The University of Central Florida (UCF) has been awarded a $4.2 million grant from the US National Science Foundation to establish a research and education center focused on quantum materials. The six-year grant will support the Center for Quantum Materials Innovation and Educational Excellence (CQ-MIEE) at UCF, in partnership with the University of Washington’s Molecular Engineering Materials Center (MEM-C).
The center aims to provide cutting-edge research training to students at high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels, with a focus on three interdisciplinary research areas: electronic structure and light-matter interaction, catalysis on topological materials, and quantum material-biological material interfaces.
Saiful Khondaker, professor of physics and nanotechnology, will lead the center, which builds on a successful seed program that supported 20 students and resulted in 15 scholarly publications and 66 conference presentations. The new center will provide opportunities for students to participate in summer exchange programs, internships, and joint research projects with faculty from both universities.
Advancing Quantum Materials Research and Education through Partnerships
The University of Central Florida (UCF) and the University of Washington (UW) have been awarded a $4.2 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish a quantum materials research and education center as part of the Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) program. This partnership aims to expand participation and access to quantum materials research, education, and training, providing opportunities for students across various grade levels.
The funding will reinforce the existing partnership between UCF and UW’s Molecular Engineering Materials Center (MEM-C) and establish the Center for Quantum Materials Innovation and Educational Excellence (CQ-MIEE) at UCF. The center envisions high-impact research training for students to make discoveries related to synthesis, structure, and properties of quantum materials. The research will be divided into three interdisciplinary groups: Electronic Structure and Light Matter Interaction in Layered Quantum Materials, Catalysis on Topological Materials, and Quantum Material-Biological Materials Interfaces.
Fostering Student Engagement and Collaboration
The new center will provide cutting-edge materials research and educational training to promising students at high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels. Students participating in the CQ-MIEE center will benefit from exchange programs at the University of Washington, gaining exposure to quantum material research. The program will also offer summer exchange opportunities, internships, joint advisement from faculty from both universities, attendance at conferences, and publication of joint research articles.
The success stories of students are a testament to the effectiveness of the PREM program. Many undergraduate students have graduated from UCF to attend graduate school or join multinational companies as research and development engineers. Along the way, these students have been leading authors or part of publications, demonstrating the remarkable achievements of the seed center in just three years.
A Student-Centric Approach
At the heart of the PREM program is a student-centric approach, passionately believing that the resources provided will benefit students and help them experience and conduct world-class research. The program aims to expose students to extraordinary opportunities with partner centers at UW, ultimately transforming their lives above and beyond what can be provided by a single degree program at one institution.
Collaborative Research and Education
Education, training, and broadening participation are core aspects of UW’s mission, and the PREM with UCF provides a huge boost for MEM-C and UW to succeed in those areas. The collaborative nature of the PREM ultimately enriches the student learning experience, with the summer exchange program being particularly fruitful.
The partnership between UCF and UW enables faculty and students in chemistry, physics, and materials science to collaborate on synthesizing and characterizing novel materials and fabricating specialized devices. By sharing samples and ideas between institutions, the partners accelerate the development and creativity of their shared scientific mission.
Expanding Research Opportunities
The new award is set to expand student research opportunities even further, with the summer months being a special time for this PREM program. UW hosts students from UCF over the summer to join UW MEM-C research labs with a UW graduate student mentor and faculty advisor. This opportunity provides UCF students with exceptional research experience while strengthening scientific relationships and products between the institutions.
At UCF, 11 faculty advisors from the College of Sciences, College of Engineering and Computer Sciences, and College of Optics and Photonics are part of the new center. Students interested in learning more about PREM can contact UCF faculty at prem@ucf.edu and visit the CQ-MIEE website.
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