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About MC-CAM
The Mitsubishi Chemical Center for Advanced Materials (MC-CAM) is an interdisciplinary materials research center that commenced operations in May 2001 at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). The Center enables a research partnership between the Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) and the greater materials science community housed in UCSB's College of Engineering and physical science departments. This partnership specifically targets the area of functional soft materials and has put into place MCC-funded research projects in this area on the UCSB campus. MC-CAM projects are selected and shaped by a Steering Committee consisting of an equal number of representatives from MCC and UCSB. Project selection is based on the criteria of novelty, relevance to MCC technologies and business goals, and scientific merits. The scientific programs are covered by an intellectual property agreement that provides licensing terms to MCC aligned with its business interests, and that are consistent with the mission of the University of California.
MC-CAM is a Center housed within the College of Engineering at UCSB. MC-CAM is administratively and physically linked with the Materials Research Laboratory (MRL) at UCSB. This connection enables MC-CAM to leverage the physical plant, professional staff, and research facilities and equipment of the MRL, while maintaining its own autonomous research programs. In return, the MRL benefits from MC-CAM annual contributions to enlarge the research equipment base available to both centers, as well as through expanded research and outreach opportunities provided to current MRL participants. MC-CAM's activities are overseen by a Director, Glenn H. Fredrickson, Professor of Chemical Engineering and Materials, representing UCSB. The Associate Director, Dr. Ted Cais, Vice President of the MC-Research and Innovation Center, (Goleta, CA), represents MCC. The Director of MC-CAM reports to UCSB's Dean of Engineering, Matthew V. Tirrell. MC-CAM's scope of activities and strategic focus are determined by the MC-CAM Governing Board. MC-CAM projects are shaped and selected for funding by the MC-CAM Steering Committee.
New Research Themes ("NRTs"). NRTs are small scientific projects involving
one or more UCSB faculty. These projects are designed to explore the potential, by explicit realization or by gathering peripheral
evidence, of a novel idea with relevance to MCC. NRTs are funded for 1 year,
typically in the range of $50,000 - $100,000. Funding can be extended for a
second year if the research results are sufficiently promising at the end of
year one. Particularly successful NRTs can also be expanded into Integrated
Research Projects ("IRPs") in subsequent funding cycles. Currently, only NRTs
are being solicited for funding. NRT proposals will be accepted at any time,
but will be considered by the Steering Committee for funding at four time
points: March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1. These dates will also
serve as canonical starting dates for NRTs. For more information on submitting
an NRT proposal to MC-CAM, see the NRT
Request for Proposals document. Ideally, NRTs should address MCC R&D
targets listed below.
MC-CAM will strive to sponsor New Research Themes and Integrated Research Projects that best meet the scientific/engineering interests and objectives of the UCSB faculty, the educational mission of the university, and the business interests of MCC. A special focus will be on materials, devices, and fabrication technologies relevant to the electronics and optoelectronics industries. Examples of project areas include:
Questions regarding the suitability of a research idea for an MC-CAM NRT should be addressed to MC-CAM Director Glenn Fredrickson. |