The Materials & Surface Science Institute was established in 1998 with the mission to provide a centre of excellence generating state-of-the-art fundamental research on topics of industrial significance in the fields of surface science and materials. The Institute houses a multidisciplinary team of scientists (chemistry, materials science, physics and biochemistry) and engineers (mechanical, aeronautical, biomedical, manufacturing and electronic) who undertake research focused on the design of materials for (i) Health, (ii) Transport, (iii) Energy and (iv) Clean Technology.

MSSI researchers are engaged in the design, synthesis, processing, characterisation and modelling of materials with expertise covering the full range of materials supported by state of the art infrastructure and facilities.  Unique expertise in MSSI exists in biomaterials and biomedical engineering, pharmaceutical materials, composite materials, nano materials and materials for energy generation & storage. MSSI has 43 PIs supervising over 154 PhD students and 32 post-doctoral researchers.  Between 2006 and 2010 MSSI researchers have generated over €30M in research income and over €20M in large capital grants.

In 2010, a Research Assessment Exercise, closely modelled on the UK RAE, rated 90% of our research as having international impact, with 10% receiving the highest possible rating of world-leading.

Goals of the Institute

• The training of post-graduate and post-doctoral researchers
• The generation of high quality publications in basic and applied research
• The provision of state-of-the-art facilities in a small number of specialisms
• The development of high quality research collaborations with industrial partners that support economic development
• The generation of quality intellectual property (IP) of value to the Institute and to industrial collaborators and the exploitation of this IP through patents, licences and spin out companies
• The provision of significantly improved opportunities for research collaboration
• The provision of specialised training services in advanced topics within the core competence of the Institute