A Foundation for Next-Gen Materials

April 8, 2025 – The University of Pittsburgh, Case Western Reserve University, Carnegie Mellon University, Northeastern Illinois University and prominent national laboratories and manufacturing companies gathered today at their semi-annual meeting of the Center for Materials Data Science for Reliability and Degradation (MDS-Rely) to foster innovation, share knowledge, and shape the future of materials science throughout the U.S. The event, which was held at the University of Pittsburgh, brought together experts in academia, industry, and research, aimed to bridge the gap between cutting-edge data science techniques and material development in manufacturing sectors.

The meeting was hosted by a coalition of leading universities and attendees included Parker Hannifin, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, EATON, the National Institute of Science and Technology, Naval Nuclear Lab, Westinghouse, PPG, Covestro, and dozens more, marking a significant step toward improving the efficiency and sustainability of manufacturing processes through advanced materials science in the U.S. MDS-Rely serves as a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration, enabling the integration of data science, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning into materials discovery and optimization.

In recognition of Westinghouse joining the consortium, the keynote speaker was Lou Martinez Sancho, Westinghouse Chief Technology Officer, Executive Vice President R&D and Innovation, on “The Use of AI in the Materials Science Innovation Process.”  

“Materials science has always been critical to advancing the nuclear industry,“ Sancho said. “Now, applying AI technologies such as machine learning and neural networks to materials science, we can explore massive data sets to digitally analyze material behavior and even predict properties before ever stepping foot in the lab.“

Other highlights included:

• Innovative Research Presentations by faculty, experts and students: Latest research findings were presented, demonstrating the potential of data-driven approaches in the development of next-generation materials for a wide range of applications, from electronics to aerospace and defense.
• Collaborative Partnerships: The meeting and Dinner Fireside Chat with Thomas Day at Frontier Mission Network and Petra Mitchell at Catalyst Connection underscored the importance of strengthening partnerships between academic researchers and industry leaders to address the growing demand for high-performance, sustainable materials in manufacturing.
• Interactive Breakout Groups: Attendees engaged in hands-on breakout focused on practical applications of data science in materials design, including Grid Electrification, Polymer Formulation and Optimization, Data Management: FAIRification, AI for Material Science, and Digital Twins.
• Future Visions: The group discussed future initiatives, such as a planned meeting in Chicago in late May to early June, development of LitDB software to help curate and collect scientific literature, and fostering talent development through joint educational programs.

“MDS-Rely continues to serve as a hub for collaboration between academia, industry, and government,” said Paul Leu, University of Pittsburgh Site Director of MDS-Rely. “By bringing together leading minds in data science and materials research, we’re driving breakthroughs that will strengthen U.S. manufacturing and ensure long-term technological leadership.”

“The MDS-Rely Center is a unique organization that lets us bring novel solutions and tools to really important materials problems that are currently impacting society in the areas of security, energy, coatings, long-lived parts, and more,” said Laura Bruckman, Center Director.

MDS-Rely is committed to advancing the field of materials data science by continuing to bring together experts across disciplines to accelerate the development of innovative materials that will transform industries worldwide.