REU Site: Integration of Biology and Materials in Chemical Engineering

技术摘要：这个REU网站专注于生物和材料的整合，由宾夕法尼亚州立大学化学工程系主办。本科生将在夏季参与为期十周的学术研究、桥梁材料开发和生命科学。这项研究将使人们更清楚地了解生物材料和过程，并将允许开发新材料，以满足国家在医学、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，并将重点从工程学代表不足的群体中招收学生。除了实践的协作研究体验，技术和社交活动将被纳入该计划，为学生提供坚实的分析、写作和演示技能基础，并加强REU学生和教师导师之间的互动。评估将与莱昂哈德加强工程教育中心合作进行，并将分析该计划对学生结果的影响。这个REU网站由国家科学基金会工程教育和中心分部支持。非-技术概述：宾夕法尼亚州立大学化学工程本科生研究体验网站旨在为本科生提供有效的暑期研究体验，参与整合生命科学和材料的活跃项目。这一跨学科领域提供了引人入胜的范例，例如自我清洁的荷叶，可以吸引本科生的兴趣，并鼓励他们采取科学的职业观。该项目提供的研究、教育和职业指导旨在激励学生以新的视角看待他们的学术工作，并为可能的学术研究或产业创新职业提供火花。社会活动以及利用学生配对在联合项目的各个方面开展工作，将促进学生之间的合作和团队合作。通过从目标大学和代表性不足的群体中广泛招聘，将鼓励该项目的多样性。该项目的成功将与宾夕法尼亚州立大学的工程教育专家合作，通过现场调查和离职访谈以及频繁(6个月、1年和2年)调查和社交媒体工具的使用来监测。

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.