Materials Science and Engineering

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Stanford University is concerned with the structures and properties of nanoscale components. Working at the atomic and molecular levels, our faculty and students design and engineer materials that drive breakthroughs in critical fields such as solar energy production, energy storage, information technology, and medicine. From its roots in metallurgy, the discipline has expanded to encompass polymers, ceramics, glass, composites, and biomaterials, with the ultimate mission of breaking through material limitations to enable technological progress.

Academic Programs and Pathways

Stanford’s curriculum is informed by its focus on the structures and properties of nanoscale components. The department offers several degree pathways to prepare the next generation of materials scientists and engineers:

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.): Provides comprehensive training in the fundamentals of materials engineering across both soft and hard matter. The curriculum combines basic lecture-based courses, advanced classes, and hands-on instructional laboratories.

• Coterminal Program: Enables current Stanford undergraduates to work simultaneously toward a bachelor’s (B.S.) and master’s (M.S.) degree in Materials Science and Engineering. Students may apply for admission after earning 120 units toward graduation.

• Graduate Degrees: Offers advanced study and research training through three graduate-level degree programs: the Master of Science (M.S.), the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), and the Engineer degree.

Students across all programs benefit from a highly collaborative academic environment, often working alongside researchers in chemical engineering, applied physics, electrical engineering, and medicine.

Diverse Research and Advanced Facilities

The department supports 15 distinct areas of research, ranging from computational materials science to thin-film deposition and organic polymer materials. Much of this work takes place in the William F. Durand Building, the Jack A. McCullough Building, and the Gordon and Betty Moore Materials Research Building.

Students and faculty leverage a world-class network of shared and specialized facilities, including:

• The McCullough/Moore Complex: Home to the Center for Magnetic Nanotechnology (CMN), the Stanford Nanocharacterization Laboratory (SNL), and the Nanoscale Prototyping Laboratory (NPL).

• Shared Research Laboratories: Researchers frequently collaborate and conduct investigations in the Stanford Nanofabrication Facility (SNF), the Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials (GLAM), and the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (SSRL).