University of California, Berkeley
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Comprehensive excellence yields innovation with impact
Engineering education and innovation have been integral to the University of California since it was first chartered in 1868. Consistently ranked among the top three engineering schools in the United States, UC Berkeley’s College of Engineering is guided by its public mission to educate leaders, create knowledge and serve society. Berkeley faculty and alumni have shaped every field of engineering, powering industries with cutting-edge research today — in fields ranging from artificial intelligence to sustainable energy to health — that transform the way people live tomorrow.
Through co-curricular activities and a rigorous curriculum taught by world-class faculty, Berkeley Engineering students gain skills in technology, entrepreneurship and design, as well as in leadership and communication, to develop solutions for the benefit of society.
expertise
Multidisciplinary expertise
The field of materials science and engineering (MSE) at UC Berkeley traces its history to the founding of the university nearly 160 years ago. UC Berkeley’s MSE department is renowned for its interdisciplinary approach, combining principles from chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering to develop cutting-edge materials that meet the challenges of today’s world. Its research areas include:
- Chemical and electrochemical materials — includes the scientific and engineering principles utilized in mineral processing and refining materials, along with numerous etching and deposition techniques.
- Computational materials — leverages advances in computational techniques to predict the structural properties of materials at the nanoscale.
- Electronic, magnetic and optical materials — forms highly complex systems, such as integrated electronic circuits, optoelectronic devices, and magnetic and optical mass storage media.
- Soft matter — includes the design and synthesis of biomimetic materials for regenerative medicine, the exploration of material properties far from equilibrium, and the development of next generation 3D printing technology.
- Structural materials — includes fundamental and applied research into the structure-property relationships of materials to engineer materials for advanced applications.
Interdisciplinary excellence and partnerships
Berkeley Engineering leverages the comprehensive excellence of UC Berkeley’s academic and research programs, partnering with top-tier researchers at the Haas School of Business, the College of Chemistry, the Rausser College of Natural Resources and our own institutes to offer specialized degrees in a range of cutting-edge fields.
Core values and mission for societal impact
At the core of Berkeley Engineering’s mission is a culture based on values of collaboration, innovation, excellence and societal impact. Together as a community, the people of Berkeley Engineering invent, design and build solutions for the greater good.
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“With an industry-led centre, we can send students to Australia or South Africa, work in mines, learn from communities, and collaborate across borders — something government-funded research rarely allows.”
Prof Peter Hosemann
Professor and Ernest S. Kuh Chair in Engineering
University of California, Berkeley
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Prof Fiona Doyle
Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
Dr Matthew Sherburne
Director of International Partnership, COE and CEO/Director BEARS
Prof Tarek Zohdi
Associate Dean for Research, College of Engineering
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Research
Pioneering new frontiers in materials research – rethinking how we discover, extract, use and restore resources through radical science, bold ideas and deep collaboration.
Our Team
Meet world-class experts reimagining materials – from governance to social science and technical innovation – across six global partners.
Our Partners
Founded by six global partners, our Centre unites scientific excellence with industry insight – led by Rio Tinto and Imperial College London and spans four continents.
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