Researchers from the University of Hawai‘i (UH) at Mānoa and the University of Washington (UW) were awarded $800,000 from the U.S. National Science Foundation in support of their partnership to increase diversity in cutting-edge materials research, education, and professions.
This seed award from the NSF’s Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) will support materials research partnerships between minority-serving institutions and large-scale, NSF-supported research centers and facilities.
The Materials Research and Education Consortium (MRE-C) is composed of seven UH faculty from HNEI, the Hawai‘i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, and the Colleges of Engineering and Social Sciences, as well as, 10 faculty from UW Molecular Engineering Materials Center (MEM-C), an NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Center.
PREM is intended to enhance and solidify a pathway for young researchers from underrepresented groups to enter the vibrant field of materials science and engineering.
Research activities of this new project maximize the complementary expertise and resources at both institutions while emphasizing the education and training of a diverse next generation of scientists and engineers. The research is focused on developing foundational knowledge about advanced nano-to-macroscale materials and properties controlling their unique behaviors, and investigating their use for future energy and space technologies.
The Consortium’s PREM framework elements will include strong student dual-mentoring, including individualized professional development plans; annual student/faculty summer research exchanges; and joint research seminars and annual student symposia. The PREM pathway will increase the participation of underrepresented groups in Materials Science, especially Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and women.
The PREM program has, since 2004, supported many cohorts of students through their graduation and beyond, to have successful and rewarding careers in materials research.
For more information: University of Hawai’i
