The UPR-UW PREM: Center for Advancing Research and Training for STEM Success unites researchers from the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) at Mayagüez, the UPR Medical Sciences Campus, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) to advance groundbreaking materials research. The focus is on the discovery, design, and development of functional materials, including heterogeneous catalysts, iron-based superconductors, liquid crystal-based sensors, and bioinstructive materials. These research efforts address pressing societal challenges and lay the foundation for technologies that impact climate change, quantum information, regenerative medicine, and drug delivery.
Through this partnership, students across institutions benefit from cross-cultural research experiences, professional training, and mentoring, empowering them to contribute to cutting-edge advancements in materials science. The program is particularly committed to engaging, recruiting, and retaining Hispanic students in STEM, with a strong emphasis on supporting Hispanic women.
To broaden participation in STEM, the UPR-UW PREM promotes:
Increased recruitment into graduate programs at UPR-Mayagüez and expanded access to University of Wisconsin programs through collaborative research and educational initiatives.
Increased retention in STEM education by involving students in research, offering professional development opportunities, and fostering a sense of community through reciprocal research exchange visits and culturally sensitive mentoring.
Enhanced degree attainment by building and sustaining a collaborative network that supports students throughout their academic and professional journeys.
The overarching goal of the UPR-UW PREM is to establish a sustainable, cross-cultural, and cross-disciplinary research ecosystem. This ecosystem aims to increase the participation of historically underrepresented populations in materials research while strengthening the STEM workforce. By combining shared expertise in functional nanostructured materials, soft materials, biomaterials, and complex fluids and interfaces, the partnership creates opportunities for students to excel and contribute to significant advancements in materials science.