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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

San Diego Convention Center. Image credit: Sebastian Wallroth

TMS 2026 Annual Meeting & Exhibition

The TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition brings together more than 4,000 engineers, scientists, business leaders, and other professionals in the minerals, metals, and materials fields for a comprehensive, cross-disciplinary exchange of technical knowledge.

Sun Mar 15, 2026, 9:00AM - Thu Mar 19, 2026, 5:00PM

San Diego Convention Center and Hilton San Diego Bayfront

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Image courtesy of APS Global Physics Summit

APS Global Physics Summit

The APS Global Physics Summit is the largest physics research conference in the world, uniting 14,000 scientific community members across all disciplines of physics. This meeting reflects the inclusivity and synergy of many physics disciplines and emerging cross-disciplinary areas of science, which perfectly reflects this year's theme of Science for a Shared Future.

Mon Mar 16, 2026, 9:00AM - Fri Mar 20, 2026, 5:00PM

Colorado Convention Center

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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

Honolulu, Hawai‘i

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Jha4ceb/Wikipedia

Conference Across MRSEC-PREM Schools (CAMPS) 2026

The Conference Across MRSEC-PREM Schools is a student-led initiative to bring MRSEC-PREM students, faculty, and industry together to help improve students’ research, academic, and professional skills. The conference was founded as a result of a growing need to network with students from other institutions and learn about their work.

Wed Jul 29, 2026, 9:00AM - Fri Jul 31, 2026, 5:00PM

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News

Olivia Downey, PREM student researcher at Xavier University of Louisiana, is one of only six undergraduate students selected nationwide to speak at the upcoming ACS Presidential Symposium. Downey and her mentor and XULA professor, Samrat Dutta have also been invited to attend a special reception with colleagues and leaders in the field. Image courtesy of XULA.

Feb 4, 2026

Xavier PREM Scholar Olivia Downey Selected to Speak at Upcoming ACS Presidential Symposium

Olivia Downey, a senior Chemistry major at Xavier University of Louisiana and a student researcher in the Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) program, is making history as one of only six undergraduate students selected nationwide to speak at the ACS Presidential Symposium, “The Next 150 Years of Undergraduate Research,” during the Spring 2026 American Chemical Society meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.

Group photo of faculty, staff, students, and collaborators during the 20th UPR–PENN PREM Joint Annual Meeting. Image credit: UPR-PENN PREM

Jan 6, 2026

UPR and PENN celebrate their 20th PREM Joint Annual Meeting

On December 12, 2025, the UPR-PENN PREM celebrated its 20th Joint Annual Meeting. Since its start in 2004, the program has brought together faculty, students, and members of the External Advisory Board every fall in Puerto Rico to share research and education achievements and plan future initiatives.

Attendees at the recent Science and Technology of Emerging Materials Symposium, organized by the PREM Center for Quantum Materials Innovation and Educational Excellence.

Dec 17, 2025

PREM Center for Quantum Material Innovations and Educational Excellence (CQ-MIEE)

STEMS 25 Brings Emerging Materials Research and Career Development to the University of Central Florida

The PREM Center for Quantum Materials Innovation and Educational Excellence recently organized the Science and Technology of Emerging Materials Symposium at the University of Cnetral Florida.

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.

Image courtesy of Texas State University

Aug 5, 2025

TxState-UT PREM Center for Intelligent Materials Assembly (CIMA)

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.

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

Technical Workshop on Electrochemistry

First Transistors Fabricated at Fort Lewis College

Building Community and Technical Skills with IMOD

Development and Characterization of Chemically Oxidized Porous Silicon Solid Propellant Microthrusters

Topology in Quantum and Molecular Matter

Our Community

Meet the talented researchers and educators driving innovation in materials science

Gil Gallegos

Professor, New Mexico Highlands University

Jeffrey Shield

Professor and Chair, University of Nebraska – Lincoln

Mataz Alcoutlabi

Associate Professor, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Colin Nuckolls

Sheldon and Dorothy Buckler Professor of Material Science, Columbia University in the City of New York

Christopher Ellison

Faculty, Professor, University of Minnesota

Stefan Zollner

Department Head, New Mexico State University

Liju Yang

Professor, North Carolina Central University

Przemyslaw Dera

Chris Leighton

Distinguished McKnight University Professor, University of Minnesota System

Madhab Neupane

Associate Professor , University of Central Florida

He Dong

Associate Professor, The University of Texas at Arlington

Stuart Rowan

Barry L MacLean Professor, University of Chicago

Sean Kerwin

Director, Texas State University

Saiful Khondaker

Professor, University of Central Florida