From 2005-2014, Dr. McDowell served as Co-Director of the Center for Computational Materials Design (CCMD), a joint NSF I/UCRC with lead institution Pennsylvania State University (Director Z.-K. Liu). The CCMD developed novel methods for robust systems design of materials, exploring and extending the interface between engineering systems design, information technology and physics-based simulation of process-structure and structure-property relations of materials.  The CCMD blazed new trails in providing tools and educated students to industry and government stakeholders engage in Integrated Computational Materials Engineering.

Georgia Tech has provided a strong vision for the integration of experiment, computation and data science to advance fundamental materials research, new materials discovery, and accelerated materials development by establishing a concept for a campus-wide materials innovation ecosystem through the Institute for Materials (IMat).  Professor McDowell served as founding Executive Director of this Institute from 2012-2020.   IMat fosters formation of strategic industry relationships that promote development of the future workforce, as well as methods and tools to enhance industry competitiveness in discovery and development of new and improved materials.