Carnegie Mellon University announced as third MDS-Rely site

Carnegie Mellon University has received a U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to serve as the third research site for the Center for Materials Data Science for Reliability and Degradation (MDS-Rely).

Founded in 2021 by Case Western Reserve University and the University of Pittsburgh, MDS-Rely is an NSF Industry-University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) that promotes partnerships between industry, governmental organizations, and universities to advance research, innovation, and workforce development. Through close collaboration and the use of data science, the center solves current challenges and advances understanding of essential materials.

"The addition of CMU to MDS-Rely advances the Center's capabilities in materials data science and artificial intelligence," says Laura Bruckman, Director of MDS-Rely and Climo Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Case Western Reserve. "MDS-Rely allows us to advance industry's capabilities to formulate, design, and manufacture materials and components for today's economy."

"We are delighted to join MDS-Rely and their partners," says John Kitchin, John E. Swearingen Professor of Chemical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon. "We have synergistic interests in materials data science and artificial intelligence that will elevate research in these areas and advance materials development in our region and the national economy."

MDS-Rely members include Eaton, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, National Energy Technology Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Naval Nuclear Laboratory, Parker Hannifin, PPG, U.S. Army Devcom Armaments Center, and Westinghouse. These members form the Industry Advisory Board, funding and shaping the Center's research portfolio through regular engagement with project teams and Center leadership.

The NSF fuels these collaborations and provides essential financial support to the Center.

Semi-annual research meetings provide robust networking opportunities for students, faculty, and industry attendees, while also serving a critical purpose in convening the Industry Advisory Board to direct Center research funding and priorities.

"We're very excited to add Carnegie Mellon to MDS-Rely," says Paul Leu, MDS-Rely Partner Site Director and Professor and B.P. Faculty Fellow at Pitt's Swanson School of Engineering. "With its long history of innovation in AI and its robust materials and data research ecosystem, Carnegie Mellon will be a tremendous asset to the Center."

CMU joins MDS-Rely as it enters the fifth year of its Phase 1 award and begins planning for its Phase II proposal. "MDS-Rely has engaged more than 40 students and 17 faculty, and it produces 20 publications and software packages with over $1M in research funding," shares Bruckman, "and we are excited to have Carnegie Mellon join to catalyze our impact as we prepare for our next phase."

For media inquiries, please contact Lauren Smith at lsmith2@andrew.cmu.edu.