MRI: Acquisition of Advanced Laser PIT Thermal Diffusivity Instrument for Advanced Research on Hybrid Photovoltaic-Thermoelectric and Thermoelectric Devices

该计划的目的是提供各种材料系统的热导率的测量和分析，为理解材料系统在光伏和热电系统中的潜在应用提供有用的方向和新的维度。所有级别的学生（包括本科生和研究生）都可以使用该设施作为洁净室的设施。智力上的优点是使整个校园和其他合法的研究和培训目的，在附近的所有机构提供这种工具。虽然主要的推力去本科课程，教师是高度多样化的进行先进的研究，以提高多学科的硕士课程材料工程。因此，研究生在教师的指导下参与高质量的研究活动。一个具体目标是扩大学生人数，特别是本科生，参与研究，并增加少数民族学生继续攻读博士学位的人数。更广泛的影响是推进微和纳米制造的研究，增加教育机会，为本科生和研究生提供实践培训，并为大学的研究和教育目标做出贡献。收购该仪器的一个非常重要的结果将影响传统上代表性不足的少数民族的职业发展，这些少数民族占亚拉巴马农业和机械大学学生的绝大多数。

The objective of this program is to provide the measurements and analysis of thermal conductivity of various material systems for a useful direction and a new dimension in understanding material systems to be used for potential applications in photovoltaic and thermoelectric systems. Students at all levels (both undergraduate and graduate) will have access to this facility as the facilities in the Clean Room. The intellectual merit is to make available this instrument for across the campus and other legitimate research and training purposes to all institutions in the neighborhood. Although primary thrust goes to the undergraduate program, the faculty members are highly diversified to conduct advanced research to enhance multidisciplinary Master's program in Materiel Engineering. Thus, the graduate students are involved in the high quality research activities under the guidance of the faculty members. A specific objective is to expand the numbers of students, particularly undergraduate students, participating in research, and increase the numbers of minority students continuing their education towards the Ph.D. degree.The broader impacts are to advance research in micro- and nano-fabrication, enhance educational opportunities and provide hands-on training to both undergraduate and graduate students, and contribute to the research and educational goals of the University. A very important result of the acquisition of the instrument will impact the advancing careers of traditionally underrepresented minorities that comprise the overwhelming majority of the students at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University.