In Pendleton, S.C., the Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies (Comset) at Clemson University was awarded a $10 million endowed faculty position in optical materials. The chair, created with $5 million from the state and matched by $5 million from other sources, will support a key scholar, two junior faculty positions and research at the center.

A renowned expert will be named to the chair to attract top graduate students, and inspire companies to locate in the area, said John Ballato, director of the center, which was recently named a South Carolina Re- search Center of Economic Excellence.

Comset and the endowed chair faculty member will be housed in Clemson's Advanced Materials Research Laboratory, which is a $21 million complex under construction in Clemson Research Park.