REU Site: Research Experience for Undergraduates at Illinois

化学系(CHE)的这一奖项支持由伊利诺伊大学香槟分校Anne Baranger和Alex Scheeline领导的本科生研究体验(REU)网站。该网站支持的研究项目涉及化学的广泛领域。本科生将主要从缺乏支持本科生研究的基础设施的机构招募，包括芝加哥肯尼迪国王学院的学生。该网站将在为期十周的计划中，每年夏天为十名学生提供支持。本科生将从事的项目样本包括：(1)与Alex Scheeline教授合作研究酶催化振荡反应中的非线性动力学；(2)与Ryan Bailey教授合作，利用硅光子微环谐振器阵列对生物分子进行无标记检测；(3)与Gregory Girolami教授合作，研究以无机化合物为原料制造具有有趣特性的固体；(4)与Martin Gruebele教授合作研究蛋白质和RNA折叠；(5)与Zan Luthee-Schulten教授合作使用计算化学技术研究RNA：蛋白质复合体的结构、功能和折叠；(6)与Catherine Murphy教授合作研究金属纳米粒子的合成、表征和应用。除了在暑期进行研究外，参加这个项目的学生还将参加包括道德培训在内的多项职业发展活动。REU网站的参与者还将与校园内其他项目的参与者合作，包括GAANN计划、妇女化学委员会(通过参与海报会议)和校内暑期研究机会计划。作为培训的一部分，年轻科学家需要接触到现代研究方法和工具。这个REU网站的目的是在化学科学的广泛主题中使用最先进的设施提供研究培训。参与这个网站的本科生研究人员将有机会接触到复杂的研究工具，并将在许多化学领域与一些领导人合作。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 Anne Baranger and Alex Scheeline at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The research projects supported in this site are in broad areas of chemistry. Undergraduates will be recruited to this site primarily from institutions that lack infrastructure to support undergraduate research, including students from Kennedy King College in Chicago. The site will support ten students per summer in a ten week program. A sample of the projects that undergraduates will work on include: (1) the study of nonlinear dynamics in enzyme-catalyzed oscillatory reactions with Prof. Alex Scheeline; (2) the label-free detection of biomolecules using arrays of silicon photonic microring resonators with Prof. Ryan Bailey; (3) the study of the use of inorganic compounds as starting materials to make solids with interesting properties, with Prof. Gregory Girolami; (4) the study of protein and RNA folding with Prof. Martin Gruebele; (5) the study of the structure, function and folding of RNA:protein complexes using computational chemistry techniques with Prof. Zan Luthey-Schulten; and (6) the study of the synthesis, characterization and applications of metallic nanoparticles with Prof. Catherine Murphy. In addition to conducting research during the summer, the students participating in this program will participate in a number of professional development activities, including ethics training. Participants in the REU site will also work with participants in other programs on campus, including the GAANN program, the Women's Chemistry Committee (through participation in a poster session) and the intramural Summer Research Opportunity Program. Young scientists need exposure to modern research methods and tools as part of their training. This REU site aims to provide research training using state-of-the-art facilities in a broad range of topics in the chemical sciences. Undergraduate researchers participating in this site will have significant, hands-on access to sophisticated research tools, and will be working with some of the leaders in a number of areas of chemistry. 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.