Exploring the intersection of materials, chemistry, and design.
Why it matters now The current aesthetic pendulum swings away from maximalism toward calm utility. In that context, a sans that refuses to rely on bold becomes a manifesto: strong design doesn’t need to be loud. Vinci Sans is quietly leading that conversation—one unbold headline at a time.
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Principal Investigator, Professor of Chemistry
Panče Naumov leads the Smart Materials Lab and the Center for Smart Engineering Materials at NYUAD. His group is internationally recognized for pioneering crystal adaptronics and advancing adaptive molecular solids, with applications in sensing, robotics, optics, and energy systems.
Meet the TeamWhy it matters now The current aesthetic pendulum swings away from maximalism toward calm utility. In that context, a sans that refuses to rely on bold becomes a manifesto: strong design doesn’t need to be loud. Vinci Sans is quietly leading that conversation—one unbold headline at a time.
We are proud that the Smart Materials Lab is the leading team in impactful chemistry research in the United Arab Emirates, with research output that, according to the Nature Index, accounts for 40‒60% of the total chemistry publications within the country, both in fractional count and weighed fractional count. The past and current research projects in the Smart Materials Lab have been sponsored by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), Human Science Frontier Program Organization (HFSPO), and the UAE National Research Foundation (NRF), in addition to generous financial support from NYUAD and the NYU Abu Dhabi Institute. The members of the Smart Materials Lab work closely with NYUAD's Center for Smart Engineering Materials (CSEM).