Transforming the Modern Foundry

Mission Statement

The Materials Characterization and Processing (MCP) facility serves as the central core resource for interdisciplinary materials research and characterization at Johns Hopkins University. As an open user facility, the MCP provides researchers with a comprehensive suite of advanced instruments capable of processing and examining materials from the macroscale down to the atomic level. Supported by expert technical assistance, the MCP fosters a collaborative research environment and drives scientific breakthroughs.

Director's Welcome

The MCP paves a path toward a future of autonomous science, realizing the goals of the Materials Genome Initiative through integrated processing, characterization, and data science. Incorporating advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning, heterogenous computing, and networking data-transfer and storage capabilities, the MCP boasts an interdisciplinary user center that propels the JHU campus into the future of characterization and processing.

State of the art electron microscopy, spectroscopy, X-Ray and scattering tools are co-located with processing platforms ranging from biological and metallic 3D printing to high throughput combinatorial thin film sputtering capabilities. Tying these approaches together is a dedicated data storage and AI/ML infrastructure, with including edge and near edge computing to meet large and fast volumes of data at the speed of discovery. Development of novel AI-enabled toolsets sets the MCP apart from its peers, and provides a platform for users to experience autonomous experimentation in a user environment.

These tools build upon and expand capabilities across the JHU community, from the biological and cryo TEM capabilities in the Beckman Center at the School of Medicine to the advanced light microscopy capabilities at the Integrated Imaging Center. The MCP will foster implicit and explicit connections between both these and future capabilities, helping to lead efforts in materials research and education at JHU and beyond.

– Mitra Taheri

Greetings from the Executive Director

Welcome to the Whiting School of Engineering’s MCP! Our mission is to provide access to cutting-edge instrumentation, enabling foundational materials research that drives innovation and technological advancements. We offer a collaborative multidisciplinary research environment, educational engagement and technical expertise for our user community – both those from JHU, as well from the broad research community in academia and industry. With broad capabilities in materials characterization and synthesis, and computing resources, the MCP welcomes a broad, diverse, national set of users, who are preparing the Nation to meet the needs of next-generation technologies.

– Souleymane Diallo