REU Site: Integration of Biology and Materials in Chemical Engineering

技术概要：该REU网站专注于生物学和材料的整合，由宾夕法尼亚州立大学化学工程系主办。 本科生将参与学术研究桥接材料开发和生命科学在夏天十周。这项研究将使人们能够更清楚地了解生物材料和工艺，并将允许开发新材料，以满足国家在医药，能源和环境保护方面的关键需求。招聘工作将针对研究机会有限的机构，并将侧重于从工程领域代表性不足的群体中招聘学生。除了动手协作研究经验，技术和社会活动将被纳入该计划，为学生提供分析，写作和演讲技巧的坚实基础，并加强REU学生和教师导师之间的互动。评估将与莱昂哈德工程教育增强中心合作进行，并将分析该计划对学生成绩的影响。这个REU网站是由工程教育部和国家科学基金会中心的支持。非技术性总结：在宾夕法尼亚州立大学化学工程本科生网站的研究经验，旨在提供一个有影响力的夏季研究经验，对活跃的项目整合生命科学和材料的本科生。这个跨学科的领域提供了迷人的范例，如自清洁荷叶，可以吸引本科生的兴趣，并鼓励他们采取科学的职业观。 该计划提供的研究，教育和职业指导旨在激励学生以新的眼光看待他们的学术工作，并为学术研究或工业创新的可能职业提供火花。 社会活动以及利用学生配对工作的联合项目的各个方面将促进学生之间的合作和团队精神。 该计划的多样性将通过从目标大学和代表性不足的群体中广泛招募来鼓励。该计划的成功将通过现场调查和离职面谈以及频繁（6个月，1年和2年）调查和使用社交媒体工具与宾夕法尼亚州立大学的工程教育专家合作进行监测。

TECHNICAL SUMMARY:This REU site focuses on the Integration of Biology and Materials and is hosted by the Chemical Engineering Department at The Pennsylvania State University. Undergraduate students will be involved in academic research bridging materials development and the life sciences for ten weeks in the summer. This research will enable a clearer understanding of biological materials and processes and will allow for the development of novel materials to meet critical national needs in medicine, energy, and environmental protection. Recruitment efforts will target institutions where research opportunities are limited and will focus on recruiting students from underrepresented groups in engineering. In addition to the hands-on collaborative research experience, technical and social activities will be incorporated into the program to provide students with a solid foundation in analytical, writing, and presentation skills and to enhance interactions between REU students and faculty mentors. Assessment will be performed in collaboration with the Leonhard Center for Enhancement of Engineering Education and will analyze the effect of the program on student outcomes. This REU site is supported by the Division of Engineering Education and Centers of the National Science Foundation.NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:The Research Experience for Undergraduates Site in Chemical Engineering at Penn State seeks to provide an impactful summer research experience to undergraduates on active projects integrating the life sciences and materials. This interdisciplinary area provides fascinating paradigms such as the self-cleaning lotus leaf that could capture the interest of undergraduate students and encourage them to adopt a scientific career outlook. The research, educational, and career mentorship provided by the program is intended to inspire the students to look at their academic work in a new light and to provide a spark for possible careers in academic research or industrial innovation. Social activities as well as the use of pairing of students to work on aspects of joint projects will promote collaboration and teamwork amongst the students. Diversity in the program will be encouraged by recruiting widely from targeted universities and underrepresented groups. The success of the program will be monitored in collaboration with engineering education experts at Penn State by onsite surveys and exit interviews as well as by frequent (6 month, 1 year and 2 year) surveys and by the use of social media tools.