The Research Improvement in Minority Institutions (RIMI) program was designed to increase the participation of minorities in scientific and engineering research by providing support to strengthen the research environment and capabilities of predominantly minority institutions. Institutions eligible to participate in this program must have in addition to a substantial enrollment of minority students, graduate programs in science or programs in engineering. Researchers at the University of Texas at El Paso will use a RIMI planning grant to explore surface science research possibilities in several areas. Explorations will focus on the effect of oxygen on carbon-hydrogen bond activation in methane, co-adsorption of alkalis and carbon monoxide on transition metal surfaces, and the chemical activation of silicon-based materials on clean metal surfaces. This planning grant will increase the investigator's capability to perform surface analysis experiments and will contribute to the institution's long-term goal to establish a strong materials science program. The principal investigator has experience in surface science studies and continues to publish extensively in refereed journals. This RIMI planning grant will lead to activities that will encourage more minority students to choose careers in materials science.
