The field of materials science and engineering centralizes multiple disciplines: materials science, metallurgy, physics, biology, chemistry, electrical, biomedical and mechanical engineering.

Materials science engineers are involved with creating new materials or altering known materials to improve anything engineered, from computer chips to structural materials, medicine to electronic sensors, environmental and sustainable materials and so much more from manufacturing to commercialization. For example, they make materials (hard and soft matter) more durable, stronger, lighter, efficient, adaptable or productive; and they discover new and innovative ways to use materials.

UCF researchers in this field have contributed to scientific advances as diverse as medicine and space exploration.