The Center for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing (CAMM) at the University of Tennessee invites faculty, researchers, industry partners, and other interested participants to join us for the CAMM Interdisciplinary Research Visioning Workshop.

Date: May 20, 2026
Time: 2:30 – 5:00 PM
Location: UT Institute for Advanced Materials & Manufacturing, 2641 Osprey Vista Way, Room 147, Knoxville, TN 37920

CAMM is beginning early strategic planning for a potential third Interdisciplinary Research Group (IRG) as part of our NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC). This session will bring together researchers to explore scientific opportunities that align with emerging national priorities and the future directions of NSF MRSEC programs.

The goal of the workshop is to generate ideas, identify potential collaborations, and begin shaping the scientific vision for a future IRG. The session will include several brief concept presentations followed by breakout discussions to explore promising directions in more depth. 

Participants are encouraged to come prepared with short idea pitches (approximately 3–5 minutes) that address topics such as:

• Emerging scientific opportunities in materials research
• Interdisciplinary collaborations that could form the basis of an IRG
• Connections to national research priorities or major federal initiatives
• Opportunities for integrating research, education, and workforce development

To help familiarize participants with the MRSEC model and the structure of IRGs, you may find the following information helpful:

NSF MRSEC Program Overview

NSF MRSEC Program Solicitation (NSF 26-500)

Currently Funded MRSECs

UTK-MRSEC NSF Award Details

What is a MRSEC (pronounced "MER-sek")?

The NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC) program supports interdisciplinary materials research and education at universities across the United States. MRSECs bring together researchers from multiple departments and disciplines to address fundamental scientific challenges in materials science while integrating education, outreach, and workforce development.

Key elements of MRSECs include:

• Interdisciplinary research teams
• Integration of theory, computation, and experiment
• Education and workforce development initiatives
• Partnerships with national labs, industry, and other institutions
• Broad societal impact and community engagement

What is an IRG?

An Interdisciplinary Research Group (IRG) is the central research unit within an MRSEC. Each IRG focuses on a cohesive scientific theme that requires expertise from multiple disciplines and research approaches.

Typical IRG characteristics include:

• A focused, high-impact research theme
• Collaboration across multiple departments and fields
• Integration of experimental, theoretical, and computational approaches
• Multiple faculty investigators working toward shared scientific goals
• Opportunities for graduate and undergraduate training

IRGs typically involve 5–10 faculty investigators and support students, postdocs, and collaborative research infrastructure.

Please RSVP here if you are interested in participating, and feel free to share this invitation with colleagues who may have relevant expertise.