9400372 Beasley The Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) known as the Center for Materials Research (CMR) at Stanford University supports research over a wide area of materials science, with a strong emphasis on providing support through shared facilities for the materials community at and around Stanford University, including industry. The research program is organized in three interdisciplinary research groups. Investigators in the group concerned with superconducting materials seek a broad understanding of the behavior of transition metal oxides, including high temperature superconductors. Researchers aim to extend the selection of such materials for possible electronic application and explore possible new device concepts. The group investigating structure and reactivity of oxide surfaces focuses on materials relevant for heterogeneous catalysis and environmental geochemistry. The magnetics group investigates materials problems related to the use of magnetic thin films in the data storage industry. Its initial goal is to understand the three related phenomena of giant magnetoresistance, magnetic anisotropy in thin films, and optical Kerr rotation in magnetic thin films. The center supports the development, operation and maintenance of shared experimental facilities for materials research. It provides seed funding for exploratory research and fosters research participation by undergraduates. This MRSEC is associated with an educational outreach program with emphasis on attracting and retaining women and underrepresented minorities in materials science and has initiated a summer science outreach program to predominantly minority high school students. The center administers an industrial outreach program. It currently supports about 20 faculty, 5 postdoctoral research associates, 4 technical staff member, 24 graduate students, and 10 undergraduates. This MRSEC is directed by Professor Malcolm R. Beasley. ***
