AI-Accelerated Superconductor Discovery: From Algorithms to Novel Materials

6/25/2025 | Richard Hennig (University of Florida)

The 'AI for Superconductivity' workshop, held on April 28-29, 2025, gathered experts in artificial intelligence and superconductivity to share insights and explore future developments. The program included talks, discussions, a poster session, and a dinner for networking. Key topics covered advances in crystal structure prediction, generative AI in superconductor discovery, collaboration between academia and industry, and the quest for room-temperature superconductors.

Educational and Outreach Activities in Kadkhodaei’s Lab

6/20/2025 | Sara Kadkhodaei (University of Illinois-Chicago)

In the 2023-2024 academic year, Kadkhodaei's project supported two PhD students and one undergraduate, leading to one PhD being awarded. The team engaged in outreach, presenting a science demonstration to middle school students during a workshop. They also worked to better incorporate advanced computational methods into the materials engineering curriculum at UIC and advised undergraduate students competing in a national design competition, which led to a research article authored by the students.

Prediction and Synthesis of Next Generation Superhard Functional Materials

6/20/2025 | Eva Zurek (SUNY-Buffalo)

Zurek led an informative talk and workshop on crystal structure prediction using the XtalOpt evolutionary algorithm at a summer school hosted by the PARADIM Materials Innovation Platform at Johns Hopkins University. The event focused on "Data Driven Materials Discovery" and aimed to equip students with skills to apply a data-driven approach in designing and creating quantum materials with specific properties.

Prediction and Synthesis of Next Generation Superhard Functional Materials

6/20/2025 | Russell Hemley-(University of Illinois Chicago)

Students from UIC's Physics, Chemistry, and Materials Engineering programs have gained practical experience in high-pressure sample preparation and experimental techniques at labs and synchrotron facilities. This initiative has fostered collaboration among students and researchers from various U.S. departments and international institutions like the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in India, focusing on joint research and training in developing next-generation superhard materials.

Chemical Engineering Summer Camp: Separation Science & Water Filtration

11/21/2024 | Xiao Su (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

For undergrad and graduate chemical engineering education, Su and Calabrese taught Mass Transfer and Separations courses at UIUC (ChBE 422) and UMN (ChEn3006), providing a unique opportunity to train future engineers on emerging separations technologies.

Increasing Computational Protein Design Literacy through Cohort-based Learning for Undergraduate Students

10/25/2024 | David Baker and Neil King (U. Washington)

This program provides a model of structured computational research training opportunities for undergraduate researchers in any field for organizations looking to expand educational access.

Undergraduate Research Involving Pulsed Layer Deposition (PDL) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)

6/24/2024 | Haiyan Wang (Purdue University)

This project supports 4 PIs and their graduate students in working on the collaborative project covering thin film growth, characterization, materials modeling, device simulation and processing

Broader Impact Through the 3D Microstructure Workshop

5/22/2024 | Gregory S. Rohrer, Carnegie Mellon University

The DMREF sponsored a three-dimensional (3D) microstructure workshop August 18-20, 2023. This was our most successful workshop so far, in the sense that we exceeded our limit for the maximum number of participants (60).

Distributing Materials Science Classroom Kits for High School Students

5/17/2024 | Mo, Hu, Haile, Harmer, Marvel Univ. of Maryland, Northwestern Univ., Lehigh Univ.

The outcome of the computation, experiments, and iterative feedback loop from this project are integrated into multiple courses taught by the PIs. This integration of research and education enriches the educational experiences and outcomes for students, fostering a new generation of scientists and engineers equipped with advanced MGI skills in computational and experimental materials science.

Crystals and Clinker Teacher Workshop

5/14/2024 | Geoff Brennecka (Colorado School of Mines)

Geoff Brennecka and the Ceramics and Glass Industry Foundation hosted the Crystals and Clinker Teacher Workshop at Colorado School of Mines on October 14, 2023, that introduced twenty regional middle- and high-school teachers to materials science concepts and activities.

Broader Impact Highlights