A Graduate Research Traineeship Program in Energy Efficiencyand the Environment

拟议的实习生计划的目标是在能够更有效地利用我们的自然资源和减少对环境影响的领域培养博士专业人员。博士候选人的培训将通过研究和加强教育活动来完成，这些活动以综合办法为中心，处理能源使用及其对环境的影响的相互关联的问题。研究将集中于改进能源效率和减少主要能源使用部门（能源转换、工业、商业和住宅以及运输）内若干应用系统对环境的影响的创新办法。培训计划的具体特点将包括：1)工业合作和学徒制；2)为博士生、实业家和公用事业代表建立一系列研讨会；3)开发学生驱动的“研究圆桌会议”，以便参与的学生和教师之间交换意见；4)开发新的研究生课程。该研究和教育项目将是跨学科的，涉及机械工程学院五个主要领域的八名主要教员，并由几个完善的最先进的实验室设施提供支持。美国国家科学基金会研究生研究培训补助金的奖励将为10名培训人员提供支持，并将为国家关键需求领域的新的长期计划奠定基础。

ABSTRACT The objective of the proposed traineeship program is to develop doctoral professionals in areas that can lead to more effective utilization of our natural resources and less impact upon the environment. The training of doctoral candidates will be accomplished through both research and enhanced educational activities centered around an integrated approach to addressing the interrelated problems of energy use and its effect upon the environment. Research will focus on innovative approaches for improving the energy efficiency and reducing the environmental impact of systems for a number of applications within the major energy use sectors: energy conversion, industrial, commercial and residential, and transportation. Specific features of the training program will include: 1) industrial collaboration and apprenticeships, 2) establishment of a seminar series for doctoral students, industrialists, and utility representatives, 3) development of a student-driven "research roundtable" for exchanging ideas between participating students and faculty, and 4) the development of new graduate courses. The research and educational program will be in interdisciplinary effort involving eight key faculty members from five major areas within the School of Mechanical Engineering and supported by several well- established state-of-the-art laboratory facilities. An award of an NSF Graduate Research Traineeship grant would provide support for ten traineeships and would create the basis for a new, long- term program in an area of critical national need.