MDS-Rely Hosts Its 2024 Fall Meeting
On August 27 – 28, the MDS-Rely Center held its 2024 Fall Meeting at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. MDS-Rely is a National Science Foundation (NSF) Industry University Collaborative Research Center (IUCRC) founded in 2021 by the University of Pittsburgh and Case Western Reserve University to foster partnerships between industry and academia, advancing research, innovation, and workforce development.
The event brought together 40 attendees from 14 organizations, featuring industry-faculty breakout sessions, project proposal discussions, and a specialized bootcamp led by Dr. Erika Barcelo of Case Western Reserve University. The meeting provided a platform for industry professionals, faculty, and students to exchange ideas, strengthen collaborations, and explore emerging research opportunities.
A highlight of the event was the keynote Fireside Chat with Benjamin Messmore, Technology Director at Avient Corporation—an Ohio-based leader in polymers, composites, resins, and advanced materials. Messmore offered valuable insights into Avient’s research and innovation strategies.
Dr. John Kitchin, a chemical engineering professor at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), also attended the meeting. CMU is currently in the process of becoming the third MDS-Rely site. Kitchin brings expertise in machine learning and data-driven materials design and has developed software tools like LitDB, which helps industry and researchers efficiently manage and stay updated on academic literature. As part of CMU’s proposal to join the Center, PPG, Covestro, and Westinghouse have expressed their commitment to becoming MDS-Rely members.
“MDS-Rely’s focus on data-driven research and materials reliability creates immense opportunities for collaboration between industry and academia. By leveraging cutting-edge data science approaches, we can redefine how materials are developed, used, and maintained—while also providing students with real-world exposure through industry partnerships, internships, and unique datasets,” said Paul Leu, MDS-Rely Partner Site Director and Professor and B.P Faculty Fellow at Pitt’s Swanson School of Engineering. “The ability to connect research to practical applications is invaluable, and we’re excited to continue building these relationships.”
To date, the center has secured over $1 million in research funding from its member organizations, published 14 research papers, and mentored more than 40 students. Its current members include National Energy Technology Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Parker Hannifin, U.S. Army Devcom Armaments Center, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Eaton, Naval Nuclear Laboratory, Westinghouse, Catalyst Connection, and the Frontier Mission Network.