This special issue of the Journal of Materials Research contains articles that were accepted in response to a call for manuscripts.

Introduction

We are pleased to publish the eighth annual Early Career Scholars in Materials Science issue of Journal of Materials Research. Every year, this issue spotlights a new group of researchers at a particularly important stage in their careers. Their photos and biographical details are included to personalize the authors and to help facilitate networking with other scientists in their areas of expertise. All of this issue’s papers are published on an Open Access basis to that end, as well. It is impressive to see the degree of international representation of the scholars, and the efforts taken by this group to carry out state-of-the-art research on a global scale.

As has been the case every year, the 2023 issue covers a breadth of topics, reflecting the expanding reach of materials research in myriad fields of endeavor. The Early Career Scholars are a diverse group of women and men from around the world, contributing at labs and universities inside and outside their home countries. More than 50% of the scholars hold academic positions. We are enthusiastic to see how the careers of this group of young professionals advance in the coming years. We expect they will continue to grow and prosper in the field of materials and assume future leadership roles. Feel free to contact the editors (jmr@mrs.org) if you have any questions about publishing a paper in a future Early Career Scholars in Materials Science annual issue. Enjoy meeting the 2023 Early Career Scholars and reading their outstanding papers!