Materials, Chemical, and Computational Science
NREL’s Materials, Chemical, and Computational Science (MCCS) directorate is composed of three R&D centers—Computational Science, Materials Science, and Chemistry and Nanoscience—in addition to the Research Operations Center.
MCCS carries out fundamental and applied experimental and computational research in renewable energy and energy efficiency, with a portfolio that spans high-performance computing, simulation, and modeling; photovoltaics and solar energy conversion; solar fuels; hydrogen production, storage, and utilization; fundamental materials science and chemistry; materials discovery, synthesis, and development; advanced characterization, spectroscopy, microscopy, and imaging; energy storage; and reliability/durability.
The MCCS directorate provides expertise to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, DOE’s Office of Science, and university and industry partners.
NREL aspires to be a world-class leader in workforce diversity, equity, and inclusion by creating and maintaining a culture of respect, caring, and belonging.
Our Research
Our Postdoctoral Researchers
The MCCS directorate trains postdoctoral researchers to be experts in their respective research fields. MCCS postdocs acquire diverse technical skills: device manufacturing and optimization, spectroscopy, microscopy, theoretical modeling, data analysis, etc. In addition to their technical training, postdocs receive extensive training in communications and project management as well as leadership and team-building, which have led to careers ranging from industry to academia to national laboratories to patent law to consulting firms to nonprofits.
Watch this YouTube video to learn more about the postdoctoral experience in the MCCS directorate.
See NREL's postdoctoral researchers available for hiring and job recruitment.
Our Leadership Team
Associate Laboratory Director Bill Tumas leads the MCCS directorate with guidance on research direction and priorities from its other leadership.
Rachelle Ihly, ARPA-E, point of contact
Kris Munch, Advanced Computing, laboratory program manager
Bill Tumas, Basic Energy Sciences, point of contact
Mary Werner, Solar Energy Technologies Program, laboratory program manager
Keith Wipke, Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Technologies Program, laboratory program manager
Ray Grout, Computational Science
Kirstin Alberi, Materials Science
Jao van de Lagemaat, Chemistry and Nanoscience
Eva Birnbaum, MCCS Research Operations
Matt Beard, senior research fellow
Joe Berry, senior research fellow
David Ginley, senior research fellow
Steve Gorin, strategic partnerships
Marisa Howe, chief of staff
Sarah Kurtz, senior research fellow
Joey Luther, senior research fellow
Bryan Pivovar, senior research fellow
Ingrid Repins, senior research fellow
Garry Rumbles, senior research fellow
Pete Sheldon, senior research advisor
Tony Burrell, chief technologist
Nancy Haegel, senior research advisor and director of the National Center for Photovoltaics
Maria Curry-Nkansah, senior research advisor for Translational R&D Research
Mark van Schilfgaarde, chief theorist
Pete Sheldon, senior research advisor for Strategic Planning
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