During his teenage years in a small Yugoslav village, Admir Masic faced the harrowing realities of war as his homeland fell apart, culminating in the destruction of his childhood home by a tank. This traumatic event forced his family to seek refuge in northern Croatia, where they had to leave their past behind and adapt to life in a refugee camp.
It was in this challenging environment that chemistry, which Masic refers to as his “magic,” became a beacon of hope. “Chemistry really forcefully entered my life,” shares Masic, who is now an associate professor at MIT in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. “I’d leave school and return to the camp, where my choices were playing ping-pong or tackling chemistry homework. I chose the latter, diving deeply into my studies.”
Years later, Masic’s passion for chemistry not only provided an escape from his dire circumstances but also shaped his mission to create a brighter future. He founded the MIT Emerging Talent program, aimed at offering educational opportunities to students displaced by conflict. Masic sees ancient materials as vital sources of wisdom that could help tackle some of the modern world’s most pressing challenges.
“We are pioneering the concept of paleo-inspired design, emphasizing that ancient materials hold ideas that are remarkably relevant today,” Masic explains. “These materials can reveal crucial insights that could revolutionize our approach to construction and sustainability.”
One of Masic’s primary research focuses is on cement. His team is exploring methods to convert this commonly used material into a carbon sink, a medium for energy storage, and more. Much of this work investigates the remarkable self-healing properties of ancient Roman concrete.
“Roman concrete fascinates me; it’s stood the test of time and continuously repairs itself,” Masic notes. “What makes it so special? Can any aspects of it be adapted to modern materials? This is an exciting journey that MIT allows us to pursue — turning cutting-edge research into real-world applications. For me, creating an impact is paramount.”
Finding Purpose Through Adversity
After fleeing to Croatia in 1992, just before entering high school, Masic faced rejection due to his status as a Bosnian refugee. With perseverance and support from a school psychologist, he was permitted to attend classes as a nonmatriculating student.
Admir remained quietly in the background, absorbing knowledge until a teacher encouraged him to enter a local chemistry competition. “I won, and it was a pivotal moment for me. I realized I had a talent for chemistry!” Masic recalls.
In 1994, Masic’s parents emigrated to Germany, but he chose to remain in Croatia to complete his education, residing in a friend’s basement and relying on local families for support. “I understood that I had to stay,” he reflects. “My past had shaped me, and I realized that knowledge was my greatest asset.”
Masic’s success continued as he participated in more chemistry contests, eventually earning a diploma after a change in national law. He went on to the University of Turin for a five-year joint program, where he earned a master’s degree in inorganic chemistry, followed by a PhD focused on parchment, a crucial medium for preserving historical texts.
His entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish a company dedicated to the restoration of ancient documents, which included work on the Dead Sea Scrolls, some of the oldest manuscripts known to humanity. Masic’s career further blossomed at the Max Planck Institute in Germany, where he delved into biological materials, particularly the interactions between water and collagen at the nanoscale.
Throughout this journey, Masic honed his expertise in Raman spectroscopy, a non-invasive chemical imaging technique that utilizes lasers to capture molecular vibrations. “It became a vital tool in my research on biological and bioinspired materials,” he says. This innovative approach propelled his academic career forward and resulted in numerous publications.
After seven fruitful years at Max Planck, Masic embraced the opportunity to join MIT’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE). “MIT has been a unique environment where I can truly express my research aspirations,” he emphasizes. “In CEE, I connect my heritage science work and Raman spectroscopy to address significant societal challenges.”
Translating Innovations into Practical Solutions
Raman spectroscopy, still an emerging technique for studying cement, holds promise for addressing global carbon dioxide emissions. At MIT, Masic is investigating how cement can not only store carbon dioxide but also function as an energy-storing supercapacitor. His insights into the resilience of ancient Roman concrete could transform the modern $400 billion cement industry.
“We don’t advocate completely replacing ordinary Portland cement; it’s a well-understood material with extensive production. Instead, we seek to augment its properties with new functionalities to improve sustainability,” Masic explains. “The concept of ‘multifunctional concrete,’ inspired by biological materials, envisions construction materials that not only provide structural support but also self-repair and store energy.”
With a role as a co-director of the MIT ec3 hub and a principal investigator at the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub, Masic leverages his research to create impactful real-world applications. As a co-founder and advisor at the technology development firm DMAT, he is positioned at the intersection of academia and industry.
“Being at the forefront of sustainability is invigorating, especially when I engage with industry leaders who can help bring about real change,” Masic affirms. “MIT encourages us to bridge fundamental science with practical applications, as seen in initiatives like the CSHub and ec3 hub. Our industry partners are eager for solutions we can provide.”
Admir Masic remembers his roots, living in Somerville, Massachusetts with his wife Emina, a fellow refugee, and their son Benjamin. The family remains dedicated to assisting displaced and underserved communities. Masic established the MIT Refugee Action Hub (ReACT) seven years ago, providing computer and data science education for refugees. The program absorbed into MIT’s Emerging Talent initiative this year continues to empower thousands of refugees annually, enabling many to secure successful positions at companies like Microsoft and Meta.
“This is life-changing for these individuals,” Masic states. “It’s a remarkable chance for MIT to cultivate talented refugees globally through a straightforward certification program. The more people we involve, the greater our impact on these underserved communities.”
Photo credit & article inspired by: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
