Mary E. Galvin, William K. Warren Foundation Dean at the University of Notre Dame’s College of Science, has been elected to the 2019 class of Materials Research Society Fellows, an honor awarded to those who have distinguished themselves through their research accomplishments and outstanding contributions to the worldwide advancement of materials research.
A skilled scientist with expertise and leadership experience in academia, the private sector and government, Galvin has been a champion for the role fundamental science can play in solving national and global problems. The fellowship recognizes Galvin for her research, leadership and service to the materials science community.
“All of us at Notre Dame are pleased to see Mary receive this well-deserved honor for her contributions and leadership in the field of materials science,” said Thomas G. Burish, Charles and Jill Fischer Provost at Notre Dame. “She is an accomplished scientist who has worked tirelessly in many contexts, including as dean of the Notre Dame’s College of Science, to advance to advance the field and mentor the next generation of scientists and engineers.”
As dean, Galvin has placed a focus on strengthening research programs through excellence in faculty research, attracting new faculty in key areas, and the development of cutting-edge research facilities with state-of-the-art equipment. She established new initiatives to deliver an unsurpassed undergraduate experience through the Science and Engineering Scholars program, which provides talented students the support they need to thrive in challenging courses that are foundational to science and engineering disciplines.
Galvin is a fellow in the American Physical Society and has served on National Research Council panels, including the Board of Chemical Science and Technology. She is a member of the American Chemical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She holds five patents.
Prior to joining the Notre Dame faculty, she served as director for the Division of Materials Research in the National Science Foundation where she managed a $307 million budget and was responsible for setting scientific priorities for materials and condensed matter physics. She has also worked at Bell Laboratories, Air Products and Chemicals Inc. and the University of Delaware, where she was a distinguished professor.
At Bell Labs and the University of Delaware, Galvin’s research focused on the structure and property relationships that govern the performance of organic materials in light-emitting diodes (LEDs), photovoltaic cells and thin film transistors. She has co-authored many publications and has given numerous invited talks at national and international meetings.
A graduate of Manhattanville College, Galvin earned her doctoral degree from MIT with a concentration in polymers/materials science.