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Highlights

Highlights

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.
Surface Reconstruction of Metal Oxide Oxygen Evolution Catalysts
Surface Reconstruction of Metal Oxide Oxygen Evolution Catalysts
Jul 31, 2025
Texas State University

Surface Reconstruction of Metal Oxide Oxygen Evolution Catalysts

F Ospina-Acevedo and P. Balbuena (Texas A&M University), J. Godínez-Salomón, Z. Naymik and C. Rhodes (Texas State University), K. Matthews and J. Warner (The University of Texas at Austin)
Conference Across MRSEC and PREM Schools (CAMPS)
Conference Across MRSEC and PREM Schools (CAMPS)
Jul 31, 2025
Texas State University

Conference Across MRSEC and PREM Schools (CAMPS)

Tania Betancourt, Texas State University
Texas State University hosted the 2025 Conference Across MRSEC and PREM Schools (CAMPS), bringing together 94 students from over 30 universities. The event featured a speaker series with faculty and industry presenters, rapid-fire oral presentations, and poster sessions. Attendees also participated in a career panel, networking lunch, and toured research labs to learn about materials characterization equipment, including electron microscopy tools. The conference aimed to foster collaboration and networking among students and professionals in the field.
TOP Schematic for the microfluidic Lung on a Chip device designed at Fort Lewis College. BOTTOM Senior Capstone team presenting their work at the FLC Spring Research Symposium (left to right: Nic Theobald, Zachry Szura, Alex Romme, and Mark Torres)
TOP Schematic for the microfluidic Lung on a Chip device designed at Fort Lewis College. BOTTOM Senior Capstone team presenting their work at the FLC Spring Research Symposium (left to right: Nic Theobald, Zachry Szura, Alex Romme, and Mark Torres)
Nov 20, 2024
Fort Lewis College

Integration of a Novel Biomembrane into a Lung-on-a-Chip Microfluidic Test-Platform

Jeff Jessing, Fort Lewis College
The Lung-on-a-Chip team at Fort Lewis College developed a novel fabrication method to produce a viable porous silicon biomembrane that mimics the functionality of the human interstitial space that separates the alveolar cells and the capillary cells where the gas exchange occurs in the lungs.
TOP left Single crystals of CuBi,04 grown by NSU undergraduates in the PEAQS-NSU crystal growth laboratory. BOTTOM left NSU undergraduate, Aieva Dixon setting up a crystal growth experiment. RIGHT NSU undergraduates Liam Harrigan and Kevin Allen lowering crystals in the cryostat at the NHMFL.
TOP left Single crystals of CuBi,04 grown by NSU undergraduates in the PEAQS-NSU crystal growth laboratory. BOTTOM left NSU undergraduate, Aieva Dixon setting up a crystal growth experiment. RIGHT NSU undergraduates Liam Harrigan and Kevin Allen lowering crystals in the cryostat at the NHMFL.
Nov 20, 2024
Fort Lewis College

Single Crystal Growth of Quantum Materials

Doyle Temple, Norfolk State University
PEAQS students have begun to grow and characterize more than half a dozen new crystals, including CaFe2 4, Ba-doped CaFe2 4, CuBiz 4, MgCr204, BaFeGaO4, PdGa, and PiGa.
TOP left Group photo from PEAQS retreat. TOP right FLC and NSU students work together during an interviewing workshop. MIDDLE left NSU students touring STROBE labs. MIDDLE right Keynote presentation. BOTTOM FLC and NSU studenttouring aerospace engineering labs
TOP left Group photo from PEAQS retreat. TOP right FLC and NSU students work together during an interviewing workshop. MIDDLE left NSU students touring STROBE labs. MIDDLE right Keynote presentation. BOTTOM FLC and NSU studenttouring aerospace engineering labs
Nov 20, 2024
Fort Lewis College

Community Building at the PEAQS Student Retreat

Sarah Schreiner, CU Boulder
PEAQS hosted its first student retreat March 25-26th at CU Boulder.
TOP Bacterial sample collection and signal detection overview. BOTTOM Filter and amplifier circuit design to provide the necessary resolution and sensitivity for bacterial detection.
TOP Bacterial sample collection and signal detection overview. BOTTOM Filter and amplifier circuit design to provide the necessary resolution and sensitivity for bacterial detection.
Nov 20, 2024
Fort Lewis College

An Optical/Electrical System for Micro Droplet Screening

Yiyan Li, Fort Lewis College
The undergraduate researchers at Fort Lewis College developed a microscope and an optical signal detector circuit to quantify single bacterium in microdroplets from environmental water samples.
TOP left Baldwin Varner with his CU Boulder mentor, Dr. Emma Caiting TOP right FLC graduate, Terrell Curley at his new position as a Failure Analysis Engineer BOTTOM Dakota Rodriguez presenting his work atthe MRS PREM Symposium in San Francisco.
TOP left Baldwin Varner with his CU Boulder mentor, Dr. Emma Caiting TOP right FLC graduate, Terrell Curley at his new position as a Failure Analysis Engineer BOTTOM Dakota Rodriguez presenting his work atthe MRS PREM Symposium in San Francisco.
Nov 20, 2024
Fort Lewis College

PEAQS student pathways

Sarah Schreiner, CU Boulder
"I never realized how much this experience would make me a perfect fit for this career."

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