Princeton Materials Institute

The Princeton Materials Institute (PMI) is an interdisciplinary research center at Princeton University.  Our mission includes graduate and undergraduate education and research, which will have a long-term impact on society.  The key element of PMI is the integration of the sciences and engineering, with work spanning from fundamental theory through applications and entrepreneurship.  PMI interacts closely with industry, government laboratories and other academic institutions. 

Research in PMI can be broadly categorized as falling into six main scientific directions: Quantum Materials and Structures, Large-Area Materials and Devices, Optics and Sensors, Bio-Nano Interface, Patterning and Self Assembly and Computational Materials Science.  A guiding principle of PMI is to not only to deepen our strengths in traditional areas of materials science and photonics, but also to pursue emerging opportunities at the intersection between traditional fields. One exciting intersection is that between the communities of "hard materials," such as semiconductors, and that of “soft materials", such as those of organic or biological materials and soft condensed matter. 

PMI offers a formal undergraduate program leading to a Certificate in Materials (a minor starting with the Class of 2025), in which students take a combination of core courses within PMI accompanied by electives offered by departments and participate in research with PMI faculty.  At the graduate level PMI offers a multidisciplinary program in cooperation with academic departments. PMI also conducts extensive educational outreach programs on several levels.