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Highlights

Highlights

Launch of on demand career development resources
Launch of on demand career development resources
May 28, 2026
Fort Lewis College

Launch of on demand career development resources

One of the most useful and successful activities for the student in PEAQS has been working one-on-one with PEAQS staff on their career preparation. To create a sustainable version of this, Dr. Schreiner developed an on-demand online training platform for PEAQS students.
Develop a functional, synthetic biomembrane for the integration into a lung-on-a-chip (LoaC) platform
Develop a functional, synthetic biomembrane for the integration into a lung-on-a-chip (LoaC) platform
May 28, 2026
Fort Lewis College

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

Jeff Jessing, Fort Lewis College
To better study diseases, scientists are turning to organ-on-a-chip models that allow them to create multiple bio-accurate disease models without needing animal or human subjects. FLC undergraduates Sally Thompson, Hunter Goggin, Natalia Lambos from the Jessing group at FLC have been working to create a lung-on-a-chip platform for this purpose.
NSU and FLC students prepare to assemble batteries in chemical glove boxes.
NSU and FLC students prepare to assemble batteries in chemical glove boxes.
Jan 19, 2026
Fort Lewis College

Technical Workshop on Electrochemistry

Sarah Schreiner, CU Boulder
With a new partner, IMOD, a major goal of the last year of the partnership with STROBE was to provide as many opportunities as possible to for students to meet with their new community and learn their science.
Dr. Jessing with senior seminar undergraduate team that successfully fabricated transistors in house.
Dr. Jessing with senior seminar undergraduate team that successfully fabricated transistors in house.
Jan 19, 2026
Fort Lewis College

First Transistors Fabricated at Fort Lewis College

Jeff Jessing, Fort Lewis College
During the past year, PEAQS students at Fort Lewis College (FLC), Durango, CO have successfully fabricated functional Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors (MOSFETs).  MOSFETs are key components in digital and analog circuits, with modern smartphone processors containing around 15 billion of them.
NSU undergraduate Layla Smith shadowing Pedro Pliego in the Cossairt lab at the University of Washington.
NSU undergraduate Layla Smith shadowing Pedro Pliego in the Cossairt lab at the University of Washington.
Jan 19, 2026
Fort Lewis College

Building Community and Technical Skills with IMOD

Sarah Schreiner, CU Boulder
With a new partner, IMOD, PEAQS undergraduates find themselves with access to an even larger community of scientists with new technical and professional skills to learn. A major goal of this first year of the partnership was to give the students as many opportunities as possible to meet with this new community and learn their science and professional skills.
Development and Characterization of Chemically Oxidized Porous Silicon Solid Propellant Microthrusters
Development and Characterization of Chemically Oxidized Porous Silicon Solid Propellant Microthrusters
Jan 19, 2026
Fort Lewis College

Development and Characterization of Chemically Oxidized Porous Silicon Solid Propellant Microthrusters

Jeff Jessing, Fort Lewis College
Modern spacecraft requires the ability to perform complex and precise operations such as formation flying and collision avoidance. Microthruster technology, a key development in propulsion for spacecraft, address these performance needs through enhanced maneuverability while maintaining a minimal footprint.
CSULB students work in Ojeda-Aristizabal’s lab.
CSULB students work in Ojeda-Aristizabal’s lab.
Jan 7, 2026
California State University - Long Beach

Topology in Quantum and Molecular Matter

During the duration of the grant, PREM research groups published 5 articles. Read all about it.
Semi-group photo of APS attendees of the CSULB
Semi-group photo of APS attendees of the CSULB
Jan 7, 2026
California State University - Long Beach

CSULB-OSU PREM Symposium

At the CSULB-OSU PREM symposium, students engaged in collaborative, interdisciplinary projects spanning quantum materials, molecular topology, and nanofabrication, supported by reciprocal exchanges and regular joint meetings. We had 21 CSULB summer research projects and 8 CSULB students doing REUs at OSU’s CEM.
a) Schematic of AuNC-TiO, Microswimmers and photocatalytic activity resulting in directional motility; b) TEM/EDS of AuNC-TiO, microswimmers indicating janus-like adherence of AuNC to TiO2 microswimmers; c) 4.5 fold enhancement of AuNC-TiO, catalytic activity; Motility of d) AuNC-TiO, and e) TiO, alone showing increased motility as a function of AuNC.
a) Schematic of AuNC-TiO, Microswimmers and photocatalytic activity resulting in directional motility; b) TEM/EDS of AuNC-TiO, microswimmers indicating janus-like adherence of AuNC to TiO2 microswimmers; c) 4.5 fold enhancement of AuNC-TiO, catalytic activity; Motility of d) AuNC-TiO, and e) TiO, alone showing increased motility as a function of AuNC.
Oct 17, 2025
Northern Arizona University

Enhanced active matter photocatalysis via Gold Nanoclusters

J. Martinez and G. Montaño (co-Pls), Northern Arizona University
In a paper titled Enhanced active matter photocatalysis via Gold Nanoclusters, researchers show that atomically precise gold nanoclusters can act as motility catalysts for active-matter microswimmers. By exploiting the nanoclusters’ tiny size and controllable optical activity, they achieve nearly fivefold higher mean-square displacement under UV light than conventional TiO2-based microswimmers. The work opens a path to add new functionalities to microswimmers by using the diverse properties of gold nanoclusters.
¡MIRA!-PREM: Sparking Curiosity In Materials Science!!
¡MIRA!-PREM: Sparking Curiosity In Materials Science!!
Oct 17, 2025
Northern Arizona University

¡MIRA!-PREM: Sparking Curiosity In Materials Science!!

Northern Arizona University (Montaño)
During UT-Austin’s STEM Girl Day on Feb 22, 2025, the SparCS team from NAU ¡MIRA!-PREM highlighted its outreach work. Joined by the Center for Dynamics and Control of Materials, students, faculty, and staff introduced SparCS to the Austin community. They led hands-on activities for hundreds of middle-school girls and their families to spark interest in materials science, quantum tech, and photonics, making STEM fun and accessible.

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National Science Foundation
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed on this website are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or the participating institutions. This site is maintained collaboratively by principal investigators with Partnership for Research and Education in Materials awards, independent of the NSF.