Boston University College of Engineering has appointed Keith Brown<\/a>, associate professor of mechanical engineering, materials science and engineering, and physics, as head of the Division of Materials Science & Engineering (MSE), effective July 1, 2026. Brown succeeds David Bishop<\/a>, who is stepping down after 15 years as division head, guiding MSE\u2019s growth, research excellence, and interdisciplinary collaborations.<\/p>\n Brown joined Boston University in 2015 and currently serves as associate chair for graduate programs in mechanical engineering<\/a>. His work has earned national recognition, including a Google Faculty Research Award, the College of Engineering\u2019s Early Career Research Excellence Award, and leadership roles in the Materials Research Society. He earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in physics from MIT and both a master\u2019s degree and PhD in applied physics from Harvard University.<\/p>\n The Division of MSE<\/a> is designed to support convergent research in areas ranging from advanced materials and nanotechnology to energy, health, and manufacturing. The division draws participation from faculty in the College of Engineering, College of Arts and Sciences, and the Henry M Goldman School of Dental Medicine. In addition to catalyzing new research in materials, the division also offers master\u2019s programs, a PhD program, and an undergraduate minor, preparing students to develop next-generation materials and technologies that solve real-world challenges.<\/p>\n A widely known and highly respected researcher in advanced materials, automation, and AI-enabled experimentation, Brown brings to the role experience leading collaborative work across multiple fields. His research spans polymers, smart fluids, additive manufacturing, machine learning, and autonomous experimentation, connecting engineering, physics, computation, and manufacturing to accelerate materials discovery.<\/p>\n Through his KABlab<\/a> at Boston University, Brown and his collaborators have pioneered \u201cself-driving labs<\/a>\u201d that combine robotics, additive manufacturing, and AI to increase the speed and scale of experimentation in materials science.<\/p>\n \u201cI’m incredibly excited and honored to have the opportunity to lead the MSE division,\u201d says Brown. \u201cThe division represents a unique, interdisciplinary hub across the entire University, uniting a community with a shared passion for studying and applying materials to address pressing global problems.\u201d<\/p>\n As division head, Brown will help guide MSE\u2019s academic, research, and strategic priorities at a time of rapid change in materials science, helping strengthen the division\u2019s collaborative culture while supporting new approaches to research, education, and problem-solving.<\/p>\n \u201cIn addition to housing a thriving graduate program, MSE embodies an intellectual playground that connects our faculty and students through collaborative discovery and flagship events like Materials Day,\u201d Brown says. \u201cMy goals as division head include sustaining this highly collaborative culture across the materials field and promoting research excellence in areas of deep technical strength at BU.\u201d<\/p>\n Brown succeeds David Bishop, a distinguished scientist, engineer, and longtime leader whose career has spanned academia, industry, and scientific discovery. In 2011, former dean Kenneth Lutchen appointed Bishop to lead the Division of Materials Science & Engineering. Over the next 15 years, he helped shape MSE into a collaborative research community with strong connections across engineering, science, and medicine while contributing to major initiatives including the CELL-MET Engineering Research Center<\/a>. Bishop secured large grants and opened a shared equipment lab for resource-intensive MSE research, and he significantly grew the MSE master\u2019s degree program.<\/p>\n “Materials research is intrinsically collaborative,\u201d Bishop says. \u201cThe kinds of problems it deals with are not going to be solved by a single PI but by several working together across disciplines, not thinking of themselves as ‘a chemist’ or ‘an electrical engineer.’”<\/p>\nAdvancing the Future of Materials Discovery<\/h3>\n
Building on a Legacy of Leadership<\/h3>\n