Center News
Exploring the Future of Functional Nanomaterials: Polymer-Patched Plasmonic Nanoparticles
A new publication from COMPASS researchers, including Chansong Kim and colleagues, highlights exciting advancements at the intersection of surface patchiness design and plasmonic nanoparticles—a rapidly emerging area in materials science and nanotechnology. Published...
Qian Chen Awarded 2025 Langmuir Lectureship by the American Chemical Society
COMPASS is proud to announce that Professor Qian Chen, Racheff Faculty Scholar in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has received the 2025 Langmuir Lectureship from the American Chemical Society (ACS)....
Frontiers of Innovation: COMPASS & the Future of Tech
The World Economic Forum just released its Top 10 Emerging Technologies for 2025—and we’re excited to see familiar territory. It’s especially compelling that two of these breakthrough technologies, nanozymes and structural battery composites, are actively being...
Emergent Complexity in Non-Equilibrium Metal Alloys: Insights from the Work of Martin Thuo and Team
Understanding how complexity arises from seemingly simple, ordered states is central to materials science—and few systems illustrate this better than undercooled metal alloys. In recent work, Dr. Martin Thuo and collaborators, including Andrew Martin, Ph.D., explored...
Professor Martin Thuo Named African Male Researcher of the Month
We are proud to recognize Professor Martin Thuo, Deputy Director of COMPASS and faculty member at North Carolina State University, as the African Male Researcher of the Month for May 2025. Professor Thuo’s visionary work in nanotechnology, applied polymer science, and...
Kids Who Code hosted 3 students at NCRC for an MC2 Tour
Kids Who Code students local to the Ann Arbor and Detroit areas were invited to tour the North Campus Research Complex (NCRC) and the Michigan Center for Materials Characterization (MC2). Dr. Nancy Muyanja showcased how researchers study complex materials, including...
Exploring Brain Health Across Scales: A Two-Day Challenge on the Networks that Drive Neuroinnovation
On May 7–8, 2025, COMPASS proudly partnered with the Biointerfaces Institute at the University of Michigan to present the Nanoscale, Microscale, and Macroscale Networks in Brain Health Technologies Challenge. The two-day event convened a dynamic community of...
The 2025 COMPASS AI/ML Grand Challenge Launches This June
Get ready for an inspiring global event! The 2025 COMPASS AI/ML Grand Challenge, taking place from June 2–10, invites African researchers, data scientists, and AI/ML practitioners to step up and tackle some of the world's most pressing challenges through...
Dhanush in Mauritius
(From Left to Right) Dhanush Udayashankara Jamadgni, Ambassador Henry V. Jardine, Prof. Archana Bhaw-Luximon, and Lakshmi Sujeeun Dhanush shared his experience in visiting the University of Mauritius! "My time at Center for Biomedical and biomaterials research (CBBR)...
Innovation & Entrepreneurship: Dhanush Udayashankara Jamadgni’s Journey
At COMPASS, we take pride in nurturing the next generation of scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs. One such inspiring journey is that of Dhanush Udayashankara Jamadgni, a PhD student working with Prof. Martin Thuo and a dedicated member of our Junior Scientists...
Alain Kadar’s Experience at AASTU as a CERA Fellow
COMPASS PhD student Alain Kadar, who conducts research in Prof. Kotov and Prof. Glotzer's Lab, recently had the opportunity to travel to Ethiopia as a CERA Fellow. His time at AASTU (Addis Ababa Science and Technology University) was filled with impactful experiences,...
Michael Veksler visiting Senegal for collaboration and exchange!
Michael Veksler, a PhD student in Kotovlab, visited Senegal for collaboration and exchange! Michael mentioned: "Conducting research in Senegal has provided me with a new perspective on the innovative approaches required in a resource-constrained environment. I am...