NRT: Training Next-Generation Scientists with Experimental, Theoretical, and Computational Competencies for Complex Interfaces (INTERFACE)

这项国家科学基金会研究培训(NRT)奖培养南密西西比大学的博士生，使他们具备应对21世纪从制药到能源等重大材料挑战的能力。这一培训将为学生提供工业、学术和国家实验室所需的跨学科技能，以推动美国在先进材料创新方面的竞争力。该计划超越了目前实验、理论和计算科学家之间存在的鸿沟，培养了一批新的科学家和工程师，他们能够领导生物溶解、生物材料和可再生能源领域的材料数据驱动设计。通过实习和培训机会，学员将发展出众的教学知识和科学技能，具有磨练的专业技能，随时准备与包括K-12学生在内的广泛受众交流科学。这一培训还寻求通过与有效的项目和组织的紧密联系，增加女性和代表性不足的少数民族在博士项目中的参与度和留存率。该NRT项目的中心研究主题是聚合物材料的复杂界面。来自聚合物科学和工程、化学和生物化学以及物理的教职员工，以及来自国家实验室和工业合作伙伴的工作人员科学家，将在多学科团队环境中共同为学员提供建议。学员将从事与生物启发界面、生物材料界面和界面电荷传输相关的计算和实验研究项目。该教育计划旨在为学员提供计算和实验研究工具的实践机会和培训，鼓励对文献状况进行批判性分析，并确定尚未满足的研究挑战。学员还将通过一系列专业发展工作坊接受广泛的专业技能培训，如项目管理、解决问题、解决冲突、高绩效团队、商业礼仪、研究道德和口头和书面沟通。作为最后一个要素，实习生将参加旨在接触学术界、行业、国家实验室和政府政策的多种职业道路的实习机会。

This National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) award prepares Ph.D. students at the University of Southern Mississippi with the competencies to address grand materials challenges of 21st Century ranging from pharmaceuticals to energy. This traineeship will provide students with interdisciplinary skills needed in industrial, academic, and national laboratories to drive American competitiveness in advanced materials innovation. The program transcends the divide that currently exists across experimental, theoretical, and computational scientists to train a new cadre of scientists and engineers capable of leading the data-driven design of materials in biolubrication, biomaterials, and renewable energy. Through internships and training opportunities, trainees will develop exceptional content knowledge and scientific skills, with honed professional skills, with readiness to communicate science with a wide audience, including K-12 students. This traineeship also seeks to increase the participation and retention of women and underrepresented minorities in doctoral programs by strong linkages with effective programs and organizations.The central research theme of this NRT program is complex interfaces of polymeric materials. Faculty from polymer science and engineering, chemistry and biochemistry, and physics, as well as staff scientists from national labs and industrial partners, will co-advise trainees in a multidisciplinary team environment. Trainees will engage in both computational and experimental research projects related to bioinspired interfaces, biomaterials interfaces, and charge transport at interfaces. The education program is designed to provide trainees with hands-on access and training in computational and experimental research tools, to encourage critical analysis of the state of literature, and to identify unmet research challenges. Trainees will also receive extensive training in professional skills such as project management, problem solving, conflict resolution, high performance teams, business etiquette, research ethics, and oral and written communication via a series of professional development workshops. As a final element, trainees will participate in internship opportunities designed for exposure to multiple career paths in academia, industry, national labs, and government policy.