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Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)
Jones Research Lab
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Welcome to the Jones Research Group

Advancing Functional Materials for Energy, Sensors and Beyond

The Jones Research Lab, under the direction of Jacob Jones, Kobe Steel Distinguished Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, focuses on uncovering how materials behave and evolve during processing by using advanced in situ X-ray and neutron scattering techniques. These real-time methods enable a deeper understanding of structure–property relationships, leading to more informed materials design and enhanced performance across a wide range of applications.

National Science Honor

Recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the highest U.S. honor for early-career researchers

key research areas

Energy harvesting from vibrations (piezoelectric systems

Functional and Ferroelectric Materials

Advancing the understanding and design of functional materials, including ferroelectrics and piezoelectrics, for next-generation sensors, actuators, and transducers

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X ray diffraction patterns visualized lattice structures of crystalline solids

Diffraction and Scattering Methods

Developing and applying advanced X-ray and neutron scattering techniques to probe the structure and behavior of materials at multiple length scales

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Materials for Energy and Sustainability

Engineering materials with enhanced properties for clean energy technologies, sustainable manufacturing and high-impact applications in extreme environments

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Jacob Jones, Principal Investigator

Jacob Jones, Kobe Steel Distinguished Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, is a nationally recognized expert in materials characterization. He received his Ph.D. in Materials Engineering from Purdue University and completed an NSF-funded postdoctoral fellowship at the University of New South Wales in Australia. Before joining NC State in 2013, he was a faculty member at the University of Florida.

Jones currently serves as Director and Principal Investigator of both the Science and Technologies for Phosphorus Sustainability (STEPS) Center and the Research Triangle Nanotechnology Network (RTNN).

Jones Faculty Profile
Jacob Jones

Research Focus: Real-Time Characterization of Functional Materials

  • Our areas of expertise include:
    • Real-time, in situ analysis of materials during processing
    • Structure–property relationship studies in functional materials
    • Investigation of dielectric, piezoelectric, ferroelectric, and multiferroic materials
    • Application areas include:
      • Sensors, actuators, and capacitors
      • MEMS and NEMS devices
      • Diesel fuel injectors and vibrational energy harvesting
      • Sonar and ultrasound technologies
    • Expanded studies on ceramic electrolytes, battery materials, metals, composites, and phosphorus sorbents

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Join the Jones Team

We are looking for talented and motivated graduate students and postdoctoral researchers to join the group.

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