The Institute of Materials Technology (MaTe) is located on the top floor of the mechanical engineering building of the TU/e and houses the divisions Computational and Experimental Mechanics (CEM) of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering (BMTE) of the Department of Biomedical Engineering. CEM includes the Chairs of Polymer Technology and Mechanics of Materials, while BMTE comprises the Chairs of Tissue Engineering, Cardiovascular Mechanics and Bone Mechanics. The members of MaTe carry out joint research projects, share staff, utilities, computer infrastructure and experimental facilities and jointly offer Master Degree tracks in Computational and Experimental Mechanics (CEM in mechanical engineering) and Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering (BMTE in biomedical engineering).

MaTe’s philosophy in research and education is based on a multi-disciplinary approach which includes classical disciplines like fluid mechanics, solid mechanics, materials science, (bio)physics, (bio)chemistry, numerics and mathematics. Central is a numerical-experimental approach that is characterized by stepwise simplifications of complex, often multi-length and time-scale problems.

In the MaTe Institute (MTI),the two divisions organize two master tracks:

1. Computational and Experimental Mechanics (in Mechanical Engineering)
2. Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering (in Biomedical Engineering)

1. PhD students are given the opportunity to at least once a year attend an international conference, provided that they have an accepted presentation. This guarantees control over the quality and progress in research of individuals and sets relatively short time targets. We reserve sufficient funds to realize this.
2. Every 6 weeks in total 10 times a year, the group meets outside the University for a mini-symposium. 6 Lectures are presented by PhD students and staff members. Discussion is stimulated. The aim of these meetings is to train the students in lecturing in the English language, to learn them to look over the boarders of their own individual project and to learn to discuss with fellow researchers over their projects. Our experience is that, after having heard 4 times 60 = 240 lectures during their PhD study, the students know how to prepare and present a proper lecture.
3. Every 3 weeks, the members of the different subprogrammes meet inside the university in a so-called round-the-table meeting, to mutually exchange experience and to early detect any possible problems. Apart from that, especially in the beginning of a new project, the individual students regularly meet with their coach and (at least one of their) advisors. Towards the end of a project (in the thesis writing stage) the intensity of these contacts increase.
4. Finally the group organizes every year, on the last friday night before Christmas, a poster contest. The winner of the contest, as chosen by an independent jury, receives 350 euro and of course ever lasting fame. The winner is announced during a party where all members of the group, of course with their friends/girlfriends/fiancees, after the common diner start the big party: drinking, discussing and dancing, enjoying life music and bitterballen for Leon.