diff --git a/src/citrine/__version__.py b/src/citrine/__version__.py
index a3207ca50..1b052a2ba 100644
--- a/src/citrine/__version__.py
+++ b/src/citrine/__version__.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-__version__ = "3.17.0"
+__version__ = "3.18.0"
diff --git a/src/citrine/resources/material_run.py b/src/citrine/resources/material_run.py
index e57de4569..2c404587f 100644
--- a/src/citrine/resources/material_run.py
+++ b/src/citrine/resources/material_run.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 from citrine._serialization.properties import String, LinkOrElse
 from citrine._utils.functions import format_escaped_url
 from citrine.resources.data_concepts import _make_link_by_uid
+from citrine.resources.data_concepts import CITRINE_TAG_PREFIX
 from citrine.resources.material_spec import MaterialSpecCollection
 from citrine.resources.object_runs import ObjectRun, ObjectRunCollection
 from gemd.entity.file_link import FileLink
@@ -49,6 +50,16 @@ class MaterialRun(
         The material specification of which this is an instance.
     file_links: List[FileLink], optional
         Links to associated files, with resource paths into the files API.
+    default_labels: List[str], optional
+        An optional set of default labels to apply to this material run.
+        Default labels are used to:
+          - Populate labels on the ingredient run, if none are explicitly
+            specified, when the material run is later used as an ingredient
+          - Marking the material run as a potential replacement ingredient for a
+            particular label when generating new candidates using a
+            design space. Note that during design, default labels are only applicable
+            if the material run has no associated ingredient run within the
+            training set in question.
 
     """
 
@@ -74,12 +85,14 @@ def __init__(self,
                  process: Optional[GEMDProcessRun] = None,
                  sample_type: Optional[str] = "unknown",
                  spec: Optional[GEMDMaterialSpec] = None,
-                 file_links: Optional[List[FileLink]] = None):
+                 file_links: Optional[List[FileLink]] = None,
+                 default_labels: Optional[List[str]] = None):
         if uids is None:
             uids = dict()
+        all_tags = _inject_default_label_tags(tags, default_labels)
         super(ObjectRun, self).__init__()
         GEMDMaterialRun.__init__(self, name=name, uids=uids,
-                                 tags=tags, process=process,
+                                 tags=all_tags, process=process,
                                  sample_type=sample_type, spec=spec,
                                  file_links=file_links, notes=notes)
 
@@ -216,3 +229,22 @@ def list_by_template(self,
         specs = spec_collection.list_by_template(uid=_make_link_by_uid(uid))
         return (run for runs in (self.list_by_spec(spec) for spec in specs)
                 for run in runs)
+
+
+_CITRINE_DEFAULT_LABEL_PREFIX = f'{CITRINE_TAG_PREFIX}::mat_label'
+
+
+def _inject_default_label_tags(
+    original_tags: Optional[List[str]], default_labels: Optional[List[str]]
+) -> Optional[List[str]]:
+    if default_labels is None:
+        all_tags = original_tags
+    else:
+        labels_as_tags = [
+            f"{_CITRINE_DEFAULT_LABEL_PREFIX}::{label}" for label in default_labels
+        ]
+        if original_tags is None:
+            all_tags = labels_as_tags
+        else:
+            all_tags = list(original_tags) + labels_as_tags
+    return all_tags
diff --git a/tests/resources/test_material_run.py b/tests/resources/test_material_run.py
index 00b05decd..3921b3bf1 100644
--- a/tests/resources/test_material_run.py
+++ b/tests/resources/test_material_run.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 from citrine.resources.data_concepts import CITRINE_SCOPE
 from citrine.resources.material_run import MaterialRunCollection
 from citrine.resources.material_run import MaterialRun as CitrineRun
+from citrine.resources.material_run import _inject_default_label_tags
 from citrine.resources.gemd_resource import GEMDResourceCollection
 
 from gemd.demo.cake import make_cake, change_scope
@@ -53,6 +54,44 @@ def test_invalid_collection_construction():
         mr = MaterialRunCollection(dataset_id=UUID('8da51e93-8b55-4dd3-8489-af8f65d4ad9a'),
                                    session=session)
 
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "original_tags, default_labels, expected",
+    [
+        (None, None, None),
+        (None, [], []),
+        ([], None, []),
+        ([], [], []),
+        (
+            None,
+            ["label 0", "label 1"],
+            ["citr_auto::mat_label::label 0", "citr_auto::mat_label::label 1"],
+        ),
+        (
+            [],
+            ["label 0", "label 1"],
+            ["citr_auto::mat_label::label 0", "citr_auto::mat_label::label 1"],
+        ),
+        (["alpha", "beta", "gamma"], None, ["alpha", "beta", "gamma"]),
+        (["alpha", "beta", "gamma"], [], ["alpha", "beta", "gamma"]),
+        (
+            ["alpha", "beta", "gamma"],
+            ["label 0", "label 1"],
+            [
+                "alpha",
+                "beta",
+                "gamma",
+                "citr_auto::mat_label::label 0",
+                "citr_auto::mat_label::label 1",
+            ],
+        ),
+    ],
+)
+def test_inject_default_label_tags(original_tags, default_labels, expected):
+    result = _inject_default_label_tags(original_tags, default_labels)
+    assert result == expected
+
+
 def test_register_material_run(collection, session):
     # Given
     session.set_response(MaterialRunDataFactory(name='Test MR 123'))