NSF commits $108M to six universities for advanced materials discovery collaboration

The U.S. National Science Foundation has announced a six-year $108 million commitment to six Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers at U.S. universities to advance frontier materials science. Recipients include advanced materials research centers at Brandeis University, Columbia University, Harvard University, the University of Chicago, the University of Delaware, the University of Tennessee. Each center will receive $3 million annually to pursue research spanning quantum materials, AI-driven materials discovery, drug delivery, critical minerals, microelectronics, and advanced manufacturing. The investment also will strengthen the U.S. research workforce by supporting more than 60 early career researchers, 150 graduate students, and 250 undergraduate students.