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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.

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News

Billey and his advisor Thiagarajan Soundappan, associate professor at NTU and PI for PREM Ventures — a collaboration between NTU and Harvard University. Image courtesy of Navajo Technical University.

May 7, 2026

Navajo Technical University

Navajo Technical University Student Develops Sensors to Detect Heavy Metals in Water

Wayant Billey, a Navajo student at Navajo Technical University, knows firsthand how important water quality is for families who haul water for drinking, livestock and crops. His research uses small, low-cost laser-induced graphene sensors to detect heavy metals in water — work that could help communities better understand local contamination risks while inspiring the next generation of STEM students.

Feb 4, 2026

Xavier University of Louisiana

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

University of Puerto Rico at Humacao - University of Pennsylvania MRSEC

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

University of Central Florida

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.

New Water Sensor Detects Toxic Iron Pollution with Extreme Sensitivity

Oct 27, 2025

North Carolina Central University

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.

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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Texas State University, San Marcos

STEM Field Trips: Inspiring the Next Generation of Materials Scientists

Texas State University, San Marcos

PREM Full Circle – PREM Impact in Materials Science Workforce

Texas State University, San Marcos

Million-fold Rate Acceleration of Azobenzene Isomerization

Launch of on demand career development resources

Develop a functional, synthetic biomembrane for the integration into a lung-on-a-chip (LoaC) platform

Our Community

Meet the talented researchers and educators driving innovation in materials science

Mark Hersam

Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Northwestern University

Jie Ling

Long-Qing Chen

Hamer Professor, The Pennsylvania State University

Uwe Hommerich

Professor, Hampton University

Natalya Zimbovskaya

Professor, University of Puerto Rico at Humacao

Jorge L. Colón

Professor, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras

Chris Leighton

Distinguished McKnight University Professor, University of Minnesota System

Stefan Zollner

Department Head, New Mexico State University

Joshua Robinson

Pennsylvania State University

Jiechao Jiang

Professor of Research, The University of Texas at Arlington

Fudong Liu

Assistant Professor, University of Central Florida

Joan M Redwing

Distinguished Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University

Joseph Brown

Department Chair, University of Hawaii at Manoa

Sonya T. Smith

Executive Director, Howard University