Materials Design and Innovation Fund

UB Chemical and Biological Engineering professor Eli Ruckenstein.

Support the first department of its kind in the United States through this fund.

The Department of Materials Design and Innovation (MDI)—part of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences—is the first department in the nation conceived and established entirely for training a new generation of scientists and engineers in the methods of data driven materials discovery and design.

At MDI, we are addressing society’s need for significant acceleration of design and discovery of new materials, emergent properties and processing strategies that impact a broad range of technological applications (including advanced manufacturing and biosciences) in a socially responsible manner. The department is committed to accelerating science-based solutions to solve pressing societal problems such as climate change and environmental sustainability.

This forward-leaning, interdisciplinary department is centered on establishing knowledge discovery in materials science by combining the study of materials with information and data science. Here, we aim to shatter the boundaries of conventional thinking, and transform the training and education of materials scientists and engineers.

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Other Engineering and Applied Sciences Funds

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Gregory B. Jarvis Scholarship Fund
8/24/26
Established in 1986 by Mrs. Marcia Jarvis & Moog Controls, Inc., the fund provides annual scholarships in memory of Gregory B. Jarvis to undergraduate students pursuing a degree in the University at Buffalo School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
Dr. John Zahorjan Student Scholarship Fund
8/24/26
Established in 2000 by the son of the late Dr. John Zahorjan, this fund supports engineering students who are eager to apply what they've learned in the classroom. Preference is given to students wishing to pursue the Master of Engineering in Engineering Management concentration in Production Management.
Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering Department Fund
8/24/26
The Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering—part of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences—is a vibrant engine for generating the knowledge, tools, and leadership needed to address society’s most challenging problems in the natural and built environments.
Materials Design and Innovation Fund
8/24/26
The Department of Materials Design and Innovation (MDI)—part of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences—is the first department in the nation conceived and established entirely for training a new generation of scientists and engineers in the methods of data driven materials discovery and design.
Ruckenstein Endowment Fund
8/24/26
Professor Eli Ruckenstein has been a pioneer in numerous areas, advancing almost every area of interest to chemical engineers. He conducted both theoretical and experimental research that not only has increased scientists’ understanding of the fundamental phenomena of chemical processes, but has led to the development of enhanced research methods and new materials.
Rosalyn Z. Gammerman Scholarship Fund
8/24/26
The Rosalyn Z. Gammerman Scholarship Fund was established to provide a semester award to a worthy student completing “Technical Communications for Engineers.”
Electrical Engineering Department Fund
8/24/26
Nowadays, most everything we use in our daily lives has a power source and a chip and implements some sophisticated communication protocol and data/signal processing algorithm.
Computer Science and Engineering Department Fund
8/24/26
Founded in 1967 by a computing pioneer, the Computer Science and Engineering Department was one of the first in the nation.
Clifford C. Furnas Eminent Professors Fund
8/24/26
Named for a former President of UB, this fund provides stipends to students holding Furnas Memorial Student Research Assistantships in UB’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. In addition, the fund honors professors who are both teaching and conducting research in engineering and applied sciences, providing them with the title of Clifford C. Furnas Eminent Professor.
Chemical and Biological Engineering Department Fund
8/24/26
The Chemical and Biological Engineering Department—part of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences—is an international leader, creating innovative technological solutions to address global challenges in the areas of health, energy and the environment.
Engineering Education Resource Fund
8/24/26
At the Department of Engineering Education within the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, we believe that the engineering education system in the United States succeeds in producing knowledgeable, competent and qualified engineers, but it could do so more effectively and efficiently. At the same time, the engineering education system in the U.S. fails to produce a diverse population of engineers at all degree levels.
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department Fund
8/24/26
In the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (part of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences), we realize that mechanical and aerospace engineers have the opportunity to change the world.
Biomedical Engineering Development Fund
8/24/26
At the Department of Biomedical Engineering, we strive to improve the health and well-being of humans through education, research, and technology development at the intersection of engineering and health.
Industrial and Systems Engineering Resource Fund
8/24/26
Created in 1946, the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering is one of the founding departments of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at UB. Here, we are committed to advancing research and education in numerous disciplines, including operations research, production systems, manufacturing, quality, simulation and human factors.
Matthew Grappone Scholarship Fund
8/24/26
Mattnew Grappone received his BS in Aerospace Engineering in 1987 and his BS in Mechanical Engineering in 1997, and was employed at Computer Information Technology (CIT — now known as UB Information Technology) at UB. Matt spent 12 of his 30 years connected with UB in these two areas, before he passed away unexpectedly.
Engineering Fellowship and Scholarship Fund
8/24/26
Fellowships and scholarships play a critical role in helping the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences attract and retain leading students, further enhance the diversity of our student body, and remain one of the top public engineering universities in the Northeast.

News from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

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University at Buffalo chemical engineering faculty develop paths to recycling multilayer plastic films
9/24/26
Packaging made of flexible multilayer films, used in products such as food wrappers and medication packaging, are not currently recycled.
Amjad Aref named chair of civil, structural and environmental engineering
4/10/26
Amjad Aref will assume the role on July 1, 2026. He succeeds Alan Rabideau, who has served as the department’s chair since 2022.
Dissolution creates new path to recycling flexible plastics
3/2/26
PP and PE are used as packaging materials, snack wrappers, microwave containers, and other flexible, plastic films. Their flexibility makes them resilient to recycling processes, and these plastics often end up in landfills or leak into the environment.
New device advances possibilities for displays and biosensing
1/27/26
UB researchers have developed a new device that can change color and behavior on demand. This technology could change the next generation of consumer products, like e-readers and smart watches, and biosensors used in liquid biopsies.
Rudra recognized with third Test of Time award in last two years
8/20/26
Data and communication are critical pieces of many systems. For decades, computer science theorists worked to determine the best way to recover information when it gets corrupted in ways designed to make recovery difficult.
Constantinou recognized with ASCE’s Walter P. Moore Jr. Award
2/9/26
Michael Constantinou, SUNY Distinguished Professor in the University at Buffalo Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, is the recipient of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Walter P. Moore, Jr. Award.
The Backbone for Success
4/21/22
Dick Osborne is a firm believer in the power of education—so much so, he's created two substantial legacies at UB to support others' education.