About the Harvard MRSEC

The Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) at Harvard University supports world-class research, education, and outreach activities (flyer) at the forefront of soft matter science through the auspices of the National Science Foundation.

Our two Interdisciplinary Research Groups (IRGs) seek to create new classes of soft functional materials and to provide new insights into the behavior of mechanically soft systems far from equilibrium. An important mission of the Center is to train and retain generations of students in materials science and engineering by cultivating innovation and entrepreneurship in our students, postdocs, and the whole community. By forging new scientific directions, the Center focuses on unraveling complex phenomena in soft materials with the goal of translating these advances to benefit society.