NC State MSE Team Wins 2nd Place in Materials Bowl at 2025 TMS Annual Meeting

Written by Professor Bharat Gwalani, Assistant Professor at NC State Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)

It is with immense pride and excitement that I share the outstanding achievement of our NC State team in the 2025 TMS Materials Bowl, held as part of the prestigious TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Las Vegas. For the first time ever, our team, Atomic Pack, competed against some of the top schools in the nation, including powerhouse programs like Ohio State, Colorado School of Mines, and Florida State, and walked away with an impressive second-place finish!

The competition was nothing short of intense, with the entire event coming down to the wire. It was a nail-biting experience, and I’ll admit, my heart was pounding throughout the final rounds. In the end, we were just one question away from claiming first place. Another question in the earlier rounds, however, narrowly kept us from third place, making our position even more exciting. Every moment felt critical, and it was a true test of both speed and knowledge.

The Materials Bowl, hosted by TMS (The Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society), invites chapters of the Materials Advantage student organization to compete in a fast-paced, materials-themed knowledge and trivia competition. This year, the event attracted more than 4,000 materials science professionals, and only one team from each participating school was allowed to compete, making the achievement even more remarkable for our team.

Our team, Atomic Pack, was made up of four incredibly talented students: Michael, a graduate student; Aidan, Nethra, and Caitlyn, all undergraduates. Though we had less preparation time and experience compared to other teams, our students rose to the occasion. Their deep knowledge, quick thinking, and unflappable composure under pressure were nothing short of impressive. 

While our students were on the frontlines, our group’s moral support team included Caleb, Sofia (one of the current Material Advantage student co-presidents), and myself. Sofia, in particular, was an unwavering source of encouragement and energy for our students throughout the competition.

Despite being newcomers to the Materials Bowl, the NC State MSE team demonstrated that we are more than prepared for the global stage. Their performance sends a clear message that our students are not only capable of excelling in the classroom but are also ready to take on the challenges of high-pressure competitions in the real world. The fact that we came so close to taking home first place speaks volumes about the caliber of our team.

Nethra shares the backstory of the team name and team t-shirt graphic: “The team name is a play on the Atomic Packing Factor, a fundamental topic for materials science, and the Wolfpack, our school’s community. The logo, designed by Caitlyn Obrero, showcases this by showing a Face Centered Cubic (FCC) crystal structure with a wolf howling on top.”

For those interested in the behind-the-scenes workings of our lab, you may be curious to know that our team nailed the PI labs question: a proud moment for us all! As a professor, seeing my students thrive in such a competitive environment fills me with pride. It’s not just about the prize (although, I admit, the $500 awarded to the chapter for our second-place finish is certainly appreciated); it’s about the experience. The sense of teamwork, the camaraderie, and the thrill of competing at such a high level: these are the moments that shape the future of our students and our department.

This achievement would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of the Atomic Pack team and the unwavering support of our Materials Science and Engineering department at NC State. I am already looking forward to our next opportunity to compete, and I do not doubt that our students will continue to exceed expectations on the global stage.

Congratulations to Atomic Pack! You’ve made NC State proud.

About the TMS Materials Bowl: The TMS Materials Bowl is an annual trivia competition that challenges students in the field of materials science. Each year, Material Advantage chapters from universities across the country compete for cash prizes and the honor of being named the top team in the nation.