Experience with materials performance in operating light water reactors (LWRs) has shown that materials developed for other purposes cannot always be utilized directly in nuclear reactors. Careful research on their performance in the anticipated environment, combined with sound engineering, is required to ensure simple, safe, and reliable operation. Materials may have to be modified or new ones developed for some applications. Based on experience with commercial LWRs, materials research needs are discussed for near-term nuclear reactors. Emphasis is placed on the types of basic research that need to be performed and can feasibly be performed at a university under National Science Foundation sponsorship. These include radiation effects, mechanistic studies of mass transport and environmental degradation, development of surface modifications to resist mass transport of radioactive species, and the development and testing of new alloys. In all cases, meaningful research must include all the specific demands of the system under consideration.