Northern Arizona University is a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) with Underrepresented Minority (URM) students making up ~40% of the student population. NAUs Center for Materials Interfaces in Research and Applications (MIRA) supports the Applied Physics and Materials Science (APMS), Informatics and Computing, and Mechanical Engineering PhD programs and multiple undergraduate research and education programs across the NAU STEM enterprise.

The MIRA-PREM partnership consisting of NAU, Pasadena City College (PCC), and the University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin) Center for Dynamics and Control of Materials (CDCM)-NSF-Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) is designed to:

1. create clear, focused, high-impact materials research projects with inclusive, supportive research teams, and

2. culturally responsive, community-reflective education opportunities

Advanced functional materials have the potential to positively transform every aspect of life, however, without proactive mechanisms of inclusion, may disproportionately leave behind communities most in need, particularly in education and career opportunities. It is imperative that materials research is accessible, and future materials research workforce and leadership- from entry level to the most senior positions- are reflective, especially of historically minoritized and underrepresented minority communities (HMURM).

MIRA-PREM is designed to demonstrate active mechanisms to meet this accessibility demand. MIRA-PREM will support materials education and research pathways from the community college to the PhD level through culturally and community reflective programming and engagement. Fundamental to increasing participation in materials research is making science education accessible beyond those already engaged.

MIRA-PREM invites students, particularly HMURM students to participate and thrive as themselves, not assimilate into a world of research and discovery. MIRA-PREM student programs, such as Sparking Curiosity in STEM (SparCS) (Community Outreach Intervention), Club sCientifico de SparCS (CCSparCS)- a multilingual STEM communication program, and UT CDCM REU are designed to:

1. enhance scientific skills and communication;

2. combat imposter syndrome, and

3. empower through community and engagement

PCC and NAU students and researchers will benefit from access to world-class facilities and expertise of UT Austin’s CDCM and integrate via CDCMs REU program, supported student research exchanges and cross-institutional mentoring and engagement. Proposed research builds upon expertise and capabilities existing in the UT CDCM MRSEC and aligns strongly with research interests and interdisciplinary research groups (IRGs)

• IRG 1: Fuel-driven Pluripotent Materials, and

• IRG 2: Engineered Functionality in Atomically Thin Heterostructures.