The MIT Center for Materials Science and Engineering is devoted to the design, creation, and fundamental understanding of materials that are capable of enhancing the human experience. CMSE is a Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

CMSE has a special mission: to foster collaborative, interdisciplinary research and education in the science and engineering of materials that will address the future needs of society. CMSE promotes collaboration among MIT faculty and between MIT faculty and researchers of other universities, industry, and government laboratories.