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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

Credit: Paul Wasneski/Wikipedia

2025 NDiSTEM Conference

NDiSTEM is the largest multidisciplinary and multicultural STEM conference in the country. The NDiSTEM Conference is a gathering which serves to equip, empower, and energize participants for their academic and professional paths in STEM.

Thu Oct 30, 2025 - Sat Nov 1, 2025

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Science and Technology of Emerging Materials Symposium (STEMS 2025)

Don’t miss the 2025 Science and Technology of Emerging Materials Symposium (STEMS). The symposium is organized by the PREM Center for Quantum Materials Innovation and Education Excellence (CQMIEE) at UCF and aims to bring together scientists with research interests in quantum materials and their applications in electronics, photonics, energy, environments, and biology.

Sat Nov 15, 2025, 9:00AM - Sun Nov 16, 2025, 5:00PM

University of Central Florida

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Credit: King of Hearts/Wikipedia

2025 MRS Fall Meeting and Exhibit

The 2025 MRS Fall Meeting & Exhibit will take place November 30-December 5, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts, at the Hynes Convention Center and adjacent Sheraton Boston Hotel. The world's foremost international scientific gathering for materials research, the MRS meeting showcases leading interdisciplinary research in both fundamental and applied areas presented by scientists from around the world. Abstract submissions are due by June 18, 2025 at 11:59 pm ET.

Sun Nov 30, 2025 - Fri Dec 5, 2025

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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.

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Our Community

Meet the talented researchers and educators driving innovation in materials science

Thiagarajan Soundappan

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, Navajo Technical University

Ivan Dmochowski

Alan MacDiarmid Term Professor of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania

Parag Banerjee

Professor, University of Central Florida

Michelle Calabrese

Faculty, Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota

Mark Hersam

Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Northwestern University

Stefan Zollner

Department Head, New Mexico State University

Liju Yang

Professor, North Carolina Central University

James Hone

Director, Columbia University in the City of New York

Ines Montano

Associate Professor, Northern Arizona University

Phil Engen

Education & Outreach Director, University of Minnesota

Ryan Behunin

Associate Professor of Physics, Northern Arizona

Przemyslaw Dera

Maren Roman

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Gang Lu

Associate Professor, California State University, Northridge