IMDEA Materials Institute and the University of Tennessee have established a partnership to provide research fellowship opportunities for PhD students in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering to complete the research component of their degree program at both locations, effective July 1, 2026. 

The fellowship participants will be registered as full-time PhD students at UT and be considered PhD trainees at IMDEA Materials, located in Madrid, Spain. All PhD course work will be completed at UT, and any credit earned while performing research at IMDEA Materials will be awarded by UT. 

“This partnership with IMDEA Materials Institute creates an exciting international opportunity for our PhD students while strengthening collaborations between two leading materials research institutions,” said MSE Department Head and Cook Eversole Endowed Professor Mohsen Asle Zaeem. 

“By combining UT’s strengths in materials science and engineering with IMDEA’s world-class research environment, students will gain a unique global perspective, access to complementary expertise and facilities, and enhanced preparation for leadership careers in academia, national laboratories, and industry.” 

IMDEA Materials is a public research center founded in 2007 by the regional government in Madrid. The goal of the institute is to perform research at the forefront of material science and engineering and collaborate with companies to help transfer fundamental applied knowledge into valuable technology.  

The number of UT PhD students accepted into the fellowship will be decided jointly by UT and IMDEA on an annual basis. Eligible participants must possess a bachelor’s or master’s degree in science, engineering, or a closely related field. 

Each participating student will have a MSE faculty advisor and a supervisor at IMDEA who will meet multiple times per year to review research progress. While at IMDEA Materials, students will receive financial support for living expenses, healthcare, and research-related travel expenses within Europe.  

“Building strong connections with leading research universities around the world, such as the University of Tennessee, is an essential part of our international strategy,” said Prof. Jon Molina, IMDEA Materials Director.

“These partnerships not only strengthen IMDEA Materials’ global reputation and research excellence, but also help us attract outstanding young researchers from across the world to Madrid.”