The Center for Materials Research is a dynamic organization that has recently experienced significant growth. This growth was spurred by the completion of the Dozoretz Research Wing in 1998, and is being progressed with the continued support of the Department of Energy, NASA, National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education (Title III).

Norfolk State University is a member of the Laser Processing Consortium (LPC), which is composed of over twenty-five industry, university, and government partners. CMR faculty actively participate in both fundamental and applied research studies with the Free Electron Laser at Jefferson Lab. The research will focus on photochemistry and photonic materials, and is expected to impact flat panel display and computer technologies.

NSU has a long standing partnership with NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA. Our research spans several major NASA interests, including materials for structural aerospace applications, crystals for new lasers for lidar applications, and data analysis for atmospheric studies.

A partnership with University of Virginia's IGERT program in the area of Science and Engineering of Laser Interactions with Matter (SELIM) has opened up new intellectual opportunities for NSU students. Other significant academic partners include Virginia Tech, William & Mary. Completion of the M.S. degree in Materials Science now allows one to transfer into Ph.D. programs at those institutions.

As the CMR develops new technologies of interest for commercialization, NSU will pursue appropriate partnerships with industry to facilitate technology transfer. Such arrangements will benefit students of NSU and other citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia as new jobs are created in high technology industries. Of special interest is our involvement in the Applied Research Center in Newport News, VA.