Center for Materials Interfaces in Research and Applications (¡MIRA!)
The Center for Materials Interfaces in Research and Applications is an interdisciplinary materials science research center focused on the development of advanced functional materials through the exploration of materials interfaces. A fundamental goal is to understand multi-scale relationships from the molecular to the macro-scale and to understand how to dictate materials function through the tuning of their interfaces. Those fundamental and applied discoveries in materials interfaces can impact health, energy, and the environment, improving lives and enhancing economic potential.
Program details from NAU’s Engineering College
Advanced materials interfaces Accordion Closed
¡MIRA! emphasizes multi-PI efforts on big idea topics that are not easily pursued by individual researchers and we look to your collaborations. We have research active faculty with specialties in hard and soft materials, and new methodologies in microscopy and characterization.
STEM and STEM careers Accordion Closed
We are establishing a new approach to research and student training in materials science at NAU and for the state of Arizona with a foundation equally as strong in science as in engineering. Cutting edge research in our laboratories provides practical training opportunities for students and postdoctoral scholars, preparing them for next-generation STEM jobs.
Engineering college research and diversity Accordion Closed
In Spanish, ¡MIRA! means “look”! ¡MIRA! is an invitation to look at the impact of materials interfaces, look at the impact of NAU, and look at the state of Arizona. ¡MIRA! is also a recognition of the demographics of Arizona, one that is multicultural and a deliberate welcoming to Under Represented Minorities (URM) to consider education and career paths in Materials Science and STEM in general.
The ¡MIRA! Director, Dr. Jen Martinez, is an URM and internationally recognized expert in Biomaterials science. The ¡MIRA! chief scientist, Dr. Gabriel Montaño is a URM of Chicano heritage and nationally recognized leader in Diversity in STEM having served, amongst other outreach activities, as the President of the largest URM STEM society in the country (>20,000 member reach), the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS). Together with Dr. Cindy Browder, co-director, the ¡MIRA! approach is to build upon its intrinsic diversity to propel inventiveness and success, while also attracting students and unique funding opportunities.
Contact ¡MIRA!, we look forward to working with you!
¡MIRA! Faculty Fellowships Accordion Closed
Materials Research Society
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Physics Society
American Vacuum Society
Microscopy Society of America
Sloan
Packard
Faculty Awards Accordion Closed
NSF Career Award
Presidential Young Investigator Award, NSF
Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering
Los Alamos Fellows Prize in Research
Alexander von Humboldt Senior Scientist Award
¡MIRA! Faculty Points of Pride! Accordion Closed
1459
Total papers
53
Total patents
3
Total startups
6
Participating University Departments/Programs
40
Undergraduate and high school researchers (summer 2019)