Symposium Sessions

Making up the core of the Meeting are five topical clusters of the technical program, encompassing 56 symposia. They are grouped as follows: Characterization and Theory; Electronics and Photonics; Energy, Storage and Conversion; Nanoscale and Quantum Materials; and Soft Materials and Biomaterials.

LATE NEWS—HOT TOPIC coverage will feature: artificial intelligence; responsive and adaptive materials; sustainability; emerging biomaterials (synthetic biology, 3D biology, and bioelectronics); quantum materials; and more!

The Fred Kavli Distinguished Lectureship in Materials Science

John A. Rogers will present The Plenary Session Featuring The Fred Kavli Distinguished Lectureship in Materials Science on Tuesday, April 14, 8:15–9:30 am, in PPC North, Ballroom 120 D. Rogers is the Louis Simpson and Kimberly Querrey Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Chemistry, and Neurological Surgery at Northwestern University. He is also the founding director of the endowed Center for Bio-Integrated Electronics.

Rogers’s presentation is titled, “Functional Materials for Bioelectronic Neural Interfaces.” Advanced electronic/optoelectronic devices built with classes of materials that enable intimate integration with soft tissues of the brain and the peripheral nervous system will accelerate progress in neuroscience research; they will also serve as the foundations for new approaches to regenerative medicine and to the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Capabilities for injecting miniaturized electronic elements, light sources, photodetectors, thermal actuators, multiplexed sensors, programmable microfluidic networks and other components into precise locations of the deep brain, or softly laminating them onto the surfaces of nerves, will open up unique and important opportunities in stimulating, inhibiting, and monitoring behaviors of complex neural circuits. This presentation will describe concepts in materials science and assembly processes that underpin these types of technologies in one-, two-, and three-dimensional architectures. Examples include “cellular-scale” optofluidic neural probes for optogenetics research, 3D mesoscale networks for study of neural activity in developing organoids, and integrated systems for closed-loop control of bladder function by neuromodulation.

Rogers obtained his BA and BS degrees in chemistry and physics from The University of Texas at Austin. He received SM degrees in physics and chemistry, and his PhD degree in physical chemistry from the Massachussetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Rogers’s research includes fundamental and applied aspects of nano- and molecular-scale fabrication, as well as materials and patterning techniques for unusual electronic and photonic devices, with an emphasis on bio-integrated and bio-inspired systems.

The Rogers Research Group at Northwestern University works to understand and exploit interesting characteristics of soft materials, such as polymers, liquid crystals, and biological tissues, and hybrid combinations of them with unusual classes of inorganic micro-/nanomaterials—ribbons, wires, membranes, or tubes. Their current research focuses on soft materials for conformal electronics, nanophotonic structures, microfluidic devices, and microelectromechanical systems.

Rogers’s awards include the Benjamin Franklin Medal from The Franklin Institute (2019), the MRS Medal (2018), the Samuel R. Natelson Award from the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (2018), the Nadai Medal from The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (2017), the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society Trailblazer Award (2016), and the ETH Zürich Chemical Engineering Medal (2015). He has published more than 650 papers, and is an inventor on more than 100 patents and patent applications, more than 70 of which are licensed or in active use by large companies and startups that he has co-founded.

Awards and Recognition Program

The MRS Awards and Recognition Program—Featuring Lightning Talks and Panel Discussion with Award Recipients will be held on Monday, 6:30–8:00 pm, at the Sheraton Hotel. Following the Awards and Recognition program, stay for interactive “lightning” talks by recipients of the following awards: Innovation in Materials Characterization Award; Mid-Career Researcher Award; E-MRS EU-40 Materials Prize; and the Outstanding Early-Career Investigator Award.

This is your opportunity to engage with MRS thought leaders as they discuss their award-winning research. Our “Powerful Panel” will address materials science hot topics and current trends, as well as the impact these new technologies will have on society.

