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

该国家科学基金会研究实习生 (NRT) 奖项为博士生做准备。南密西西比大学的学生有能力应对 21 世纪从制药到能源等重大材料挑战。 该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，以提高美国在先进材料创新方面的竞争力。 该项目超越了目前实验、理论和计算科学家之间存在的鸿沟，培养了一支新的科学家和工程师队伍，能够领导生物润滑、生物材料和可再生能源材料的数据驱动设计。 通过实习和培训机会，学员将发展卓越的内容知识和科学技能，并拥有磨练的专业技能，并准备好与包括 K-12 学生在内的广大受众交流科学。 该培训还旨在通过与有效的项目和组织的紧密联系，提高女性和代表性不足的少数族裔在博士项目中的参与度和保留率。该 NRT 项目的中心研究主题是聚合物材料的复杂界面。 来自高分子科学与工程、化学与生物化学以及物理学的教师，以及来自国家实验室和工业合作伙伴的科学家，将在多学科团队环境中共同为学员提供建议。 学员将参与与仿生界面、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，并发现未解决的研究挑战。 学员还将通过一系列专业发展研讨会接受广泛的专业技能培训，例如项目管理、问题解决、冲突解决、高绩效团队、商务礼仪、研究道德以及口头和书面沟通。 最后，学员将参加旨在接触学术界、工业界、国家实验室和政府政策领域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.