Materials Research and Education Center (MREC)

Bart Prorok
Bart Prorok
Program Chair, Materials Research and Education Center

 

The Materials Research and Education Center
Instruction within cm3
Advancing materials research, education and industry collaboration

 

The Materials Research and Education Center
0+
Years of Interdisciplinary Materials Research
0+
Square Feet of Laboratory Space
$0
In Annual Research Funding

About the Center

The Materials Research and Education Center (MREC) at Auburn University advances materials science research, education, and industrial collaboration. Founded on the principle that materials innovation underpins technological advancement, the center brings together faculty experts, students, and industry partners to address critical challenges in structural materials, electronic and magnetic materials, biomaterials, and sustainable manufacturing.

Housed within Wilmore Laboratories, MREC boasts a comprehensive suite of analytical and processing capabilities, including electron microscopy (SEM, TEM), X-ray diffraction, X-ray Computed Tomography, mechanical testing, surface and thermal analysis, and materials fabrication. These capabilities enable high-resolution characterization, failure analysis, and material property evaluation across metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites. As a fully integrated research environment, the center also supports AI-driven materials discovery, design, and modeling through computational resources.

Beyond research, MREC offers experiential learning opportunities that prepare undergraduate and graduate students in materials engineering and related disciplines for careers in academia, national laboratories, and industry. By fostering innovation and developing technical talent, MREC contributes to national priorities in advanced manufacturing, aerospace, energy, and defense.

MREC Site
Contact MREC

  • Research focus includes functional and smart materials, high-temperature materials, nanomaterials and nanocomposites, and materials processing and fabrication.

  • MREC laboratories feature a Class 100 cleanroom and facilities for high-temperature material processing.

  • Advanced instrumentation includes electron microscopes, optical microscopes, mechanical testing units, and chemical analysis tools.

  • MREC's infrastructure and expertise support Auburn University’s mission of driving discovery and economic development through advanced interdisciplinary materials research, education, and workforce training.