Institute of Metal Research (IMR), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), which was founded in 1953, is one of the first key institutes authorized to confer doctoral and master’s degrees in China. IMR is engaged mainly in research and development of high performance metallic materials, new types of inorganic nonmetallic materials and advanced composite materials, covering the structures, properties, performances, corrosion and protection as well as the relationship with each other. It also pays equal attention to materials engineering such as synthesis, fabrication, and application.
IMR is a high-level institute and well equipped with advanced scientific research facilities, an excellent working environment, and adequate research funds. In addition, IMR has gathered together outstanding scientists and technical experts in the field of materials research. As of 2022, IMR had a staff of over 1800, including about 800 researchers and support members for technical service. Among the IMR scientists are over 170 research professors, including 5 members of Chinese Academy of Sciences and 1 members of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and 3 members of The Third World Academy of Sciences, a UNESCO-based program dedicated to the advancement of science in developing countries. The strong instructional team for Ph.D. and MS students, which is supported by more than 300 tutors, ensures higher quality education.
IMR has made a wide variety of academic exchanges with universities, institutions, companies, and entrepreneurs from more than 30 countries and regions. University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) is a prominent university in China and enjoys an excellent reputation worldwide. It is a world leader in fields like quantum manipulation, nanotechnology, high-temperature superconductivity, speech processing, fire science and life science. USTC is always ranked as one of the best universities in China. Starting from 2015, graduate education of IMR has been taken over by USTC and therefore School of Materials Science and Engineering (SMSE, USTC) has been founded. The combination of IMR and USTC in education will strive for further improvement on graduate education. Now IMR is attractive for international graduate students who have a chance to apply for scholarships offered by Chinese Government or other related scholarships offered by USTC.
As of 2022, IMR had an enrollment of 1281 graduate students, including 696 doctoral students and 585 master’s students. Graduate students at IMR have the opportunity to conduct on a wide variety of topics such as atomic scale modeling, characterization and fabrication, and complex manufacturing technologies in modern aerospace engineering. IMR also organizes summer camps for young people interested in materials science. As a beautiful and quiet campus-full of trees and trimmed grassland, IMR is a favorable place for students to study and research. In addition, the living conditions and working facilities are very pleasant as well.