PREM-The University of Texas Pan American/University of Minnesota -Science and Engineering of Polymeric and Nanoparticle-based Materials for Electronic and Structural Applications

该材料研究和教育合作伙伴关系（PREM）在德克萨斯大学泛美分校（UTPA）和明尼苏达大学（UMN）材料研究科学与工程中心（MRSEC）之间建立了合作伙伴关系，专注于聚合物和纳米颗粒材料和设备的开发。虽然这种合作建立在UTPA不断增长的研究活动的基础上，但PREM体现了UTPA这种规模的第一次科学和工程合作。在这一伙伴关系中进行的研究分为五个方面：（1）探索基于纳米颗粒的材料，例如激光诱导的纳米颗粒聚集以及光子晶体材料体系中的纳米颗粒，用于光伏太阳能电池的应用，（2）开发可溶性共轭聚合物，用于可旋转加工的、低成本的，塑料发光体以及光子晶体系统中的共轭聚合物低阈值激光器，（3）用于机械-界面能量转换的纳米多孔材料的功能化，（4）用于智能柔性材料应用的具有嵌段共聚物的自修复聚合物材料的开发，以及（5）纳米增强聚合物复合物-薄膜和金属-薄膜界面的研究，以改善这些系统的机械性能。材料科学教育推广利用现有的UTPA程序，如向上绑定，齿轮和纺织品准备程序。 除了这些外展活动，该PREM还向K-12学生提供材料科学课程，并参加在合作伙伴UMN MRSEC举办的科学教师研究经验（RET）计划。 除了对社区的教育和宣传外，PREM还增加了女性STEM教师的参与，并促进了她们在材料研究方面的保留，因为UTPA参与教师中有57%以上是女性。

This Partnership for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) creates a partnership between the University of Texas Pan American (UTPA) and the University of Minnesota (UMN) Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) focused on the development of polymeric and nanoparticle based materials and devices. While this collaboration builds upon the growing research activity at UTPA, this PREM embodies the first science and engineering collaboration of this magnitude at UTPA. Research conducted in this partnership are in five thrusts: (1) the exploration of nanoparticle-based materials, such as laser-induced aggregation of nanocrystallites as well as nanoparticles-in-photonic crystal material systems, for applications to photovoltaic solar cells, (2) the development of soluble conjugated polymers for spin-processable, low cost, plastic light emitters as well as conjugated-polymer-in-photonic crystal system low-threshold lasers, (3) the functionalization of nanoporous materials for the application of mechanical-to-interfacial energy conversion, (4) the development of self-healing polymeric materials with block copolymers for smart flexible materials applications, and (5) the study of nanoreinforced polymeric composite-thin film and metal-thin film interfaces to improve the mechanical properties of these systems. Materials science educational outreach is performed utilizing existing UTPA programs such as Upward Bound, GearUp and Tex-Prep programs. In addition to these outreach activities, this PREM also presents materials science sessions to K-12 students and participates in the Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program for science teachers hosted at the partner UMN MRSEC. Besides the education and outreach to the community in general, this PREM increases the participation of women STEM faculty members and promotes their retention in materials research as more than 57% of the UTPA participating faculty are women.