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TMI's core faculty lead cutting-edge research by running their grants through the institute, fostering collaboration and resource sharing.
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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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Home
Why Your Headphone Battery Doesn’t Last
AUSTIN, Texas — Ever notice that batteries in electronics don’t last as long as they did when they were brand new?
An international research team led by The University of Texas at Austin took on this well-known battery challenge, called degradation, with a twist. They’re focusing their work on real-world technology that many of us use daily: wireless earbuds. They deployed X-ray, infrared and other imaging technologies to understand the complexities of all the technology packed in these tiny devices and learn why their battery lives erode over time.
ME Advisor of the Year Award Recognizes Tanya Hutter
At the recent Mechanical Engineering faculty meeting, the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Student Board (MEGSB) awarded the Advisor of the Year honor to Tanya Hutter. This recognition highlights her exceptional mentorship and support of graduate students.
Dr. Zachariah A. Page Receives Presidential Early Career Award (PECASE)
Dr. Zachariah A. Page has been awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), one of the highest honors for early-career scientists. Announced by President Joe Biden on January 14, 2025, the award celebrates Dr. Page’s innovative research in chemistry, along with his continued exploration in the broad fields of macromolecular synthesis and materials science.
2025 Hill Prize in Physical Sciences: James Chelikowsky
Chelikowsky, who is a professor of physics, chemical engineering and part of the Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, has been awarded the 2025 Hill Prize in Physical Sciences for his innovative approach to designing and discovering permanent magnets.
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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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News
Prince Alvin Fofanah Recognized in the 2025 Cockrell School of Engineering Student Leadership Awards
The Texas Materials Institute is proud to announce that Prince Alvin Fofanah has been named one of eight undergraduate recipients of the prestigious 2025 Cockrell School of Engineering Student Leadership Award.
Cockrell Ranks Among Top Graduate Programs Yet Again
The Cockrell School of Engineering is once again among the top 10 engineering programs in the nation, finishing No. 7 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-2026 graduate engineering program rankings, released today. In addition, two programs are ranked in the top five, seven in the top 10 and all programs finished in the top 20.
Smoothing Over Rough Edges in Batteries
Texas Engineers have discovered a new phenomenon in modern batteries, one that could be used to improve their life cycles.
Battery performance suffers over time, like when a phone needs to be charged more frequently after years of use. A thin film that forms on the metal anode when the battery is charging and discharging plays a part in that issue. This film has benefits, but its roughness gradually wears the battery down.
Hand-paintable electrodes to study the brain
Measuring brain waves could become easier with electrodes and wires that researchers can paint on the scalp through parted hair using a paintbrush. Made with a conductive polymer ink, the micrometer-thin painted films stick strongly to the skin for up to 3 days, and then peel off, leaving hair intact.
Jin Yang Wins NSF CAREER Award to Study Viscoelastic Materials
Jin Yang, an assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at The University of Texas at Austin, was selected to receive a National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) award for 2025.
$12M+
In Grant Funding
20+
Research Patents
10K+
