A photo of a person looking into a microscope

Sustainable Materials and Technology

College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences

Sustainably sourced materials are increasingly being adopted to meet the needs of both a growing global population and addressing climate change. Graduates are in demand with industry, government, and nongovernmental organizations, and graduate programs due to their understanding of complex systems like sourcing, life cycle impacts, and sustainable materials performance.

  • Individualized attention from high caliber faculty.
  • Paid internship programs provide career enhancing experiences.
  • Over $400,000 in scholarships awarded annually.
  • World class research exposing students to current and emerging trends in the classroom.
  • Hands-on experience with cutting-edge innovation through research support jobs.

Accredited program prepares graduates for careers in manufacturing, quality control, product development, and sustainable material procurement, business and markets.

Learn the fundamentals of plant growth and science, the sustainable conversion of renewable resources into a range of products, and the supply chains and businesses which deliver these materials.

Coursework across a wide range of fundamentals including biology, business, sustainability, chemistry, and engineering provide a highly integrated and holistic education base.

Students are provided the opportunity to emphasize personal interests in green building, bioenergy, sustainable packaging, and more. In addition, students may opt to elect formal minors such as renewable energy and technology or business administration.

Summer work and paid internships are readily available for students (both within and outside of the University) and provide a real advantage when you apply for permanent jobs after graduation.

These experiences form the foundation for highly integrative sustainable materials studies in supply chain, materials performance and specification, carbon impacts, and environmental impacts of bio-sourced materials for construction, packaging, and energy production.

Douglas Gardner

Program Lead


Advanced Structures and Composites Center
207.581.2846 | douglasg@maine.edu

Sustainable Materials & Technology

College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences


Nutting Hall

An aerial photo of a winter forest

Living Laboratories

Students in the sustainable materials and technology program have access to nearly 15,000 acres of living laboratories across the state of Maine and benchtop through pilot-scale production of bio-based chemicals, cellulosic nanomaterials, bio-based building materials, additive manufacturing, and renewable energy products.