California State University, Northridge received a $2.38 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The grant is part of NSF Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) program, which aims to enhance diversity in scientific research and education. Through the PREM program, CSUN is collaborating with Princeton University in providing undergraduate students an opportunity to learn about research in materials science from Northridge and Princeton professors. This marks the second PREM grand given to CSUN. “The latest grant helps us maintain long-term collaboration with our colleagues at Princeton that gives our students a rare opportunity to do cutting-edge research with faculty here at CSUN and at Princeton” said CSUN physics professor Gang Lu in a prepared statement. In addition to funding research, the grant also provides financial support to CSUN students in the form of stipends, allowing them to focus on their studies, Lu said. The grant also funds travel to Princeton during the summer to allow students to conduct research on the campus. “The undergraduate students are totally immersed in their studies and research and really get a chance to think seriously about continuing in the science fields,” Lu said. “The students with research training could have a significant advantage of being admitted to top graduate schools such as Princeton.” Angela Melero
