Creating new materials for a sustainable future
Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) at UC Santa Cruz is driving the future of technological and sustainable innovations — uniting science and engineering to form bold teams equipped to problem-solve complex research needs.
Sustainable innovations
Sustainability is at the core of our work — we are dedicated to accelerating the acquisition of fundamental knowledge and workforce training required to develop new materials for sustainable technologies, including innovations in energy-efficient electronics, efficient light-harvesting energy sources and energy storage devices.
Materials with impact
Beyond understanding fundamental properties of complex natural systems, MSE plays a crucial role in improving lives by advancing the development of cutting-edge electronic, optical, magnetoelectronic, and bioelectronic devices.
Shaping career success
Students in our program benefit from immersive learning experiences within world-class research groups. Through collaboration with faculty and industry partners, our students gain experience and skills needed to meet real-world challenges in the field — contributing to UCSC’s legacy of environmental stewardship and interdisciplinary collaboration.
World-class graduate programs
UCSC offers MSE programs in both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, enabling impactful research and interdisciplinary collaboration. These programs are supported by esteemed faculty and state-of-the-art facilities — which ensure our students are well-prepared for successful careers.
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)
The REU program at UCSC offers undergraduate students unique opportunities to engage in hands-on research across physics, chemistry, and engineering. Our students actively contribute to the discovery and development of materials crucial for developing sustainable technologies.
Jairo Velasco Jr. Co-Leads Study Featured in Nature Confirming 40-Year-Old Quantum Theory
In a paper published on in Nature, an international team co-led by UC Santa Cruz Materials Science & Engineering Professor, Jairo Velasco Jr., detail an experiment that confirms a theory first put forth 40 years ago stating that electrons confined in quantum space would move along common paths rather than producing a chaotic jumble of trajectories.
Nobuhiko Kobayashi Named a 2026 Fellow of SPIE, the International Society for Optics and Photonics
UC Santa Cruz Materials Science & Engineering Professor Nobuhiko Kobayashi has been elected as a 2026 fellow of SPIE, the International Society for Optics and Photonics. Fellows are Members of the Society who have made significant scientific and technical contributions in the multidisciplinary fields of optics, photonics, and imaging.
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