Xavier University of Louisiana's Materials and Interfaces Center for High Energy Storage and Sensing (MICHESS)-University of Chicago

The Partnership for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) is a partnership between the Materials and Interfaces Center for High Energy Storage and Sensing (MICHESS) at Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) and the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) at the University of Chicago. The XULA-UChicago PREM partnership supports interdisciplinary and collaborative research projects that focus on (1) the development of efficient lithium-based batteries based on solid polymer electrolytes, and (2) designing micro- and nanoscale sensors for the simultaneous detection of multiple analytes.

The broader goal of the XULA-UChicago PREM partnership is to increase outreach to underrepresented minority students through research and education programs that forefront materials science and engineering. Our outreach and education endeavors include targeted recruiting efforts to high school and undergraduate students, year-around research fellowships for undergraduate students that include financial support, and a summer bridge-to-undergraduate program. With the long-term goal of increasing the number of underrepresented minority students in research-based STEM careers, this partnership is working to increase access to meaningful research opportunities for students that have been historically underrepresented in materials science and engineering careers. 

Jane Doe

Research Scientist, California State University

Hans Hanley

Electrical Engineering, Princeton University