Where innovation takes shape.
From atomic-scale imaging to large-scale structural testing, the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSEN) at Texas A&M University connects students and researchers with some of the most advanced facilities in the nation.
Located across Texas A&M’s 5,200-acre campus, our centers and laboratories drive discovery, foster collaboration, and serve both the academic community and industry partners. Many are designated as user facilities, providing access, training, and expertise to accelerate research and innovation.
List of Research Centers, Facilities and Labs
These shared spaces provide state-of-the-art tools and expertise, available to Texas A&M researchers, collaborators, and industry partners.
AggieFab Nanofabrication Facility
The AggieFab Nanofabrication Facility (AggieFab) at Texas A&M University is a premier shared resource for advanced micro- and nanoscale fabrication. Located on the first floor of the Frederick E. Giesecke Engineering Research Building, AggieFab encompasses more than 6,500 sq. ft. of Class 100/1000 cleanroom space, featuring raised access floors and vertical laminar flow, supported by an additional 4,500 sq. ft. of specialized laboratory space.
Developed over two decades by faculty in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, AggieFab has evolved into one of the nation’s leading nanofabrication environments. The facility is equipped with world-class tools, including the Zeiss Orion Helium Ion Microscope/Nanofab, FEI Helios DualBeam Focused Ion Beam (FIB), ASM Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) system, and a Clustex Multi-target deposition tool, among many others. These instruments provide the precision, scalability, and flexibility required for research and development in electronics, energy, healthcare, defense, and advanced manufacturing.
Supported by the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), the Office of the Vice President for Research, and multiple engineering departments, AggieFab serves as a collaborative hub for faculty, industry partners, and government agencies.
With state-of-the-art infrastructure, expert staff, and a tradition of innovation, AggieFab transforms nanoscale ideas into real-world solutions.
Elemental Analysis Laboratory
The Elemental Analysis Laboratory is a component of the Department of Chemistry's Center for Chemical Characterization and Analysis. The laboratory provides research support for elemental and trace analysis to internal users and other universities, government agencies, and private industry. Instrumentation includes fast neutron activation analysis capabilities in addition to thermal instrumental neutron activation using Texas A&M's Nuclear Science Center's 1 MW TRIGA research reactor.
Equal Channel Angular Extrusion Lab
The Equal Channel Angular Extrusion (ECAE) process was invented in the former Soviet Union by Vladimir Segal in 1977. Dr. Segal worked as an associate in the Texas A&M ECAE lab from 1992 to 1995. Researchers in the Texas A&M Deformation Processing Laboratory have been researching the ECAE process since 1992. The process is innovative and capable of producing uniform plastic deformation in various materials without causing a significant change in geometric shape or cross-section.
High-Bay Structural and Materials Testing Laboratory
The High-Bay Structural and Materials Testing Laboratory primarily serves the Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering researchers, the Texas A&M University College of Engineering, and the Texas Transportation Institute. The testing equipment, instrumentation, and shop equipment contained within the High-Bay Structural and Materials Testing Laboratory represent an investment of several million dollars. The lab is one of the largest, most modern, and best-equipped facilities of its kind located in the south and southwest of the United States.
Mass Spectroscopy Application and Collaboration Facility
The Mass Spectroscopy Application and Collaboration Facility at Texas A&M University provides advanced analytical capabilities for identifying and characterizing organic compounds, DNA, RNA, and natural products. More than just a service center, the facility serves as a hub for collaboration, offering both state-of-the-art instrumentation and the expertise necessary to tackle complex research challenges.
Our team of research scientists is at the forefront of innovation, actively developing new analytical methods, refining sample-handling techniques, and advancing the next generation of mass spectrometry instrumentation. This dual focus on research and application ensures partners benefit from both proven approaches and emerging technologies.
Whether supporting fundamental science, healthcare, energy, or biotechnology, the facility transforms data into discovery—empowering both academic researchers and industry innovators.
Materials Characterization Facility
The Materials Characterization Facility (MCF) is a multiuser facility supporting the research efforts of the Texas A&M and commercial communities. The MCF houses both fabrication and characterization instrumentation for the rapid prototyping and characterization of lithographically based micro-chemical systems with critical lateral length dimensions on the order of 1 micron or greater.
