INTERACTION
The LRSM pursues a multi-faceted strategy to reach out to industry. Currently, many companies (small, medium & large) are directly involved with the LRSM, and our Shared Experimental Facilities (SEFs) are widely used by local industries (~100 person-days per year). Most of these interactions start at the grass roots level, which is a proven and effective way to ensure knowledge transfer and industry involvement in fundamental research. An interesting new venture is the COMPASS (Complex Assemblies of Soft Matter) Laboratory, which was started recently as a joint venture between the LRSM, Rhodia, and the French CNRS. The LRSM has also played a major role developing National synchrotron x-ray facilities at APS/ANL & neutron scattering facilities at NCNR/NIST, in collaboration with other academic institutions, National Labs and industry (ExxonMobil). More than 25% of the LRSM faculty participants are currently involved with National Labs as either facilities users or in collaborative projects. Others collaborate & serve on advisory panels for National Lab initiatives. International links (i.e., joint workshops, reciprocal visits by faculty/post-docs/students) with institutes in Southern Africa/Lesotho (Univ. of Pretoria, National Univ. of Lesotho), Germany (Max-Planck-Institute, Golm), Japan (National Institute for Materials Science), Taiwan (Academia Sinica), France (Rhodia-CNRS), Romania (Academia Romana), and more, have cemented genuine research ties.
The LRSM, being the MRSEC at the University of Pennsylvania, interacts with many departments on campus:
Biochemistry & Biophysics
Bioengineering
Biology
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Chemistry
Electrical and Systems Engineering
IME
Materials Science & Engineering
Mechanical Engineering & Applied Mechanics
Physics & Astronomy
Physiology