ASU faculty help drive weeklong materials science immersion program's third year

Some programs grow because everything goes right.

The MateriAlZ Winter School program is growing because the people behind it refused to let it stop.

In the first week of January, faculty from Arizona State University and the University of Arizona hosted the third annual MateriAlZ Winter School at Biosphere 2, nestled in the foothills of Arizona’s Santa Catalina Mountains.

Led by Christina Birkel, associate professor in ASU’s School of Molecular Sciences, and organized alongside Scott Sayres and other faculty across both universities, the program welcomed 29 undergraduate students from across the country for a weeklong immersive experience centered on materials science and engineering, soft skills, mentorship and building community, free of charge.

Throughout the week, students attended presentations, workshops and panel discussions spanning nanomaterials, quantum and fusion energy materials, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing. 

Sessions explored fields that are shaping everything from cleaner energy technologies to next-generation electronics.

The program was designed not only to expand technical knowledge but also help students understand what a career in materials science can look like, and what it takes to thrive in it. Sessions focused on skills that often sit outside traditional coursework, from public speaking and science communication to research writing and professional development.

“Our goal is two-fold: give students a holistic view of materials science topics and careers and connect them to a growing MateriAlZ network that continues long after the week ends,” Birkel said. The MateriAlZ network has grown to more than 100 members and is hosted within a private LinkedIn group. 

“These connections matter. We’ve already seen a former Winter School student land a competitive summer internship after being connected to the opportunity through another ... participant.”

The third year of the MateriAlZ Winter School also came with new challenges. Unlike past years, it moved forward without National Science Foundation support.

For many programs, that kind of shift can mean downsizing or ending altogether. Instead, the organizers found a way to keep it going.

Motivated to keep the experience free and accessible for students, the team secured support through ASU and U of A, along with industry-raised funds and contributions from individual principal investigators.

“Our priority is to make the school accessible for all students, including students from diverse backgrounds and universities,” Birkel said. “Money cannot be the deciding factor. We are developing a strong, growing and reliable network, and consistency and continuity are keys to achieve this goal.”

The Winter School’s growth comes at a moment when Arizona’s materials research landscape is expanding quickly, alongside a broader push in the state’s semiconductor and advanced manufacturing sectors.

Set against that backdrop, this year's MateriAlZ Winter School session gave students direct access to both research and industry perspectives, including a panel featuring representatives from Honeywell, Arizona Thin Films, Dassault Systèmes and Polycharge.

For students, the experience was both motivating and grounding, a reminder that materials science isn’t a distant, abstract field. It’s a space where they can build real skills, find mentors and see pathways forward.

“Everything about the program was truly special,” said Cole Pearson, a participant at this year’s MateriAlZ Winter School who traveled from Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania to attend the event. “It provided exactly the introduction to the broad, exciting and growing field of material science and engineering that I sought, and I’ll draw upon this new knowledge for biochemical and biomedical applications in my PhD career and beyond.”

“The atmosphere of community and extensive opportunities to interface with a diverse, driven group of peers and academic/industry leaders was unique and will inevitably be invaluable in my future career,” Pearson continued.

By the end of the week, the goal wasn’t just that students learn more about materials science, it was that they left with a stronger sense of direction and belonging, and a stronger sense that they’re not doing it alone.

Faculty organizers hope the program continues to grow, and if the third year proved anything, it’s that the MateriAlZ Winter School is becoming more than a winter program at Biosphere 2. It’s a community, forged by shared support and a commitment to keeping opportunities open for all students.