Meeting Events

Symposium X—Frontiers of Materials Research will feature presentations aimed at a broad audience and on topics at the forefront of research on materials science and engineering. Featured this year are Reshma Shetty, Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc. (“Designing Biology” on Tuesday); Christine Ortiz, MIT (“Socially Directed Science and Technology Education, Research and Innovation—Opportunities and Challenges for the Field of Materials Science and Engineering” on Wednesday); and Vijay Narayanan, IBM T.J. Watson Research Center (“The Golden Age of Materials Innovations—From High-ĸ/Metal Gate to AI Hardware” on Thursday). All three talks will be in Ballroom 120 D, PCC North, 100 Level, 12:15–1:15 pm.

The MRS Public Outreach Committee is presenting several professional development and education outreach programs. (Check individual events for seating limits and preregistration requirements.)

Designing Sustainability into Materials Research Workshop. Many sustainability initiatives are focused on the development of technologies that minimize carbon footprint and energy use. In this interactive workshop on Monday, April 13, 2:00–5:00 pm, attendees will learn to expand the definition of sustainability to include aspects that limit sustainable materials development. The workshop will entail various modes of learning including presentations, videos, team discussions, and direct data access to information sources that can facilitate sustainable materials development in research activities. This workshop is appropriate for materials researchers at all career stages, including faculty and industry researchers, students, and early-career professionals. Preregistration is required. Limited seating is available for this free session.

Real-Life Challenges and Opportunities in Sustainable Product Design Seminar. Learn how to incorporate sustainability principles into your research in a more comprehensive way while considering the real-world application of these principles to product design and manufacturing. Many sustainability efforts focus on improving resource efficiency by creating materials and devices that are less energy-, water-, and material-intensive, but to be commercially viable and have a global impact, researchers need to balance adverse short-term impacts with potential long-term gains. This seminar will be held on Monday, April 13, 8:00–9:00 pm and Tuesday, April 14, 7:30–8:30 pm, and is aimed at materials researchers of all career stages, from students and postdoctorate researchers to faculty and industry researchers.

The How to Prepare for Your ABET Accreditation Session will help materials departments prepare for their ABET visit. The training is on Tuesday, April 14, 7:15–9:30 pm, and the session can be attended without registering for the Meeting. Remote access will be available if unable to attend in person: mrs.org/spring2020-abet-training.

The Early Career Professionals Subcommittee will host a new poster session for members seeking careers in industry and government laboratories on Wednesday, April 15, titled Meet Your New Industry and Government Candidates—Poster Session. This event offers an opportunity for recruiters and talent scouts from industry and government laboratories to meet new candidates. If you are interested in an industry or a government laboratory position but need a more effective platform to work with recruiters, or if you are a recruiter looking for talented candidates, this session is for you. The Early Career Professionals Subcommittee will also host a professional development session titled How to Land a Faculty Position: From Application to Interview on Monday, April 13, 1:30–4:30 pm. This seminar is for students and early career professionals interested in learning more about the faculty application process in the United States and Europe.

The Student Engagement Subcommittee will host a Bridging the Gap Between Academia and Industry—Interactive Panel Session on Monday, April 13, 1:30–4:30 pm. The panel will include researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry specialists discussing their experiences and strategies to develop and commercialize their research, as well as starting a successful company or organization.

Meeting attendees are invited to participate in the popular MRS Frontiers Reception—Building Communities, featuring PowerPoint™ Karaoke on Thursday, April 16, 5:30–8:00 pm, in PCC North, 100 Level, Ballroom 120 D. PowerPoint Karaoke starts at 5:30 pm with participants showcasing their research in an interactive and fun way. The Frontiers Reception immediately follows at 6:30 pm. Topics featured during this interactive reception include sustainability, emerging biomaterials, artificial intelligence, quantum materials and technologies, responsive and adaptive materials, and other emerging areas. Be a part of this exciting brainstorming mixer!

