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MSE-Affiliated Organizations

The MSE graduate community extends beyond classrooms and laboratories. We invite you to learn more about our student organizations below: 

Materials Science Alliance for an Inclusive Community (MATSAIC)

MatSAIC is the student organization focused on fostering inclusivity within the MSE department. We host discussions and activities that center the challenges and career pathways for students of diverse backgrounds. Please reach out to NUMatSAIC@gmail.com if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, or if you would like to get more involved.

Materials Science Student Association (MSSA)

MSSA unites graduate students in the Materials Science Department from all years. We organize a number of social, academic, and volunteering events each year, including BBQ's and going to NU and Chicago sporting events.
Contact Email: numssa@gmail.com

Materials Science Umbrella Society (MSUS)

MSUS is a student organization that runs professional development events for PhD and undergraduate students at Northwestern in the field of materials science and related fields.
Contact Email: msusnu@gmail.com

Other Organizations

MSE graduate students engage in student organizations, activities, and communities across campus. Here are some other student groups in which MSE graduate students lead and participate (listed alphabetically):

  • Graduate International Student Association (G-ISA)'s mission is to foster the Graduate International community through events and fun activities, new friendships and connections, greater cross-cultural understanding, and inclusion and engagement.
  • Graduate Leadership and Advocacy Council (GLAC)'s mission is to advocate on behalf of TGS graduate students and graduate student organizations to TGS and the University.
  • Graduate Society of Women Engineers (GradSWE) is a nationally recognized professional, educational, non-profit, and service organization dedicated to promoting interest in and encouraging women to pursue the fields of science and engineering.
  • Graduate Student Association (GSA) is dedicated to enhancing the quality of graduate student life at Northwestern and build a diverse graduate student community by connecting grad students across TGS-affiliated departments and programs through collaboration with TGS administration, the Graduate Leadership and Advocacy Council, and other student organizations.
  • McCormick Graduate Leadership Council (MGLC) has three main goals: 1) facilitate communication between NU Engineering graduate students and the McCormick's Dean Office; 2) provide students with far-reaching and meaningful leadership opportunities; and 3) build a graduate community among the eight departments within NU Engineering.  
  • Northwestern Women in Science and Engineering Research (WISER) is a graduate student organization focused on building community among graduate women in STEM fields; promoting & advancing women's leadership in STEM; and sponsoring professional development workshops & seminars for early-career women in the sciences.

For more information on graduate student organizations, we suggest reviewing The Graduate School's student group listings under Diversity and Community & Campus Life.