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.

Our Community

Meet the talented researchers and educators driving innovation in materials science

Andrea Tao

Andrea Tao

Professor, University of California at San Diego

Jeffrey Shield

Jeffrey Shield

Professor and Chair, University of Nebraska – Lincoln

Joseph Ngai

Joseph Ngai

Associate Professor, University of Texas Arlington

Cheng-Yu Lai

Cheng-Yu Lai

Associate Professor Affiliated, Florida International University

Stuart Rowan

Stuart Rowan

Barry L MacLean Professor, University of Chicago

James Hone

James Hone

Director, Columbia University in the City of New York

Yomaira Pagán-Torres

Yomaira Pagán-Torres

Professor, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez

Gang Lu

Gang Lu

Associate Professor, California State University, Northridge

Sean Kerwin

Sean Kerwin

Director, Texas State University

Cherese Winstead

Associate Professor, Chair, Delaware State University

Nasim Alem

Nasim Alem

Associate Professor , The Pennsylvania State University

Kyung Suk Yum

Kyung Suk Yum

Associate Professor, The University of Texas at Arlington

Horacio Vasquez

Horacio Vasquez

Professor, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Sonya T. Smith

Sonya T. Smith

Executive Director, Howard University

Karen Lozano

Karen Lozano

Endowed Professor, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Aida Ebrahimi

Aida Ebrahimi

Assistant Professor, Penn State

James Hone

James Hone

Director, Columbia University in the City of New York

Mark Wistey

Mark Wistey

Associate Professor, Texas State University

Jared Ashcroft

Jared Ashcroft

Pasadena City College

Nihar Pradhan

Nihar Pradhan

Associate Professor, Jackson State University

Kesete Ghebreyessus

Kesete Ghebreyessus

Associate Professor, Hampton University

Joshua Robinson

Joshua Robinson

Pennsylvania State University

Przemyslaw Dera

Przemyslaw Dera

Ufana Riaz

Ufana Riaz

assistant professor, North Carolina Central University

Nadya Mason

Nadya Mason

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Cheng-Yu Lai

Cheng-Yu Lai

Associate Professor Affiliated, Florida International University

Jennifer Irvin

Jennifer Irvin

Dean, University of Houston - Clear Lake

Marvin Wu

Professor, North Carolina Central University

Gil Gallegos

Gil Gallegos

Professor, New Mexico Highlands University

Vibha Bansal

Vibha Bansal

Professor and Researcher, University of Puerto Rico at Cayey