CREST: Center for Innovative Manufacturing of Advanced Materials

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Tuskegee University proposes to establish a Center for Innovative Manufacturing of High Performance Materials based on a strong foundation in materials research developed over two decades. The activities of the proposed NSF/CREST Center will be directed towards achieving the following objectives: Diversify existing research in high performance composite materials. Provide additional training in mathematics and science and exposure to the areas of materials science and engineering to minority middle and high school students by involving them in various pre-college programs. Increase the involvement of undergraduate and graduate students in the research of high performance materials. Launch a doctoral program in Materials Science and Engineering. Advanced Materials Research: The proposed Center will address the critical issues related to the manufacturing of affordable, high performance, and rapidly fabricated liquid molded composites. These composite materials and structures are primary candidates for defense and commercial applications. The research is divided into four major components: 1. Chemical synthesis and analysis of resins for liquid molding; 2. Innovative resin transfer/resin infusion molding and non-destructive evaluation; 3. Performance modeling and simulation, and 4. Static and dynamic performance evaluation and failure analysis. The researchers involved with the proposed Center will actively collaborate with their counterparts from several research universities, industry, and national laboratories. An extensive collaboration already exists as part of on- going research efforts and the research activities of the proposed Center is expected to further strengthen them. Undergraduate students will take part in the research activities through the research experience for undergraduates (REU) program built into the research components. Pre-College Programs: The proposed Center will recruit, m otivate and train minority students in the field of science and engineering starting at an early age. The pre-college programs that will be offered with support from this grant and matching funds from industry include Saturday Academy (for 8th -12th graders during the academic year), Pre- Freshman Enrichment Program (six week summer program for 8th - 10th graders), Minority Introduction to engineering (one week summer program for 11th graders), Research Apprenticeship for Disadvantaged High Schoolers (eight week summer program for 11th graders) and Analytical Chemistry Program (eight week summer program for 10th and 11th graders). A one week summer institute for teachers will also be held as part of these programs. Doctoral Program: The development and implementation of Ph.D. programs represents one of the key strategic directions authorized recently by the Board of Trustees of Tuskegee University. The establishment of a Ph.D. program in Materials Science and Engineering at Tuskegee University will be spearheaded by the proposed Center. The Center's role in the Ph.D. Program is primarily to provide access to the students to the state-of-the-art research in materials science and engineering. This will be the first doctoral program offered at Tuskegee University.