REU Site: Research and education in microscale sensing, actuation and imaging

这个REU网站由爱荷华州州立大学的机械工程系主办的目标是每年吸引10名本科生参加微尺度传感，驱动和成像（MoSAIc）领域的夏季研究经验。学生将在传感器，执行器和智能材料的设计和制造领域进行基础研究，以及“最先进”的成像和诊断系统。研究活动本质上是跨学科的，涉及从分子到中尺度的几个长度尺度的现象。实例包括柔性连接、高温MEMS压力传感器、太阳能电池、电活性聚合物致动器、用于生物制剂的纳米机械传感器、原子探针断层扫描和高时空分辨率4-D成像。一个独特的和区别于现有版本（2009-2012年）的REU网站的组成部分将是一个更加注重招募社区大学生和与中学教师互动的组成部分。REU网站的潜在影响是提供来自4年制大学，社区学院和新生的本科生的多元化人才库，a）在国家利益的主题研究经验; B）对此类研究的跨学科性质的赞赏; c）对工程研究的伦理影响的赞赏; d）职业发展的培养环境。这些努力将鼓励参与者追求研究生院教育和职业生涯的研发和学术界。需要先进的传感和成像技术，以提高我们国家的健康，国土，食品和能源安全从来没有像美国国家工程院的大挑战中概述的那样紧迫。这个REU网站将有助于劳动力的发展，为学生提供4年制大学，少数民族服务机构，社区学院以及大一学生提供为期10周的夏季研究经验，每年在传感和成像技术领域的项目。因此，该网站将鼓励不同群体的STEM相关教育经验。项目实例包括检测微量化学和生物毒素的生物传感器、帮助神经疾病医学诊断的人脸高速3D映射以及高效太阳能电池的设计。爱荷华州州立大学机械工程系现有的教师专业知识和研究基础设施将提供必要的指导，辅导和基于队列的社会和教育活动，以提高学生的实践经验，科学和工程知识基础以及沟通和团队技能。因此，在这个REU网站的学生经验将使他们能够走开与终身技能，这将影响他们的贡献，科学和工程和社会。该项目感谢工程教育和中心的部门的支持。

The objective of this REU site hosted by the Mechanical Engineering Department at Iowa State University is to engage ten undergraduate students annually in summer research experiences in the area of Microscale Sensing, Actuation and Imaging (MoSAIc). The students will pursue fundamental investigations in the area of design and manufacture of sensors, actuators and smart materials as well as "state-of-art" imaging and diagnostic systems. The research activities are inherently interdisciplinary in nature by addressing phenomena at several length scales ranging from the molecular to the mesoscale. Examples include flexible linkages, high temperature MEMS pressure sensors, solar cells, electroactive polymeric actuators, nanomechanical sensors for biological agents, atom probe tomography and high spatiotemporal resolution 4-D imaging. A unique and differentiating component of this REU site from its existing version (2009-2012) will be an increased focus on recruiting community college students and an interaction component with middle school teachers. The potential impact of the REU site is in providing a diverse pool of undergraduate students from 4-year colleges, community colleges and incoming freshman with a) a research experience in topics that are of national interest; b) an appreciation for cross-disciplinary nature of such research; c) an appreciation of the ethical implications of engineering research and; d) a fostering environment for career development. These efforts will encourage participants to pursue graduate school education and careers in R&D and academia.The need for advanced sensing and imaging technologies to enhance our nation's health, homeland, food and energy security has never been more urgent as outlined in the Grand Challenges of the National Academy of Engineering. This REU Site will contribute to workforce development by providing students from 4-year colleges, minority-serving institutions, and community colleges as well as freshman students with a 10-week summer research experience annually in projects in the area of sensing and imaging technologies. The site will thus encourage STEM-related educational experiences for a diverse pool of individuals. Example projects include biosensors to detect miniscule traces of chemical and biological toxins, high speed 3-D mapping of human faces to aid medical diagnoses of nerve-based disorders and design of high efficiency solar cells. The existing faculty expertise and research infrastructure in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Iowa State University will provide the necessary guidance, mentoring and cohort-based social and educational activities to enhance students' hands-on experiences, science and engineering knowledge base as well as communication and team-based skills. The student experience in this REU site will thus enable them to walk away with life-long skills that will impact their contributions to science and engineering and to society.This project acknowledges support from the Division of Engineering Education and Centers.