Ceramics representing inorganic, non-metallic materials have been researched at Georgia Tech since 1924 with the advent of the kaolin industry in Georgia. Increasing attention focused on ceramics in the 1960s to meet the needs of materials capable of withstanding the extreme environments in nuclear reactors and space-crafts.

Today, research in ceramics is vital for advances in electronics and telecommunications, devices for energy conversion, storage and harvesting, catalysts and sensors, vehicle and personnel armor, as well as for ferro/piezo-electric devices, micro-mechanical systems, permanent magnets, automobile engines, and biomedical applications. Much work on various aspects of oxide and non-oxide ceramics in the form of nanoparticles, coatings, and bulk solids for a variety of structural and (multi)functional applications under ambient and extreme environment is being pursued by MSE faculty. Ceramics form the basis of two start-up companies led by MSE faculty, and a number of centers and multi-disciplinary research programs have ceramic materials as their core.

The faculty listed below, have identified Ceramics as one of their primary research areas based on material form.