REU SITE: POLYMER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON

电话：0531 - 8888888传真：0531 - 8888888 主要研究者：Tennis，Mesfin ORG：University of Akron标题：REU研究中心：该REU网站（UA-REU）将专注于12个NSF支持的本科生的培训，每年夏天在聚合物科学与工程的一般领域12周。 尽管在科学学科中聚合物的利用率越来越高，但涵盖聚合物的专业课程往往被忽视为本科STEM教育的一个组成部分。 该网站将使学生接触到尖端的聚合物教育和研究，这将有助于弥合美国创新所需的劳动力的竞争差距。 将特别努力招收各种学生，特别是那些来自本科研究机会很少的教育机构的学生。 与UA-REU相关的活动旨在扩大学生对聚合物的知识，并努力确保学生理解其研究的社会影响。 其中包括由教师专家领导的聚合物创新短期课程，前往当地聚合物行业参观设施，职业小组，包括小型和大型公司和政府的参与，以及创业和创新研讨会。 涉及REU学生的研究项目将涵盖聚合物科学与工程的四个广义集群领域：化学，物理，工程和生物材料。 这些项目包括但不限于先进聚合物材料的合成，用于储能和水净化的材料制造，结构和动态聚合物表征，以及通过分子动力学（MD）模拟进行的基于计算机的材料设计。 在该计划的结论，学生将在与凯斯西储大学，美国宇航局和肯特州立大学的联合研讨会上介绍他们的研究工作。非技术性的警告这个REU网站的愿景是成为一个培养本科生探索，教育和研究的学术环境。 它将主要集中在12个本科生的培训，每年夏天在聚合物科学和工程领域。 REU学生将接触到跨学科的研究项目，这些项目强调聚合物科学和工程前沿的问题，这些问题是专门设计来考虑REU学生有限的研究经验的。 教师参与者通过涉及与聚合物基础，专业发展和研究技能发展相关的方面的多维方法指导REU学生。 专业发展的组成部分包括一个密集的一周系列讲座有关聚合物科学与工程的基础知识和教师的研究研讨会系列。 多个学生主导的演讲旨在培养扎实的沟通技巧，以有效地口头传播他们的研究成果。 这个REU网站，这是在2004年启动，将继续带来一个传统的，代表性不足，低收入学生的多样化和高度积极性的群体阿克伦大学。

ID: 1359321 PI: Tsige, Mesfin ORG: University of AkronTitle: REU Site: Polymer Science and Engineering at the University of AkronTECHNICAL DESCRIPTIONThis REU Site (UA-REU) will focus on the training of 12 NSF-supported undergraduate students for 12 weeks each summer in the general area of Polymer Science and Engineering. Despite the increased utilization of polymers across scientific disciplines, specialized curricula covering polymers are often neglected as a component of undergraduate STEM education. This Site will expose students to cutting edge polymer education and research that will help to bridge the competitive gap in the workforce needed to fuel innovation in the United States. Special efforts will be made to recruit a diverse group of students, especially those from educational institutions that offer few opportunities for undergraduate research. Activities associated with the UA-REU are designed to broaden the students' knowledge of polymers with significant efforts made to ensure students comprehend the societal implications of their research. These include innovative short courses on polymers led by faculty experts, trips to local polymer industry to tour facilities, career panels including participation from small and large companies and government, and entrepreneurship and innovation workshops. Research projects involving REU students will cover the breadth of Polymer Science and Engineering in four generalized cluster areas: Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, and Biomaterials. Such projects include, but are not limited to, synthesis of advanced polymer materials, materials fabrication for energy storage and water purification, structural and dynamic polymer characterization, and computer-based design of materials through molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. At the conclusion of the program, students will present their research work at a joint symposium with Case Western Reserve University, NASA, and Kent State University.NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTIONThe vision of this REU site is to be a nurturing academic environment for undergraduate exploration, education, and research. It will focus primarily on the training of 12 undergraduate students each summer in the area of Polymer Science and Engineering. The REU students will be exposed to interdisciplinary research projects that emphasize problems at the frontiers of polymer science and engineering that are specifically designed to take into account the limited research experience of REU students. The faculty participants mentor the REU students through a multidimensional approach involving facets associated with polymer fundamentals, professional development, and development of research skillsets. The professional development components include an intensive one-week series of lectures about the fundamentals of Polymer Science and Engineering and a faculty research seminar series. Multiple student-led presentations are designed to develop solid communication skills for the effective oral dissemination of their research results. This REU site, which was initiated in 2004, will continue to bring a diverse and highly motivated group of traditional, underrepresented, and low-income students to the University of Akron.