Poster boards, career conversations, and lab tours turned the University of Michigan campus into a meeting ground for the broader materials research community this summer.

CAMPS 2026 — the Conference Across MRSEC-PREM Schools — brought students, faculty and industry representatives to Ann Arbor July 29–31 for three days built around research exchange and professional connection. The student-led conference was created to strengthen ties across the National Science Foundation’s MRSEC and PREM communities and help students build research, academic and career skills. 

Student work stayed at the center of the program, with short presentations and three poster sessions showcasing research across quantum materials, energy storage, carbon capture, biomaterials, additive manufacturing and more. Faculty speakers from Northwestern University, Penn State and the University of Chicago joined researchers and industry professionals from NIST, Ford, Dow, KLA and Surventis, giving students a chance to hear how materials research moves across academic, government and industry settings. 

The schedule also made room for the conversations around the science: a graduate networking lunch, career panel, lab and museum tours, and an outdoor gathering at the Nichols Arboretum. 

Hosted by the University of Michigan’s Center for Materials Innovation, CAMPS continues a student-driven effort to build a stronger, more connected MRSEC-PREM network.

Watch a video, below, of the PREM experience as expressed by CAMPS 2026 attendees.