Materials Development and Characterization Center
MDC² houses the fabrication and characterization instrumentation required for fundamental science research and applications in new materials and devices. Available instruments include the Spark Plasma Sintering System (EIC No. 104/104A), BRUKER D8 X-ray, Vacuum Tube Furnace, Arc Melter System, Differential Scanning Calorimeter, MTS compression testing system, MR7 laser 3D printer, and the Keyence VHX-2000 optical Microscope. The center collaborates with multiple users for research and development, including various Texas A&M community departments, U.S. national laboratories, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Air Force, and commercial companies.
Microscopy and Imaging Center
The Microscopy and Imaging Center (MIC) at Texas A&M University is a core user facility dedicated to advancing discovery through state-of-the-art imaging technologies. Supported by the Office of the Vice President for Research, MIC provides researchers across disciplines—and industry partners beyond campus—with access to powerful microscopy tools and expert guidance.
From life sciences to physical sciences, MIC offers comprehensive services in transmission and scanning electron microscopy, light microscopy, and advanced analytical methods. Our team of research scientists not only maintains world-class instrumentation but also provides tailored support through training, consultation, and collaborative research.
Whether it’s one-on-one instruction, short courses, or hands-on workshops, MIC equips users with the skills to generate meaningful data, prepare samples with precision, and apply digital image analysis for deeper insights.
Our mission is to accelerate innovation in science and engineering by providing leading-edge imaging technologies, expert training, and collaborative opportunities that empower both academic and industry partners to push the boundaries of what’s possible.
Partner with MIC—where innovation comes into focus.
Microstructural Engineering of Structural and Active Materials
The Microstructural Engineering of Structural and Active Materials (MESAM) laboratory researches shape memory alloys (high-temperature, ferromagnetic), bulk nanocrystalline materials, grain boundary engineering, bulk metallic glasses, and the severe plastic deformation of difficult-to-work alloys. MESAM also collaborates with the Equal Channel Angular Extrusion Lab. The lab also has extensive national and international collaboration with scientists from Ames and Los Alamos National Laboratories, the California Institute of Technology, and universities in Germany and Russia.
National Corrosion and Materials Reliability Lab
The National Corrosion and Materials Reliability Lab (NCMRL) fosters innovation, collaborative research, education, and training in corrosion science. NCMRL develops the next generation of leaders in corrosion science and technology to work at various industries, including energy, national defense, auto, healthcare, infrastructure and multiple government agencies.
We serve as a world-class corrosion education and research center and work to bridge the gap between fundamental research (science) and technology (engineering).
Nuclear Engineering & Science Center
The Nuclear Engineering & Science Center (NESC) at Texas A&M University provides advanced nuclear capabilities to support industry, government, and research partners. Operated by the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), the center features a research reactor specifically designed for the precision irradiation of samples and the production of critical radioisotopes used in medical, industrial, and scientific applications.
NESC specializes in neutron activation analysis for the detection of trace metals, serving industries such as oilfield services, industrial tracers, metallic component testing, and medical isotope production. Commercial users rely on the Center’s expertise to improve reliability, ensure safety, and accelerate innovation in energy, manufacturing, and healthcare.
With state-of-the-art facilities and decades of expertise, NESC offers a unique platform for applied research, training, and technical services.
Partner with NESC to access cutting-edge nuclear science that delivers measurable results.
Polymer Technology Consortia
The Polymer Technology Consortia (PTC) serves faculty from the College of Engineering's Aerospace Engineering, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Engineering Technology & Industrial Distribution, Materials Science & Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering departments, as well as commercial clients. Three industrial consortia support operations of the PTC, sponsoring research projects both individually and jointly.
Soft Matter Facility
Located in 3,100 sq. ft. of advanced laboratory space within the Testing and Characterization Facility Building at Research Parkway, SoMF houses four specialized instrumentation suites focused on:
- Molecular characterization
- Nanostructure analysis
- Thin-film and interfacial studies
- Thermomechanical evaluation
Open to the entire Texas A&M community and external collaborators, SoMF serves universities, research organizations, hospitals, and companies across Texas. By offering advanced chemical and physical characterization capabilities, the facility accelerates discoveries that advance manufacturing, energy, environment, healthcare, and agriculture.
At SoMF, complex soft matter challenges will be transformed into solutions with real-world impact!