Everything is made of something.
Making a more sustainable and healthier world starts with imagining new materials. Everything from renewable energy to medical devices to consumer electronics can be advanced by improving the materials they are made from.
Our Programs
Studying the properties of materials and their applications is ideal for those who are excited to work at the forefront of industries like electronics, energy, and healthcare.
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Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Build a strong foundation through hands-on labs, modern facilities, and a senior research or design experience.
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Master of Engineering (M.Eng.)
A one-year, non-thesis degree focused on industry-ready skills and applied learning.
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Master of Science (M.S.)
A two-year, thesis-based program centered on research, specialization, and academic rigor.
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Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Advanced, interdisciplinary research training for students pursuing original contributions to the field.
Strategic Areas of Research
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Bioinspired Materials and Systems
Bioinspired composites, engineered protein films for adhesion, lubrication and sensing applications, molecular tools for in-vitro and in-vivo imaging, and biomaterials for tissue engineering and drug delivery.
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Electronics and Photonics
Oxide semiconductors, 3D integration, materials beyond silicon, high K and low K dielectrics, plasmonics, spintronics and multiferroics.
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Energy Production and Storage
Photocatalysis, photovoltaics, thermoelectrics, phononics, batteries and supercapacitors.
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Green Technologies
We have targeted green composites and new systems for CO2 capture and conversion as areas of future growth.
News Highlights
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Awards honor Duffield Engineering faculty for teaching, advising
The Cornell Duffield College of Engineering celebrated faculty commitment to education at its 2026 Fall Faculty Reception, honoring this year’s Teaching and Advising Award winners for their contributions to outstanding curriculum design, teaching methods, student mentoring and faculty development.
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Data centers, drawing concerns over water and power, may have another surprise impact: Forever chemicals
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Duffield Engineering announces first recipients of Breakthrough awards
Innovative projects to enhance quantum research, experiential learning, semiconductor workforce development, and AI utilization in the Cornell Duffield College of Engineering will receive the first-ever awards from the Duffield Engineering Breakthrough Fund.
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SUPREME Annual Review at Cornell features breakthrough semiconductor research and students shaping the future of energy-efficient electronics
Cornell University welcomed more than 180 researchers, students, industry partners and federal leaders to Ithaca July 22–23 for the 2026 SUPREME Annual Review,
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Where the Beam Points Next: Autonomous Experiments Take Shape at CHESS
An X-ray experiment at Cornell recently did something unusual: It decided for itself where to take its next measurement.
Upcoming Events
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Dr. Lei Tian Distinguished Lecture Series: Emanuela Del Gado (Georgetown)
Connected matter: the architectures of soft materials Soft materials that we eat, spread, squeeze, or 3D print are typically gels – soft amorphous solids whose structural integrity relies on sel…
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Dr. Lei Tian Distinguished Lecture Series: Matthew Harrington (McGill)
A bio-inspired playbook for sustainably fabricating strong materials using transient interactions and fluid phases In nature, certain organisms fabricate materials with properties that outperform thos…