MIRT: Stressed Polymers - Exploiting Tension in Soft Matter

MIRT：应力聚合物-利用软质中的张力机械应力是所有生物和许多合成系统不可或缺的组成部分，从细胞和肌肉到催化剂和弹性体。它是最常见的行为、反应和刺激类型的基础。MIRT的总体目标是在软材料设计中开发新的原理，其中材料中的机械应力由分子工程产生、管理和收获。一个具体的目标是探索宏观材料的应力状态和它们内部特定的可寻址键的化学之间的相互作用。新的材料功能将通过受控的自生键张力和将内部和外部应力智能地处理为激活特定的化学键而成为可能。另一个目标是设计多功能聚合物颗粒和基板，自主改变它们的形状、表面结构、机械和光学性质。该团队将进一步利用其在制造纳米结构物体方面的技术诀窍，以前所未有的保真度和一致性来制备下一代形状记忆粒子和衬底，旨在通过受控应变释放来存储机械应力并将其集中在分子水平上。这些概述的目标将通过北卡罗来纳大学、卡内基梅隆大学和杜克大学三个校区的合成化学家、实验和理论物理学家以及工程师的跨学科研究、国际合作和互动团队合作来实现。这一跨学科项目将为创新和技术转让、将科学融入教育以及扩大代表性不足群体的参与提供相当大的机会。增加多样性以加强研究创新和合作是北卡罗来纳大学MIRT的一个组成部分：种族和性别的多样性将补充思想、技能、背景和学科的多样性。该教育计划包括四个主要部分：1)为来自邻近黑人大学和女子学院的少数族裔和女性提供暑期研究体验，参与研究、教育和社会活动；2)为本科生和高中生提供全年指导，积极参与MIRT研究活动的整个周期；3)研究生教育，包括研究支持、旅行奖励和侧重于创新、多样性和沟通技能的新的个人发展计划；4)为7-12年级的初级研究人员提供活动，以增加他们对创新科学的接触，以及对创新科学的热情和兴趣。

MIRT: Stressed Polymers - Exploiting Tension in Soft MatterMechanical stress is integral to all living and many synthetic systems, from cells and muscles to catalysts and elastomers. It underpins the most common types of actions, responses, and stimuli. The general goal of this MIRT is to develop new principles in soft materials design, ones wherein mechanical stress in materials is generated, managed, and harvested by molecular engineering. One specific goal is to explore the interplay between the stress state of macroscopic materials and the chemistry of specific, addressable bonds within them. Novel materials functions will be made possible through controlled self-generation of bond tension and the intelligent processing of both internal and external stress into activation of specific chemical bonds. The other goal is to design multifunctional polymer particles and substrates that autonomously change their shape, surface structure, mechanical, and optical properties. The Team will further exploit its know-how in the fabrication of nanostructured objects with unprecedented fidelity and uniformity to prepare the next generation of shape-memory particles and substrates, designed to store mechanical stress and focus it at the molecular level via controlled strain release. The outlined goals will be achieved through interdisciplinary research, international collaboration, and interactive teamwork of synthetic chemists, experimental and theoretical physicist, and engineers across three campuses of the University of North Carolina, Carnegie Mellon University, and Duke University. This interdisciplinary project will provide considerable opportunity for innovation and technology transfer, integrating science into education, and broadening participation of underrepresented groups. Increasing diversity for enhanced research innovation and collaboration is an integral dimension of the UNC MIRT: diversity in race and gender will complement the diversity of thoughts, skills, backgrounds, and disciplines. The education program includes four key constituents: 1) Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates focused on minorities and women from neighboring Historically Black Colleges and Universities and women's colleges with research, education, and social events; 2) Year round mentoring for undergraduate and high school students with active participation in the full cycle of MIRT research activities; 3) Graduate education with research support, travel awards and a new personal development program focused on innovation, diversity, and communication skills; 4) Junior researcher engagement for 7th-12th graders with activities to increase their exposure to, and enthusiasm and interest in, innovative science.