On November 25, 2025, ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø welcomed two distinguished guests from the University of Akron, Ohio: Dr. Sadhan C. Jana, Associate Vice President for Research and Business Engagement and BF Goodrich Professor in the School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, and Dr. Kwek-Tze Tan, Professor and Director of the Center for Advanced Materials Performance in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

During their visit, Dr. Jana and Dr. Tan addressed ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏ꿉۪s graduate and undergraduate students, providing an overview of the University of Akron’s interdisciplinary Ph.D. program. He highlighted the program’s innovative structure, strong emphasis on collaborative research, and broad opportunities for students working at the intersection of computer science, materials science, and engineering. His presentation offered valuable insight into how interdisciplinary doctoral training prepares students for impactful careers in academia, industry, and national laboratories.


In addition to meeting with Computer Science students, the visiting team also spent time with faculty and students from ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏ꿉۪s Physics and Chemistry Departments, further strengthening interdisciplinary connections across campus. A joint lunch and presentation session, titled “Learn about the Innovative Traineeship on Advances in Material Sciences Using Machine Learning,†provided an opportunity for cross-departmental dialogue and collaboration. The session highlighted emerging research directions and training opportunities that integrate materials science, machine learning, and computational approaches.

Overall, the visit underscored the strong collaborative potential between computer science and the physical sciences, offering ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø students and faculty valuable exposure to cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary training models. The engagement reinforced ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏ꿉۪s commitment to fostering research partnerships that prepare students for future scientific and technological challenges.