Lab Learning

Creating Undergraduate Research Pipelines

The Materials Science and Engineering Department is building pipelines to graduate degrees through a grant from the Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials Research program.

The grant, one of just 11 awarded nationwide, follows a successful seed grant that resulted in 25 undergraduates earning scholarships. It funds a new set of UTA students to conduct research in two topics: 1) next-generation microelectronics and nanoelectronics, which can develop memory that will eventually allow researchers to build materials for AI that function like the brain and lead to faster improvement of the technology; and 2) the use of biomimetics and cell-free bioprogrammable biomaterials to build new polymeric materials.

“It has been proven that undergraduate research leads to better student success and retention,” says Stathis Meletis, department chair. “Exploration and creation make students excited about the things that they're learning, and we are giving students in physics, chemistry, and engineering opportunities to really dive into their interests in the lab and in class.” ₪