From left to right: Ken Livi, associate research scientist and director of operations at the MCP; Mitra Taheri, professor and director of the MCP; Ed Schlesinger, Benjamin T. Rome Dean of the Whiting School of Engineering.

Johns Hopkins’ Materials Characterization and Processing (MCP) facility, housed in the Stieff Silver building, has been quietly revolutionizing materials science and engineering for four years. On September 25, this world-leading center for cutting-edge research into the atomic structure of materials was showcased to the world. 

The MCP’s Innovation Nexus: Workshop and Celebration event attracted more than 200 attendees, including some of the world’s leading experts from academia, government, and industry, along with JHU faculty, staff, and students. Over 40 speakers and panelists explored the role of AI and machine learning in materials science, examining its transformative potential in applications ranging from discovering new materials to solving complex societal problems. The day also featured demonstrations of the facility’s state-of-the-art equipment, including the JEOL Grand Arm II microscope, the only one of its kind in the country, and capable of visualizing materials at the atomic level.  

“This is an exciting time to be a part of Johns Hopkins University, with transformational changes rippling across the institution— especially here in the School of Engineering as we execute our vision for preeminence,” said Ed Schlesinger, Benjamin T. Rome Dean of the Whiting School of Engineering, in his opening remarks. 

JHU President Ron Daniels also addressed attendees, noting that the MCP’s home building began its life in the 1920s as a silverware factory and is now home to a facility where researchers are advancing the discovery of lifechanging materials.  

“Here, we have a space drawing on the latest advancements in machine learning and computing to unlock altogether new methods of not just identifying—but also manipulating and synthesizing materials of the highest caliber,” said Daniels. 

Mitra Taheri, professor of materials science and engineering at the Whiting School and director of the MCP, introduced it as a model for future facilities.  “On the surface, the facility looks just like another new laboratory, but really, we are pushing the boundaries of machines to collect and process data. The facility is an experiment to figure out what the lab or foundry of the future should be,” she said. 

AI and Machine Learning in Materials 

Speakers addressed the advent of AI and how researchers can harness the technology to achieve their goals. They discussed how they are incorporating AI into academic curricula, teaching students that AI can benefit their pursuit of scientific discovery.   

“AI can never replace scientists,” said speaker Eric Stach, Robert D. Bent professor of materials science and engineering at the University of Pennsylvania and scientific director for its Singh Center for Nanotechnology. “It can help understand materials better through advanced characterization that employs these technologies.” 

Grand Challenges, Grand Opportunities 

Speaker Diran Apelian, distinguished professor of materials science and engineering at the University of California Irvine, discussed how materials could contribute to solving many of the challenges that society faces, such as producing sustainable energy and combating climate change.  

“While materials are commonly wasted and contribute to global pollution, AI could help recycle materials by sorting out elements, making scrap metals useful for other applications,” he said.   

Taheri agreed, noting that tools like the MCP’s electron microscopes can analyze a material’s microstructure, helping determine other potential uses that could benefit society and address these complex challenges.  

“The interactive and intelligent infrastructure of the MCP allows scientists to respond to grand challenges in society – critical materials reduction, human health, clean energy, space exploration, and more,” she said. 

Imagining The Future of Materials Research 

In his presentation, Jason Hattrick- Simpers, professor of materials science and engineering at the University of Toronto, explored how to optimize communication between groups—such as industry, academia, and the government—who are working together to advance materials discoveries.   

“The real challenges are how to align incentives, build trust, and manage expectations across three sectors that don’t align. Understanding each other’s goals requires persistent communication to build strong relationships,” he said. 

Ken Livi, associate research scientist and director of operations at the MCP, told the group that he believes the MCP can act as a catalyst towards unity between industry, academia, and government. 

“By expanding outside our academic boundaries, we provide unique opportunities for our students, for businesses to solve difficult problems, and for government agencies to provide otherwise unobtainable services for the people,” he said. “The MCP works best and thrives when we have a diversity of partners and users. Everyone gains when we open our doors.”