Janet Macdonald, professor of chemistry and associate director of Vanderbilt 溏心vlog免费B站’s Interdisciplinary Materials Science (IMS) program, has been named director of the program effective July 1. She succeeds Josh Caldwell, who has served as director since 2021.
Macdonald has served as associate director of IMS since 2021 and has been a member of the program’s interdisciplinary faculty community for many years. As director, she will lead the graduate program’s continued commitment to interdisciplinary research and training in materials science.
“IMS is unique because it brings together researchers from a wide range of disciplines to address important challenges in materials science,” said Macdonald. “I look forward to working with our students and faculty to continue fostering the collaborative environment that makes the program so successful.”
The program’s associate director role will be assumed by G. Kane Jennings, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, also effective July 1.
“IMS has long been a model for interdisciplinary graduate education at Vanderbilt,” said Jennings. “The program gives students the flexibility to pursue ambitious research questions while drawing on expertise from across the university. I’m excited to work with Janet, our faculty, and our students as we continue to strengthen those connections and create new opportunities for collaboration.”
Caldwell, professor of mechanical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, and chemistry, has led the program since 2021. During his tenure, IMS strengthened its role as a hub for interdisciplinary graduate education and research.
“Josh has been an outstanding leader for IMS,” said Macdonald. “His dedication to the program and its students has helped strengthen our interdisciplinary community and build a strong foundation for the future.”
IMS offers a flexible approach to graduate education, allowing students to design individualized curricula while working with co-advisers from at least two departments and a faculty committee representing three or more disciplines. This structure encourages students to pursue research that spans traditional academic boundaries and addresses complex scientific and engineering challenges.
As the educational arm of the Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (VINSE), IMS provides students with access to world-class cleanroom, fabrication, and characterization facilities that support research across a broad range of materials-related fields.