic or light waves, and they have frequencies in the microwave regime. This work by IRG-3 student Xi Chen explored the microscopic mechanism by which two nanometer scale oscillators canlocktogether, resulting in an enhancement of their output power. Chen calculated the pattern of spin waves generated by two phase-locked spin transfer torque oscillators. The pattern is somewhat like the ripples generated by two rocks thrown in a pond, except that the pond is a region of ferromagnetic film less than 250 nm in diameter and the ripples propagate with a frequency of tens of gigahertz. Read More
Education Highlight: Magnetics Day - Magnetism in Technology
Three PI's (Paul Crowell, Dan Dahlberg, Chris Leighton) and four graduate students (Mike Erickson, Mike Manno, Greg McKusky, and Tanner Schulz) organized a day of activities including hands-on demos in the morning, a lunch with recent PhD graduates in industry, and an afternoon of projects. The participants were high school students in the Institute of Technology Center for Education Programs (ITCEP) Exploring Careers in Science & Engineering summer camp. Read More
NSF awards a 2009 Partnership for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) to the University of Texas-Pan American and the University of Minnesota MRSEC
The objective of the PREM program is to broaden participation of under-represented groups and enhance diversity in materials research and education. The objective is achieved by encouraging formal, long-term, multi-investigator, collaborative research and education partnerships between women- and minority-serving colleges and universities, colleges and universities dedicated to educating a majority of students with disabilities, and NSF Division of Materials Research (PREM) -supported centers and facilities. Read More
Tim Lodge (IRG 1) Receives ACS Award in Polymer Chemistry
Distinguished McKnight University and Lloyd H. Reyerson Professor Timothy P. Lodge has been selected to receive the ACS Award in Polymer Chemistry. Sponsored by ExxonMobil Chemical Co., this national award acknowledges the impact in basic science of a researcher's body of work in the broad field of polymer chemistry on our global needs for advanced polymeric systems and materials. Tim joins an elite group of previous awardees. His award will be presented at the 239th ACS National Meeting in San Francisco, CA in March 2010. Read More
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modified on January 22, 2009