Dear colleagues,
I hope this note finds you safe and well. So many in our community have suffered devastating losses from the fires that tore through Los Angeles County over the past few weeks. My heart goes out to those who were affected by this tragedy, which serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for innovation in climate solutions and resilience. As one of Southern California’s leading research institutions, UCLA is committed to taking a leadership role in helping our community recover and rebuild. All of us at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) stand ready to offer our expertise in sustainability, transportation, and climate change mitigation; including clean fuel production, efficient cooling, solar technologies, energy storage, recycling and much more.
Having dedicated 28 years of my professional career to the MSE Department at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering as an advisor, professor and researcher, I am honored to now serve as its Chair. Our department may be small in size, but I'd like to think our impact is anything but.
Consider this: 20% of our core faculty members are recognized as highly cited researchers on the Clarivate list. In the last few months, our faculty have secured several major center grants, published a number of papers in leading journals, and reinforced our leadership in cutting-edge research. We recently expanded our research efforts into emerging fields such as AI/ML-driven materials science, quantum materials, and sustainable materials and processes. In 2025, we are building on this momentum by recruiting three new faculty members in AI for materials, semiconductor manufacturing, and clean energy materials — areas that will shape the future of our field. I invite you to read more about our newest developments in this newsletter.
Through collaboration, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, we continue to push boundaries — not just in research, but in shaping a safer and more sustainable future for our communities.
Regards,
Prof. Yang Yang
Chair, Department of Materials Science and Engineering