George S. Ansell Department of Metallurgical
and Materials Engineering
For the latest information regarding Hill Hall building access, please visit this page and click on the “Building Access During COVID-19” option: metallurgy.mines.edu/facilities
Metallurgical and materials engineering plays a role in all manufacturing processes which convert raw materials into useful products adapted to human needs. The primary goal of the Metallurgical and Materials Engineering program is to provide students with a fundamental knowledge-base associated with materials-processing, their properties, and their selection and application.
The emphasis in the department is on teaching and research focused toward materials processing operations which encompass: the conversion of mineral and chemical resources into metallic, ceramic or polymeric materials; the synthesis of new materials; refining and processing to produce high performance materials for applications from consumer products to automobiles, aerospace and electronics; the development of mechanical, chemical and physical properties of materials related to their processing and structure; and the selection of materials for specific applications.
“The MME Department is one of our strongest departments on campus. It has succeeded in approaching all of its Pathways 2024 milestones as early as FY19, with strong graduate enrollment, exceptionally strong sponsored research programs, and growing undergraduate enrollment. The Department’s faculty are to be congratulated for their efforts.” -Tom Boyd, Paul Johnson and Mike Kaufman
George S. Ansell Department of Metallurgical
and Materials Engineering
Metallurgical and materials engineering plays a role in all manufacturing processes which convert raw materials into useful products adapted to human needs. The primary goal of the Metallurgical and Materials Engineering program is to provide students with a fundamental knowledge-base associated with materials-processing, their properties, and their selection and application.
The emphasis in the department is on teaching and research focused toward materials processing operations which encompass: the conversion of mineral and chemical resources into metallic, ceramic or polymeric materials; the synthesis of new materials; refining and processing to produce high performance materials for applications from consumer products to automobiles, aerospace and electronics; the development of mechanical, chemical and physical properties of materials related to their processing and structure; and the selection of materials for specific applications.
A Welcome Message
Welcome to the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering and our website. As you may know, our department is a leader in metals, especially ferrous and non-ferrous alloys, welding and joining, and extractive metallurgy; and in ceramics. In that vein, we have recently hired a new Assistant Professor, Jonah Klemm-Toole, to support the metals area. Jonah officially started this fall and joins our internationally-recognized faculty experts in their respective fields.
Besides our amazing faculty, we have outstanding infrastructure and encourage all of our students to engage with us and take advantage of opportunities to work with the faculty and staff on materials design and research projects. The Department is very strongly focused on applications and has a wide range of connections with industries ranging from materials producers such as steel manufacturers to high-tech applications companies such as satellite manufacturers and electronics firms.
The field of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering concerns ways of improving materials that will enable next-generation technologies. The field is underpinned by fundamental concepts from chemistry and physics. We focus on how atoms arrange themselves and how those arrangements affect the properties of the material. However, we never lose sight of how those properties will benefit specific technologies.
Our educational programs include a strong application-oriented focus with many hands-on activities and courses. We are particularly excited to welcome Sarah Harling as our new Hot Shop manager. Sarah has experience in foundry and welding and is increasing availability to students and others of our foundry, welding, forging, and glass shops. She is a very creative person with strong communication skills.
We make every effort to establish and support a diverse, mutually respectful, community of students, faculty and staff. We reject bias on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity or sexual orientation, and all other ways people can be classified or grouped. The Department is committed to a just environment that provides all of our students with fair access to resources, appropriate tools and assistance including those that address inequality, and to make appropriate adjustments to our Department to offer equal access to opportunities and equal benefits of their education once students graduate. Anyone associated with the Department is encouraged to raise concerns and propose constructive solutions with the Department staff and leadership.
To anyone interested in joining us, or if you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us. Our Department strives to be an open and welcoming environment to everyone. We look forward to having you join us and helping you succeed.
On behalf of my faculty and staff, I wish you good health and safety. We will do everything we can to ensure both of these for members of our community while continuing to provide you with an excellent education.
Angus Rockett
Department Head
MINES@150
In 2024, the year of our 150th anniversary, we will celebrate Colorado School of Mines’ past, present and possibilities. By celebrating and supporting the Campaign for MINES@150 you will help elevate Mines to be an accessible, top-of-mind and first-choice for students, faculty, staff, recruiters and other external partners. When you give, you are ensuring Mines becomes even more distinctive and highly sought-after by future students, alumni, industry, and government partners over the next 150 years. We look forward to celebrating Mines’ sesquicentennial with you and recognizing the key role you play in making the MINES@150 vision a reality through your investments of time, talent and treasure.
Department Highlights
- Materials science PhD candidate wins DOE Graduate Student Research Program funding
- Colorado School of Mines to launch quantum engineering minor
- Heather Hoffman: "I chose Mines because of the quality education and opportunities it would present."
- Controlling a subtle chemical impurity could hold key to more stable halide perovskite solar materials
- Mines teams up with Pioneer Astronautics to advance sustainable lunar exploration
- 2 students honored at ASM International Student Speaking Symposium
- Triple ionic-electronic conducting oxides show promise for fuel cells, electrolysis
- Five ways Mines researchers and their students are making campus safer during the pandemic
- Mines researchers use neutrons to study weld-induced stress relief in renewable energy infrastructure
- Mines researcher contributing to $4M DOE project for energy-efficient steelmaking