The popular Women in Materials Science & Engineering Breakfast will be held at the Sheraton on Wednesday, April 15, 7:00–8:30 am.

Green Cards for Scientific Researchers—How to Win Your EB-1/NIW Case! will take place on the Exhibit Hall Stage on Tuesday, April 14, 2:30–3:30 pm. This will cover and compare the criteria for EB-1A classification for foreign nationals of extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics; EB-1B classification for foreign nationals who are outstanding researchers and professors; and the National Interest Waiver (NIW) Category. For more information, visit click4immigration.com.

The Materials for Next-Generation Nanoelectronics Workshop will take place on Thursday, April 16, 8:30 am–12:00 pm. It will cover various topics of materials for nano-electronics across the entire value and innovation chain, from fundamental research up to industrial applications. The workshop goals are to provide select examples of technology transfer and first industrial deployment and to illustrate the particular role of research and technology organizations.

The MRS Publications Booth 100 will be featured in the Exhibit Hall. Stop by to learn about the MRS Publications Portfolio on Tuesday, 2:00–7:00 pm and Wednesday, 11:00 am–7:00 pm.

Essentials of Getting Your Work Published will be held in PCC North on Monday, 3:30–5:00 pm. Learn about the fundamentals of successful scientific publishing from MRS journal editors-in-chief.

The MRS Communications Lecture will be in PCC North on Monday, 5:15–6:15 pm.

Poster Sessions will be held in PCC North, 300 Level, Foyer, on Tuesday, 9:00 am–7:00 pm and Wednesday, 7:00 am–7:00 pm. The Meeting chairs will recognize the best presentations each day of the Poster Sessions. One or more awards of up to $500 will be presented based on the posters’ technical content, appearance, graphic excellence, and pres-entation quality.

2020 MRS SPRING MEETING REGISTRATION RATES

2020 MRS Spring Meeting registrations include MRS Membership from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021.

*MRS reserves the right to request proof of full-time student status.

As part of the MRS/Sociedad Mexicana de Materiales Student Poster Award Exchange Program, Best Poster awardees from the XXVIII International Materials Research Congress (IMRC) 2019 will present their posters at the 2020 MRS Spring Meeting. Posters will be displayed in the Exhibit Hall, PCC North, on Tuesday, 5:00–7:00 pm.

The popular Science as Art competition is open to all registered Meeting attendees. Multiple first- and second-place awards of $400 and $200, respectively, will be presented. Guidelines are listed on the 2020 MRS Spring Meeting website.

MRS will host a Career Fair in the Exhibit Hall, PCC North, on Tuesday, 2:00–7:00 pm and Wednesday, 11:00 am–7:00 pm to connect job seekers with recruiters and showcase available career opportunities. Attendees can discuss their qualifications directly with recruiters, participate in mock interviews, have their resume critiqued, and network with employers. Register online and upload your resume at jobs.mrs.org or stop by the Career Fair to access the registration stations.

Materials Voice will be available on-site in the Exhibit Hall on Tuesday and Wednesday for members to help support sustained federal research funding. It is quick and easy to send letters on current funding concerns and policy issues that are important to the materials research community. There will also be a Research Funding Opportunities Session on Monday, 5:30–8:00 pm. This session provides interaction between government funding agency presenters and MRS Membership. Invited talks will be followed by a roundtable question and answer session with individual program managers.

A Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowship Program Information Session will be available for attendees to learn about the MRS/OSA and MRS/TMS Congressional Fellowships on Tuesday, 4:15–5:15 pm. Former Fellows will share their experiences as scientists in the US Senate and House of Representatives.

Meeting Information

Details of various events and activities will be available via the MRS Meeting App and in the Meeting & Exhibit Guide available on-site. The MRS website can also be accessed for updated information on confirmed talks and details on special events, information on obtaining a visa, and preregistration at mrs.org/spring2020.

