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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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.

News from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

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Geetha Srikantan named 2026 Engineer of the Year
3/17/26
The award is presented to a school alum or closely affiliated person with distinguishing activities in alumni, community, business and professional affairs.
Couple's Gratitude Leads to Endowed Chair
4/22/21
"We feel a great sense of gratitude to the university. Our educations there made such a huge difference in our lives."
Whittaker recognized for advancing structural engineering
4/2/26
Andrew S. Whittaker, SUNY Distinguished Professor, received the Ernest E. Howard Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers.
The Privitera Scholarship and the American Dream
2/28/24
Sal Privitera is empowering the next generationn of engineers through a scholarship endowment.
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.
SEAS ranked 32nd in undergraduate engineering programs among public universities
9/23/26
U.S. News & World Report has once again ranked the University at Buffalo among the nation’s top public colleges and universities.
Whittaker appointed National Grid Chaired Professor
9/11/26
Andrew S. Whittaker, SUNY Distinguished Professor and National Academy of Engineering (NAE) member, has been appointed National Grid Chaired Professor in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.