BRIGE: Toughening Mechanisms in Supramolecular Networks with Photocrosslinkable Moieties

korleybridge奖通过增加工程技术研究人员的多样性来保持全球竞争力，这些研究人员在职业生涯的早期就开始了研究项目。bridge奖通过增加工程专业毕业生的数量，提高女性和少数族裔在工程领域的代表性，以及了解如何改善工程专业学生的招聘和保留，进一步扩大工程研究人员的参与。该bridge奖致力于弹性体材料的增韧。弹性体材料的增韧主要集中在增强域（纳米填料，有序域）的加入；很少有人关注网络在变形下的弹性响应的修正作为一种增强韧性的方式。受天然材料（如胶原蛋白和titin）的分层分子结构和增韧机制的启发，研究人员提出，在弹性框架中加入周期性有序结构域（类似于titin的结构）是一种调整弹性响应的可行方法。弱结合超分子基序是本研究中开发可调（温度、结合活性、环境条件）和响应性弹性体平台的理想系统。这个跨学科研究项目的意义在于产生与超分子模板和光模式交联域的热力学和动力学现象有关的新科学知识。预计这一基础研究将为揭示受自然启发的超分子弹性体的潜在增韧和动态重组机制提供有价值的见解。这项研究将有助于全球合理设计具有增强材料性能的轻质功能性材料，并影响保护系统、传感器等方面的技术进步。bridge的研究旨在通过建立关键的结构-功能关系来影响先进的功能材料，并推动新技术的发展。PI设计了一个主题计划，将新颖和令人兴奋的研究应用于广泛的教育和推广活动。PI成立了项目研究团队，指导和培训本科生和高中生，特别是来自STEM领域代表性不足的群体的学生。此外，PI还为初高中学生创建了创新的外展项目，包括周六科学院，以解决全国范围内扩大代表性不足群体参与STEM学科，特别是工程学科的需求。这个教育和推广平台的共同主线是，PI和来自工业界和学术界的战略合作伙伴将通过应用研究、预备课程和实践学习的全面融合，充当导师、榜样和教育者。这项bridge补助金将扩大所有工程师的参与和增加机会，包括那些在工程学科中代表性不足的群体。BRIGE拨款还将鼓励私家侦探作为独立调查员积极和有竞争力地从事研究。

EEC-0824333KorleyBRIGE awards maintain global competitiveness by increasing the diversity of ENG researchers, who are initiating research programs early in their careers. BRIGE awards further the broaden participation of engineering researchers by increasing the number of engineering graduates, by improving the representation of women and minorities in engineering, and by understanding how to improve recruitment and retention of engineering students.This BRIGE award addresses the toughening of elastomeric materials. The toughening of elastomeric materials has primarily focused on the incorporation of reinforcing domains (nanofillers, ordered domains); little attention has been given to modification of the elastic response of the network under deformation as a mode of toughness enhancement. Inspired by the hierarchical molecular architecture of and toughening mechanisms exhibited in natural materials, such as collagen and titin, it has been suggested that the incorporation of periodic, ordered domains, similar to the architecture of titin, in an elastomeric framework is a viable method for tuning the elastic response. Weakly-binding supramolecular motifs are ideal systems for developing tunable (temperature, binding activity, environmental conditions) and responsive elastomeric platforms for this investigation. The significance of this interdisciplinary research program lies in the generation of new scientific knowledge relating the thermodynamic and kinetic phenomena of the supramolecular template and the photopatterned crosslinked domains. It is anticipated that this fundamental investigation will provide valuable insight into the underlying toughening and dynamic restructuring mechanisms exhibited in nature-inspired supramolecular elastomers. The research will contribute to global efforts to rationally design lightweight, functional materials with enhanced material properties and impact technological advancements in protective systems, sensors, etc. This BRIGE investigation seeks to impact advanced, functional materials and to drive the development of new technologies through establishment of key structure-function relationships. The PI has designed a thematic program to apply the novel and exciting research to broad educational and outreach activities. The PI has formed Project Research Teams to mentor and train undergraduate and high school students, especially from underrepresented groups in STEM fields. Additionally, the PI has created innovative outreach programs for middle and high school students, including a Saturday Science Academy, to address the national need to broaden participation of underrepresented groups in STEM disciplines, particularly engineering. The common thread of this educational and outreach platform is that the PI and strategic partners from industry and academia will serve as mentors, role models, and educators through a comprehensive blend of applied research, preparatory programs, and hands-on learning.This BRIGE grant will broaden the participation of and increase opportunities for all engineers including those from groups underrepresented in the engineering disciplines. This BRIGE grant will also encourage the PI to become actively and competitively engaged in research as an independent investigator.