The deadline to preregister for the 2020 MRS Spring Meeting is March 27 (11:59 pm ET). International travelers are reminded to begin the visa process early. For additional information on the Spring Meeting, contact MRS Member Services via e-mail info@mrs.org or tel. 724-779-3003.

2020 MRS SPRING EXHIBITORS

mrs.org/spring2020/exhibit

Phoenix Convention Center, North Building, 300 Level, Exhibition Halls C–E

Booth 228 AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowshipsstpf-aaas.org Fellowships; Professional Development

Booth 502 Admiral Instrumentsadmiralinstruments.com Potentiostats and Galvanostats; Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy; Battery Testing; Photo-electrochemistry

Booth 405 AdValue Technology, LLCadvaluetech.com High Quality Materials for Advanced Material Research and Production

Booth 206 AIP Publishingpublishing.aip.org APL Materials; Applied Physics Letters; Applied Physics Reviews; APL Photonics; APL Bioengineering

Booth 301 AJA International, Inc.ajaint.com Sputtering/E-Beam/Ion Milling Systems; Sputtering Sources; Target and Evaporation Material

Booth 224 American Physical Societyjournals.aps.org Journals/Publishing

Booth 200 ANCORPancorp.com High and Ultra-high Vacuum Components

Booth 425 Angstrom Science, Inc.angstromscience.com Atomic Force Microscopes; Scanned Probe Microscopes; Light Microscopes

Booth 207 Anton Paaranton-paar.com Litesizer 500; PSA 1190; SAXSpoint;MCR 302; Step XX0 MCT; TRB3

Booth 227 Arizona State Universitymaterials.asu.com Education; Research; Community Engagement

Booth 404 BioLogicbiologic.net Exclusive Provider of EC-Lab Instruments™

Booth 607 Blue Wave Semiconductorsbluewavesemi.com Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD); Thin Film Deposition Systems

Booth 426 Brukerbruker.com AFM Probes; AFM Systems; Nanomechanics, Nanoelectrics, Nanochemical and Nanoindentation Systems

Booth 105 Cambridge University Presscambridgess/academic Books and Journals

Booth 204 Cell Presscell.com Scientific Journals

Booth 422 CrystalMaker Software Ltd.crystalmaker.com CrystalMaker X; SingleCrystal 4; CrystalDiffract 6

Booth 303 Delcom Instruments Inc.delcominst.com Noncontact Sheet Resistance Meters

Booth 202 Ecopia Corp.four-point-probes.com/ecopia-hms-3000-hall-measurement-system Hall Effect Measurement Systems; HMS-3000 and HMS-5000 Series Systems for Measuring Resistivity

Booth 401 Electron Microscopy Sciencesemsdiasum.com Carbon and Sputter Coaters; Polishing Supplies; Precision Polishers; Cold and Hot Mounting Mediums

Booth 205 EnvisionTEC Inc.envisiontec.com Professional-grade 3D Printers

Booth 307 Gatangatan.com TEM Specimen Preparation; TEM Specimen Holders; TEM Imaging and Spectroscopy; TEM Analysis

Booth 423 Goodfellow Ltdgoodfellow.com Metals; Ceramics; Polymers; Nanomaterials

Booth 402 Hummingbird Scientifichummingbirdscientific.com TEM; SEM; X-ray Synchrotron Specimen Holders

Booth 302 ibss Group, Inc.ibssgroup.com Plasma Cleaner

Booth 525 Ionoptika Ltd.ionoptika.com ToF SIMS; Single Ion Implantation; Gas Cluster Ion Beams

Booth 306 Janis Research Company, LLCjanis.com Cryogenics; Probe Stations; Cryostats

Booth 505 JASCOjascoinc.com JASCO Spectra Manager Software; Spectroscopy and Chromatography Instrumentation

Booth 203 KP Technology Ltd.kelvinprobe.com Ambient-pressure Photoemission Spectroscopy; Surface Photovoltage Spectroscopy; Kelvin Probe Systems

