Home · PREM

What is PREM?

Building Capability in Materials Research

The Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) program fosters long-term collaborations between universities and NSF’s Division of Materials Research (DMR)-supported centers. It enhances research opportunities through faculty and student exchanges, student mentoring and professional development, educational opportunities and training in state-of-the-art experimental, theoretical and computational materials development techniques. PREM supports students, postdocs, and faculty while advancing materials research and education.

Engaging Talent

We focus on identifying, recruiting and supporting a cohort of talented individuals in materials science through targeted outreach, mentorship, professional development and research engagement.

Fostering Growth

Our outreach and partnership initiatives ensure a collaborative environment that empowers long-term growth and a broad spectrum of perspectives that strengthen our field.

Impacting our World Through Materials Science

Our members conduct interdisciplinary research and develop new knowledge and technologies that impact the fields of biomedicine, energy, nanotechnology, electronics, and sustainability.

PREM Network on LinkedIn

Connect with our network, get the latest updates, and engage with our community.

Upcoming Events

Rising Stars in Soft and Biological Matter Symposium

The Rising Stars in Soft and Biological Matter Symposium, co-sponsored by UChicago and the University of California San Diego MRSECs, provides a platform for exceptional early-career soft matter, energy materials, and biological matter scientists to present their work. Symposium participants are selected based on a track record of research accomplishments.

Wed Dec 10, 2025, 10:00AM - Thu Dec 11, 2025, 1:30PM

Learn More
Image courtesy of Materials Research Society

2026 MRS Spring Meeting & Exhibit

The 2026 MRS Spring Meeting & Exhibit, April 26–May 1 in Honolulu, will bring together researchers from academia, industry, and government for a week of collaboration and scientific exchange—highlighting breakthroughs in sustainability, energy, and more.

Sun Apr 26, 2026, 9:00AM - Sat May 2, 2026, 5:00PM

Learn More
See All Events

See all upcoming events across the PREM community.
All Events

News

Oct 27, 2025

New Water Sensor Detects Toxic Iron Pollution with Extreme Sensitivity

PREM Web Team

A team of researchers from the U.S. and India has developed a powerful new sensor that can identify dangerous levels of iron in water faster, cheaper, and with far greater accuracy than existing methods. The project was led by Fei Yan, professor at North Carolina Central University (NCCU). Yan is also part of the NSF PREM for Hybrid Nanoscale Systems.

Aug 5, 2025

Texas State University Student Wins Prestigious Goldwater Scholarship

By Lane G Fortenberry, Texas State University

A Texas State University undergraduate student has been awarded a Barry Goldwater Scholarship, one of the nation’s most prestigious awards for future scientists, mathematicians, and engineers.

Jul 21, 2025

CAMPS 2025: A Student-Driven Showcase of Innovation, Community, and Future Leadership in Materials Science

PREM Web Team

In May, close to 100 students from 26 institutions across the United States came together in San Marcos, Texas for the CAMPS 2025 conference. More than just a scientific meeting, CAMPS—short for Conference Across MRSEC and PREM Schools—has carved out a unique identify as a conference organized by students, for students.

Apr 15, 2025

Lights, Camera, Energy!

By Divya Abhat

Each year, nearly 8,000 school-age kids watch PREM researchers at the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) deliver awe-inspiring performances: a race between two people to lift a one-ton weight, gummy bears that burst loudly into flames, giant pendulums or wrecking balls swinging dangerously close to the face, and dance—so much dance.

Feb 19, 2025

PREM Program Celebrates 20th Anniversary

By Divya Abhat

2024 marked the 20^th anniversary of NSF’s PREM program. The PREM community celebrated this milestone at the NSF PREM Research Scholars Summit, held at the recent Materials Research Society meeting in Boston, Massachusetts.

Jan 23, 2025

Texas State University Hosts STEM Field Trip for Local Students

PREM Web Team

Texas State University welcomed elementary and high school students for a STEM-focused field trip filled with hands-on experiments, lab tours, and campus exploration. The event aimed to inspire curiosity and a passion for science in the next generation. Image: Atkins CAST High School 12th grade group attends STEM Field Trip at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. Photo courtesy of Tania Betancourt.

Dec 6, 2024

PEAQS Center Uses Light to Measure Silicon Membrane Thickness

PREM Web Team

The PREM PEAQS center recently published a paper, “Real-time optical thickness determination for producing ultra-thin silicon membranes using anisotropic potassium hydroxide etching” in MRS Advances.

From Research Highlights

Explore our latest research that's shaping the future of DMR

Dive into cutting-edge projects and collaborations pushing the boundaries of discovery.

See all Highlights

Enhanced active matter photocatalysis via Gold Nanoclusters

¡MIRA!-PREM: Sparking Curiosity In Materials Science!!

Texas State University, San Marcos

Surface Reconstruction of Metal Oxide Oxygen Evolution Catalysts

Texas State University, San Marcos

Conference Across MRSEC and PREM Schools (CAMPS)

Integration of a Novel Biomembrane into a Lung-on-a-Chip Microfluidic Test-Platform

Our Community

Meet the talented researchers and educators driving innovation in materials science

Horacio Vasquez

Professor, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Seyhan Salman

Assistant Professor, Clark Atlanta University

Qilin Dai

Associate Professor, Jackson State University

Ting Cao

University of Washington

Michelle Calabrese

Faculty, Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota

Kevin Edgar

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Jorge L. Colón

Professor, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras

Jennifer Lewis

Area Chair, Bioengineering, Harvard University

Sanket Deshmukh

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Mauricio Terrones

George A. and Margaret M. Downsbrough Department Head of Physics, Evan Pugh University Professor, Professor of Chemistry and MatSE, The Pennsylvania State University

Boris Kiefer

Professor, New Mexico State University

Joel Brock

Given Professor of Engineering, Cornell University

Lisa Neshyba

Rolando Oyola

Professor, University of Puerto Rico-Humacao