UC Davis ChemEnergy REU Site: Chemistry Research Experience for Undergraduates in Energy and Catalysis

化学部的这一奖项支持由加州大学戴维斯分校的谢莉亚·大卫和贾里德·肖领导的本科生研究体验(REU)网站，从2010年开始，为期三个夏天。该网站将在为期10周的计划中，每年夏天为9名学生提供支持。研究项目侧重于应用于能源和催化问题的化学研究。样本项目包括：(1)用于生物燃料生产的蛋白质工程和合成生物学；(2)二氧化碳的电催化、多电子还原为液体燃料的研究；(3)光系统II中涉及的酶的研究；(4)生物合成酶的催化机理的研究；(5)酶修复DNA损伤的研究；(6)光合酶的结构和动力学研究；(7)新型硅基催化剂的开发；(9)新型热电材料的合成；(10)优化C5和C6糖在生物燃料合成中的共同利用，以及(11)组装用于太阳光到燃料转换的纳米片二极管。除了在暑期进行研究外，参加这个项目的学生还将参加一些专业发展活动，包括工业现场参观和研讨会，以发展强大的沟通技能。学生将从一些机构招收，包括一些为少数群体服务的学校。此外，这个REU网站将通过与国家盲人协会的合作招收盲人和视障学生。年轻科学家需要接触到现代研究方法和工具，作为他们培训的一部分。这个REU网站旨在为大量的学生提供化学科学方面的前沿研究培训，否则他们可能没有这个机会。这些研究项目涉及的化学领域将对能源和可持续发展产生影响。参与该网站研究的不同学生群体将为进入研究生院并最终成为该国技术劳动力的一部分做好充分准备。

This award from the Division of Chemistry (CHE) supports a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) site led by Shelia David and Jared Shaw at the University of California - Davis for three summers, commencing in 2010. The site will support nine students per summer in a ten week program. The research projects focus on chemical research applied to problems in energy and catalysis. Sample projects include: (1) protein engineering and synthetic biology for biofuel production; (2) the study of the electrocatalytic, multielectron reduction of carbon dioxide into liquid fuels; (3) the study of the enzymes involved in Photosystem II; (4) the study of the catalytic mechanisms of biosynthetic enzymes; (5) the study of the repair of damaged DNA by enzymes ; (6) the structural and kinetic study of photosynthetic enzymes; (7) the development of new silicon-based catalysts; (9) the synthesis of novel thermoelectric materials; (10) the optimization of C5 and C6 sugar co-utilization in biofuel synthesis, and (11) the assembly of nanosheet diodes for sunlight to fuel conversion . In addition to conducting research during the summer, the students participating in this program will participate in a number of professional development activities, including industrial site-visits as well as workshops to develop strong communication skills. Students will be recruited from a number of institutions, including a number of schools that are minority-serving. In addition, this REU site will recruit blind and visually-impaired students through a partnership with the National of the Blind.Young scientists need exposure to modern research methods and tools as part of their training. This REU site aims to provide cutting-edge research training in the chemical sciences to a significant number of students who might not otherwise have this opportunity. The research projects are in areas of chemistry that will have an impact in the areas of energy and sustainability. The diverse student cohort participating in research at this site will be well-prepared for graduate school, and eventual employment as part of the country's technical workforce.