The main goal of the National Science Foundation (NSF)-sponsored Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) is to enhance materials research and education by stimulating the development of formal, long-term, collaborative research and education partnerships between colleges and universities and the NSF Division of Materials Research (DMR)-supported centers and facilities.

The National Science Foundation’s mandate to ensure the vitality of the United States’ scientific and engineering enterprise includes concerns for the quality of and access to materials research and education. Within this context, it is recognized that colleges and universities coupled to DMR-supported centers and facilities represent a unique opportunity for improving access to careers in materials research.

The activities enabled through PREM partnerships are intended to enhance the quantity and quality of materials research opportunities for students and faculty members at participating colleges and universities. PREM programs are showing promising results by increasing recruitment, retention, and degree attainment in materials research. Collaborative research efforts and innovative educational programs are proving to be mutually beneficial for the home institutions of PREM centers as well as for DMR-centers and programs. The PREM centers sponsor a variety of activities that include: support for graduate, undergraduate, and HS students in research; training and mentoring students to pursue careers in materials research; faculty and student exchanges; and the implementation of new courses and programs. The centers are also actively involved in outreach activities for the communities they serve.