Funded by the National Science Foundation (Award # 2122044), the NSF PREM for Hybrid Nanoscale Systems between NCCU and Penn State aims to boost participation and academic success of underrepresented minority students in material science and related disciplines. The partnership’s research will focus on hybrid material systems integrating nanostructures of different dimensionalities or classes of materials to explore novel phenomena and engineer new functionalities.

To recruit and train students well equipped to address future challenges in this emerging field, this partnership will integrate:

• increasing  the awareness and appeal of material science careers by highlighting the central role of the discipline in the 21st century;
• extending the current “Penn Pal” mentoring program which will pair minority participants in the PSU MRSEC program with NCCU student participants in PREM;
• providing student research experiences at the frontiers of material science closely mentored by both NCCU and PSU faculty; and
• helping students acquire the STEM-specific oral and written communications skills, professional ethics and networking skills required for success in doctoral programs or industrial employment.