Functional Inorganic Materials: Exploratory Synthesis, Advanced Characterization and Computational Methods

Solid state chemistry plays a vital role in the discovery and optimization of new functional materials to help meet the societal demands for smaller, faster, cleaner, and more sustainable technologies. While exploratory synthesis has been the primary method to find novel materials, a better understanding of structural motifs and their impact on properties has led to guided synthesis. Furthermore, sophisticated computational tools and theoretical models are increasingly capable of predicting new materials with exceptional properties. The challenge then becomes finding synthetic routes to realize the promise of these materials. Once these materials are synthesized, state-of-the-art characterization must be performed to understand the observed properties and provide insight into optimization methods.

The Gordon Research Seminar on Solid State Chemistry is a unique forum for graduate students, post-docs, and other scientists with comparable levels of experience and education to present and exchange new data and cutting-edge ideas. The seminar encourages the sharing of unpublished work, in either poster or oral form, on all facets of material discovery from synthesis to computational screening of properties to optimization of promising materials for actual applications. This focus on sharing unpublished work will lead to stimulating discussion among participants and therefore new insights about the process of material discovery. A career panel with representatives from industry, national laboratories, and academia will take place during the second day of the meeting. This panel will be primarily comprised of early career scientists who can speak knowledgeably about the job search process as well as highlight multiple possible career paths.

Application Instructions

The seminar will feature approximately 10 talks and 2 poster sessions. All attendees are expected to actively participate in the GRS, either by giving an oral presentation or presenting a poster. Therefore, all applications must include an abstract.

The seminar chair will select speakers from abstracts submitted by April 23, 2022. Those applicants who are not chosen for talks and those who apply after the deadline to be considered for an oral presentation will be expected to present a poster. In order to participate, you must submit an application by the date indicated in the Application Information section above.

Program Format

Gordon Research Seminars are 2-day meetings which take place on the Saturday and Sunday just prior to the start of the associated GRC. The GRS opens with a 1-hour introductory session on Saturday afternoon, followed by a poster session, dinner and a 2-hour session in the evening. Sunday morning begins with breakfast and is followed by another 2-hour session, a second poster session, and lunch. A final 1-hour session takes place just after lunch, and the associated GRC begins later that evening.