The Partnership for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) between the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) aims to promote the participation and advanced degree attainment of underrepresented minority (URM) students, particularly Hispanic Americans, in materials science and engineering. With UTEP's mission of "access and excellence," this partnership leverages the resources and expertise of both institutions to foster a diverse and innovative research environment while addressing pressing challenges in materials science.

Key Goals of the UTEP-UCSB PREM Center

1. Promote Scientific Excellence:

   • Advance research through two interdisciplinary research groups (IRGs) focusing on energy and biomaterials.

   • Enhance understanding of interfacial structures, surface/interface chemistry, and material defects to improve performance in energy and biosciences.

2. Expand Education and Training Opportunities:

   • Provide hands-on laboratory experiences, research mentoring, professional development, and student exchanges.

   • Offer joint workshops, research seminars, and student exchange programs to encourage interdisciplinary learning.

3. Foster Workforce Development:

   • Support historically underrepresented groups, including women and persons with disabilities, in pursuing careers in advanced materials science.

   • Develop a robust pipeline of minority scientists and engineers prepared to contribute to cutting-edge technologies.

4. Enhance Institutional Collaboration:

   • Unite nine UTEP and eight UCSB faculty members across chemistry, physics, and engineering in collaborative research efforts.

   • Utilize UCSB's world-class facilities to catalyze innovation and provide unique mentoring and multidisciplinary training opportunities.

The long-term vision is to establish UTEP as a leader in advanced materials research and education while contributing to a diverse, highly skilled workforce in materials science and engineering.