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Core Faculty
TMI's core faculty lead cutting-edge research by running their grants through the institute, fostering collaboration and resource sharing.
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Graduate Program
Our Materials Science and Engineering program is one of the best in the nation, and our graduates go on to be leaders in their fields.
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Research
TMI supports interdisciplinary research at UT Austin, with over 100 faculty focusing on clean energy, nanotechnology, and advanced materials using our state-of-the-art facilities.
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TMI Researchers Develop AI-Driven Platform to Design Advanced Thermal Materials
Researchers at the Texas Materials Institute, Dr. Yuebing Zheng and Dr. Kan Yao, along with other researchers from three additional universities, have developed a powerful new design platform that uses machine learning, computer simulations, and experimental testing to create next-generation thermal metamaterials. These materials are engineered to control how heat is emitted as light, with potential applications in energy efficiency, aerospace, and advanced electronics.
This new framework dramatically expands the possibilities for designing materials by exploring a much larger range of structures and material combinations than ever before. It enables precise control over how materials interact with light at the nanoscale, paving the way for scalable, real-world applications.
The Koo Research Group Presents at National Space and Missile Materials Symposium
The Koo Research Group recently went to the National Space and Missile Materials Symposium. The conference was held from June 23rd to 27th in Norfolk, VA. Attendees from the group included Professor Joseph H. Koo, lab manager Ben Rech, and graduate research assistants Samantha Bernstein, Steven Kim, and Akshar Mashruwala, and undergraduate research assistant Courtney Bui.
The group presented a total of six oral presentations and three posters on their research. Courtney Bui won second place in the Student Poster Award for her presentation on “Processing and Characterization of Rayon Carbon Fiber/Polysiloxane Composites for Aerospace Applications”. The conference was an excellent presentation and networking opportunity for the group, where discussions about thermal protection systems and ablative materials were myriad.
Guihua Yu Wins UAE’s Global Water Award
Texas Engineer Guihua Yu won the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award from the United Arab Emirates for his breakthrough work to provide clean, drinkable water using renewable solar energy.
Guihua Yu, a professor in the Cockrell School of Engineering’s Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Materials Institute and UT Energy Institute, was selected as the sole winner in the Distinguished Researcher Award category of this year’s awards from the UAE.
Dr. Huiliang Wang Publishes in Nature Communications
Dr. Wang’s research group has made a significant contribution to the field of wearable neurotechnology with the publication of a research article in Nature Communications, one of the top journals in the field.
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Texas Materials Seminar Series
The Texas Materials Seminar Series features MSE 397 Seminars, TMI Distinguished Lectureships, and TMI Special Seminars, where leading faculty and professionals from around the world share cutting-edge innovations and advancements in materials engineering with our students.
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$12M+
In Grant Funding
20+
Research Patents
10K+
Sq. Ft. of Research Labs
News
Terry Zheng Awarded UT Chevron Energy Graduate Fellowship
Tianrui (Terry) Zheng, a Materials Science & Engineering graduate student working with Dr. Guihua Yu, is a recipient of the 2026-2027 UT Chevron Energy Graduate Fellows Award from UT's Energy Institute.
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Awardees
We are excited to announce that two MS&E students, Arvin Sharma and Aisha Lizaola, have been awarded the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP).
Two New Publications Advance Innovative Synthesis Methods for Next-Generation Battery Materials
We are excited to share updates on two recent publications in Nature Energy and Nature Communications from Dr. Yijin Liu and his group, highlighting breakthroughs in battery material synthesis aimed at improving cathode performance, durability, and manufacturability.
Recent Advances from Dr. Manthiram
We are excited to highlight a new publication from Dr. Arumugam Manthiram and his team, recently featured in ACS Energy Letters.
Subhashini Sugumar Wins in Empower Your Research Pitch Finals
Subhashini Sugumar, a Materials Science & Engineering graduate student, won the Overall Excellence in Research Communication award for her talk, "Reading a Battery's Mind."