Material Science and Engineering

Your clothes. Your water bottle. The screen you’re looking at right now. They're all made from materials.

Now imagine if you could make these materials stronger, safer and more sustainable. Sound interesting? Then this is the major for you.

Whether you want to design longer-lasting batteries, more comfortable contact lenses, or solar panels that can be made without toxic materials, this is where you start. It's the perfect program for people who love chemistry and data—and want a major that can (literally) touch all of our lives.

What will I learn?

Most students start with classes and labs in physics, calculus and chemistry. As you get into your junior and senior years, you'll typically take more courses focused on thermodynamics, kinetics, properties of materials and methods for characterizing materials. This is a data-intensive program—the first of its kind in the United States—which means you’ll also learn how to use data science, machine learning and statistics to speed up the process of designing and developing materials.

What can I do outside of class?

When you get involved, you get the most out of your education.

  • Internships, co-ops and experiential learning. Students have opportunities to work with local and national organizations to get real-world experience; UB also offers numerous on-campus programs, such as tinkering programs and engineering intramurals.
  • Student groups. At UB, you’ll find dozens of engineering student clubs where you can make friends, network with professionals, and participate in national competitions.
  • Research. Undergrads can work closely with faculty on data-driven research projects. Faculty typically conduct research in methodology science and discovery science.
  • Study abroad. If you’re looking for a life-changing experience and international perspective, consider going abroad; UB engineering students have traveled to Costa Rica and Europe during summer and winter breaks.

 

Hands On / Experiential Learning
Student Clubs
Research
Study Abroad

What can I do with a material science and engineering degree?

Materials are everywhere, which means you'll find career opportunities in a wide variety of industries and fields. Whether you want to work in aerospace, biotechnology, energy, health care or other areas, you’ll likely find plenty of ways to use your degree.

From research and teaching to working at a start-up or government agency, here are just a few of the things you can do:

  • Develop hydrogels that can help wounds heal faster after surgery.
  • Design longer-lasting, more affordable batteries for electric vehicles and household storage.
  • Improve the accuracy of biosensor devices like glucose monitors.
  • Create tools that let researchers study the shape of molecules in real time.
  • Use machine learning to quickly review journals and gather insights about safer chemical manufacturing processes.

Who will I learn from?

At UB, we've attracted some of the top researchers and teachers in this field, in part because this is the first university department in the U.S. focused entirely on training students in data-driven material discovery and design.

As teachers, our faculty members share their passion for designing materials that can help address climate change and other sustainability-related challenges. They are here to inspire you, mentor you and prepare you for a career that you love.

Our faculty members have authored and co-authored hundreds of peer-reviewed journal articles, been named SUNY Distinguished Professors, held dozens of U.S. patents, and been elected Fellow of leading professional organizations, including the Los Alamos National Laboratory, the Materials Research Society, the American Physical Society, the American Ceramic Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the National Academy of Inventors.

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Student Guide