Dropped your phone in a pool of molten lava? No worries! Hundreds of newly discovered materials could create electronics capable of surviving even the harshest scenarios imaginable. Find out how Stefano Curtarolo and colleagues calculated them into existence as part of a MURI award, which helped them nab another MURI.

The fundamental causes and inner workings of most autoimmune diseases are shrouded in mystery. Find out why Christine Payne believes synthetic nanoparticles covered in DNA will uncover their secrets.

Modeling the movements of self-assembling DNA structures takes days. Check out how Gaurav Arya's lab took a step back from the details to enable the modeling of thousands of base pairs in a fraction of the time to discover new dynamics.

Biomolecules called chaperones help proteins maintain their shape and functionality under stressful conditions. Read how Piotr Marszalek lab is working to provide new insights into how these cellular mechanisms protect us from unravelling.

The Brazilian test has been used to predict material failure for the better part of a century. Discover why John Dolbow and his colleagues say there are misconceptions about the test that are regularly leading to the wrong conclusions.

After growing up in India with unreliable electricity, PhD candidate Akash Singh has never been afraid to blaze a trail. Check out how his self-driven, hands-on education led to working with David Mitzi and the discovery of a new kind of solar energy material with the support of Duke faculty.

Over 1700 da Vinci surgical robots are already installed worldwide. Read how Duke's Traineeship in the Advancement of Surgical Technology led by Brian Mann is developing the engineers who will invent the next wave of robotics to transform the health care industry.

Graduating senior Connor Gregg got involved with Duke Motorsports because of his ability to weld. Check out how this basic skill evolved into him becoming president of the club and building a dynometer to test their racecar's engine.

Duke MEMS's Senior Design course has evolved through many iterations over the past decade. See how today's version gives students the opportunity to address real-world challenges and create usable prototypes with industry collaborators.

Duke Engineers have garnered a lot of attention to kick off 2024. Find out which faculty and students were recognized this spring for their outstanding achievements and contributions.

From helping the community through the student-run organization Duke eNable to exploring art and creativity with her own projects, discovery how graduating senior Reyna Vrbensky's journey goes well beyond engineering.

When Becky Simmons first got to Duke in the 1990s, she wouldn’t have guessed it then, but a future awaited her that included graduate school, a husband, two daughters, professorship and ties that would bind them all to Duke for decades. Hear why she - and her daughters - consider Duke an extension of their family.

Follow @DukeEngineering on Instagram for more!

“These high-resolution cryomicroscopy capabilities developed at Duke are crucial to understanding complex hard-soft material interfaces, such as those found in novel dielectric nanocomposites or advanced energy storage materials.”

—MEMS CHAIR CATE BRINSON,

on two new Duke nanoscale fabrication and
microscopy facilities unique to the region

Dear Colleagues,

I am excited to share with you just a handful of the highlights from our department over the past few months. From creating new materials for electronics that can withstand lava-like temperatures to probing the minuscule inner workings of DNA self-assembly and autoimmune diseases, our materials science research at Duke is forging new directions in the field. With a growing excellence in surgical robotics and student-led, hands-on projects, our mechanical engineering programs continue to develop tomorrow's leaders in a wide variety of fields. I am incredibly proud of everything our faculty, students and staff have accomplished in 2024, and can't wait to see what the rest of the year has in store!

Cate Brinson, PhD
Donald M. Alstadt Chair and
Sharon C. and Harold L. Yoh, III Distinguished Professor

Background image for "On Camera": George Hart, Geometry Ascending a Staircase (2013), from the Duke Engineering art collection.

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