Booth 400 Kurt J. Lesker Companylesker.com Pure Targets and Materials; Vacuum Components; Thin Film Deposition Systems

Both 406 Lake Shore Cryotronicslakeshore.com Cryogenic Probe Stations; Hall Effect Measurement Solutions; Vibrating Sample Magnetometers

Booth 522 M. Braun Inc.mbraun.com Inert Gas Purification Systems; Standard and Custom Enclosures; Thin Film Coating Equipment

Booth 427 McCrone Groupmccrone.com JEOL Benchtop SEM; Linkam Thermal Stages; Microscopes; Analytical Services

Booth 322 MilliporeSigmasigmaaldrich.com Nanomaterials; Energy and Electronics; Biomaterials

Booth 523 MKS Instruments, Inc.newport.com Class AAA Solar Simulators

Booth 507 MTI Corporationmtixtl.com Powder PVD Coating System; Vacuum Melt Spinning System; High Throughput Coin Cell Assembling System

Booth 226 Nanoscale Science User Centersnsrcportal.sandia.gov User Facility; Nanoscience Research; Nanoscience Tools and Capabilities

Booth 222 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicinenas.edu/fellowships Fellowships; Research Awards; Graduate Funding

Booth 327 National Security Agency Research Directoratelps.umd.edu Research; Physics; High-performance Computing

Booth 305 neaspec GmbHneaspec.com neaSNOM; nano-FTIR

Booth 600 Nextronnextron.co.kr Micro Vacuum Probe Station

Booth 300 Nor-Cal Productsn-c.com High and Ultra-high Vacuum Components

Booth 223 NT-MDT America, Inc.ntmdt-si.com Spectrum Instruments

Booth 529 Park Systemsparksystems.com Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) Systems

Booth 528 PerkinElmer, Inc.perkinelmer.com Analytical Instruments

Booth 504 Picoquant Photonics North Americapicoquant-usa.com Laser Sources; Photon Counting Electronics

Booth 601 Plasmaterials, Inc.plasmaterials.com Sputtering Targets; Backing Plates; Precious Metal Reclamation Program; Sputtering Target Bonding; Evaporation Materials

Booth 524 Protochipsprotochips.com Axon; Fusion Select; Poseidon Select; Atmosphere

Booth 429 Quantum Designqdusa.com Automated Material Characterization Systems

Booth 604 R.D. Mathis Companyrdmathis.com Evaporation Sources; Evaporation Materials; E-Beam Liners

Booth 323 Rigakurigaku.com MiniFlex 6G; SmartLab; SmartLab SE; AutoMATE II; HyPix-3000

Booth 503 SAES Groupsaes-group.com HV and UHV NeXTorr Pumps; CapaciTorr Pumps; Wafer Modules

Booth 325 Scienta Omicronscientaomicron.com Electron Spectroscopy; Scanning Probe Microscopy; Thin Film Deposition

Booth 201 SPI Supplies, Division of Structure Probe, Inc.2spi.com Sample Preparation in SEM, TEM, Optical and AFM Disciplines

Booth 101 Springer Naturespringernature.com Books and Journals

Booth 506 Staib Instruments Inc.staibinstruments.com RHEED; Auger; Surface Analysis

Booth 304 TA Instrumentstainstruments.com Technology for Thermal Analysis; Rheology and Thermophysical Properties

Booth 501 Ted Pella, Inc.tedpella.com Microscopy Supplies; Sample Preparation Supplies; Vacuum Coaters

Booth 329 Vigor Tech USAvigor-glovebox.com Gloveboxes; Inert Atmosphere Research Equipment

Booth 424 Wafer World, Inc.waferworld.com Silicon Wafers; Geranium Wafers; GaAs Wafers; Clean Room Packaging

Booth 407 J.A. Woollamjawoollam.com Spectroscopic Ellipsometers; Thickness and Refractive Index

Booth 500 Xenocsxenocs.com Small Angle X-ray Scattering Instrumentation (SAXS)