Billinge Receives 2025 MRS Innovation in Materials Characterization Award

Simon J. L. Billinge, Professor of Applied Physics, Applied Mathematics, and Materials Science at Columbia Engineering, recieved the 2025 Innovation in Materials Characterization Award at the 2025 Materials Research Society (MRS) Spring Meeting.

This distinguished award recognizes groundbreaking advances in the way scientists understand and analyze materials—whether through structure, composition, or how they behave under various conditions. Billinge’s work stood out for its exceptional impact on the field of materials research, pushing the boundaries of how materials are characterized, regardless of method or material type. The award, which includes a $5,000 cash prize, a presentation trophy, and a certificate of achievement, is endowed by Dr. Gwo-Ching Wang and Dr. Toh-Ming Lu, both renowned figures in the field.

In the following interview with MRS TV, Simon discusses data analysis algorithms in materials science and how they've evolved with artificial intelligence and machine learning.