Inclusive Strategy and Accomplishments of Underrepresented Minority Students in Energy Materials Research and Degree Attainment

The North Carolina A&T State University and Cornell University PREM partnership was established in the fall semester of 2021 via the PREM SEED award for three years with the goal of creating a pathway to broaden participation of African American (AA) students at all levels in research and development of new and novel materials for energy related applications. Research was focused on integrating autonomous experiments and theory, merging physics-based models with AI models expedite the design of materials with new compositions and crystal structures which have superior (photo)electrocatalytic properties. Specifically, we developed methods of rapidly screening large crystallographic structure data sets based on experimental inputs such as x-ray diffraction data, optical and electrical properties. The tight coupling between simulation and experiment led to enhanced collaboration between the theoretical and experimental graduate and undergraduate cohorts. We believe this enhanced interaction led to a deeper understanding between both parties which led to a more cohesive team of students who felt more a part of the bigger picture.<br/>The PREM underrepresented minority (URM) student recruitment, retention, and degree attainment record has been outstanding. The central component of the URM recruitment, retention, and degree attainment strategy was to work strictly along our chosen PREM framework. The framework started with a synergistic research plan built using the material research strengths of both NCAT and the Cornell MRSEC (CCMR). It was then followed by executing an integrated education and research program of activities guided by literature best practices and constant evaluation and assessment of the program. The key research and educational practices involved outreach, recruitment, retention, and degree attainment activities for K-16, undergraduate, and doctoral students. These activities and efforts were designed to continuously feed the PREM pathway by means of vibrant exposure to and engagement in material research. The retention strategies involved keeping students engaged in research, encouraging them to attend professional development workshops and seminars, supporting and encouraging them to attend and present papers at conferences, motivating them to publish papers in peer-reviewed journals, and assigning a graduate student as a direct mentor to high school and undergraduate students. PREM students at all levels have been 100%, meaning that <i>no PREM students have left the PREM program without completing their respective degrees</i>.<br/>The NCAT-Cornell PREM Seed has impacted the research and education of 14 graduate students (8 PhD, 6 MS), 13 Undergraduate students, and 4 High School students at NCAT during the award period. The PREM has also impacted over 500 students (URM: 80%, Female: 32%) via jointly teaching materials-related undergraduate and graduate new courses/course modules, organizing seminars, and conducting joint materials workshops. A large percentage of PREM students, after graduation, have already started the next step in their career path. The success story that revolves around the importance of quality and culturally responsive mentoring of students at each cross-section within the PREM pathway clearly illustrates the impact the NCAT-Cornell PREM Seed has made.<br/> <br/>This research was supported by NCAT-Cornell PREM Seed, Collaborative Research and Education in Energy Materials (CREEM) via NSF-Partnership for Research and Education in Materials Research (PREM) grant # DMR-2122067.