Industry

CCAM Engagement with Industry

UCI MRSEC (CCAM) is committed to developing a thriving research hub in the Southern California academic-industry ecosystem for materials discovery and innovation. The Center provides opportunities for technology transfer to industry through groundbreaking research and training of young materials scientists and engineers for successful career pathways and through engagement with an established industrial advisory board (IAB).

With the strong leadership of Innovation and Collaboration Directors, Prof. Diran Apelian (IRG-1) and Prof. Stacy Copp (IRG-2), the Center has made immense efforts to 1) cultivate relationships with Industry via workshops, 2) establish the UCI MRSEC collaboration opportunity research program (MRSEC-CORPs) by hosting external visitors, and 3) create research nexus for academia, industry, and national laboratories by training and support at shared facilities (IMRI) and specialized materials research laboratories at UCI.

From the inaugural year of CCAM, the UCI MRSEC has established many “bridges” with the industrial sector and national laboratories. Connections to the industrial sector have occurred on two fronts: (i) strategic relations established via an MOU between research teams and a company; and (ii) establishment of an IAB. The CCAM IAB currently consists of 22 prominent individuals from various industrial and national laboratory technology sectors (https://ccam.uci.edu/people/industrial-advisory-board), and its responsibilities are to provide feedback and propose ideas on the existing/new research projects and activities and to mentor student researchers seeking opportunity for internships and transitions to professional engineering careers. Dr. David Furrer, Senior Fellow and Discipline Lead at Pratt & Whitney is chair of the industrial advisory board.  IAB members are invited every year (Jan-Feb) for the annual meeting to interact with CCAM participants and discuss academic-industry collaboration and workforce development. The center also regularly hosts distinguished seminars by inviting renowned speakers from the national laboratories and industry; notably Dr. Daniel Miracle of WPAFB in 2022, and Prof. Brian Cantor in 2023.

Shared facilities, IMRI, which are housed with the state-of-art instruments, are crucial to the success of CCAM for the research and education partnerships with industry. In 2021-2022, the facilities served over 43 industrial users from 26 local companies. IMRI and CCAM host the International Symposium on Advanced Microscopy and Spectroscopy (ISAMS), which invites industrial partners and international collaborators to share innovative ideas and expertise that will drive material innovation.

Innovation & Collaboration Leadership