Sinan Keten Picked for Defense Science Study Group

Northwestern Engineering’s Sinan Keten was one 16 researchers selected for the 2024-2026 class of the Defense Science Study Group (DSSG) sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

Keten, Jerome B. Cohen Professor of Mechanical Engineering and of Civil and Environmental Engineering, focuses on computational materials science and mechanics, emphasizing nanostructured polymeric materials and biomolecular and bioinspired materials. His research explores how the creation of faster and more accurate computational methods and biological design principles can accelerate the design of new materials for structural use, separations, and broader applications relevant to energy, environment, and infrastructure. 

Keten was selected for the cohort that will meet around 20 days per year for two years. The researchers will focus on US defense policy, related research and development, and the systems, missions, and operations of the armed forces and the intelligence community.

“I am honored to be selected for this prestigious program and look forward to interactions with DSSG colleagues, mentors and leadership in national security, science, and policy,” Keten said.

During the program, Keten and his colleagues will visit Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Joint Command facilities, intelligence agencies, and defense-related laboratories. They will meet with key members of the US House of Representatives, the US Senate, and other senior government officials involved in national security. Their experiences will inform in research-based “think pieces” that they will present.

Founded in 1986, the program is directed by the nonprofit Institute for Defense Analyses and introduces outstanding science and engineering professors to the United States’ security challenges and encourages them to apply their talents to these issues.