Our goal is to enhance recruitment, retention, graduation and graduate school matriculation for UTRGV students through a strategic combination of cutting-edge nanofiber research and tailored professional development opportunities.
The UTRGV–UMN Partnership for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) strengthens the pipeline of students pursuing advanced education and careers in materials science and engineering through cutting-edge research, mentoring, professional development, and outreach.
Through the partnership between UTRGV and the University of Minnesota (UMN), PREM provides undergraduate and graduate students with hands-on research experiences in advanced nanofiber and nanostructured materials for energy, environmental, biomedical, and sensing applications. The program also expands students’ access to state-of-the-art instrumentation, interdisciplinary faculty expertise, collaborative research, scientific conferences, professional development, and student exchange opportunities.
PREM has played a key role in strengthening Materials Science and Engineering (MS&E) at UTRGV. The MS&E PhD program, the first PhD program in the history of the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS), more than doubled its enrollment from 19 to 40 students and graduated its first three PhD students in Spring 2026.
The partnership continues to strengthen pathways from undergraduate research to graduate education and STEM careers while expanding UTRGV's research capacity and building sustainable collaborations between UTRGV and UMN.
Accomplishments
- 79 undergraduate students graduated, with 98.7% pursuing or entering graduate/professional education, STEM careers, or academia
- 55.7% of undergraduate graduates are pursuing graduate or professional education
- 41.8% have entered or are actively pursuing STEM careers
- Established and strengthened the first PhD program in CECS, which grew from 19 to 40 students and graduated its first three PhD students in Spring 2026
- 76 peer-reviewed publications/proceedings, including 16 joint publications with UMN
- 208 student and postdoctoral oral and poster presentations
- 5 patents/patent applications
- 25 undergraduate students participated in the UMN MRSEC REU
- 100% retention and graduation of PREM participants
Current Goals & Future Directions
- Strengthen and sustain the MS&E student pipeline by continuing undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral research, mentoring, and professional development opportunities.
- Increase pathways to graduate and professional education and STEM careers, building on PREM's strong undergraduate outcomes.
- Strengthen the UTRGV–UMN partnership through collaborative research, faculty and student exchanges, advanced characterization, shared expertise, and joint publications.
- Advance research excellence in nanofiber materials, energy, sensing, and advanced materials characterization.
- Pursue new external funding opportunities to sustain and expand the research, education, and workforce-development infrastructure established through PREM.
- Maintain the collaborative structure established through PREM through a continuing “Nano-Team” model, integrating faculty, researchers, students, facilities, and institutional resources.
- Expand K–12 and community engagement through RSEF, Energy & U, and other STEM outreach initiatives across South Texas.
PREM Student Benefits & Opportunities
- Hands-on research experience in advanced materials, nanofibers, energy, and sensing
- Access to state-of-the-art research and materials characterization instrumentation
- Research stipends and financial support
- Individualized research mentoring by UTRGV and UMN faculty, researchers, and graduate students
- Professional development in scientific communication, ethics, entrepreneurship, leadership, career preparation, and graduate education
- Opportunities to present research at regional, national, and international scientific conferences
- Research and educational experiences with UMN faculty, researchers, and students
- Opportunities to participate in the UMN MRSEC REU and other collaborative research experiences
- Exposure to graduate and professional education pathways
- Preparation for graduate school, STEM careers, academia, and research leadership
Funded by the National Science Foundation through the University of Minnesota (UMN) Partnership for Research and Education in Materials Science (PREM): University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) award DMR-2122178.