COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: US-BRAZIL IRES / Analytical Applications of Nanomaterials and Microfluidic Devices

该合作项目将为主修STEM学科的美国本科生提供为期三年的国际研究体验。来自不同地区人口的学生将被招募为夏季队列，与巴西科学-技术走廊(圣保罗-坎皮纳斯-圣卡洛斯)的研究人员一起参加研究项目。在过去的几年里，人们对微流控和纳米材料相结合的分析应用的兴趣呈指数级增长。考虑到这些进展及其对未来发展的重要性，IRES项目旨在为学生提供工具，以发展所需的技能，以应对与化学分析相关的国际竞争的就业市场。这项提议旨在促进在一个创造性、多学科和文化丰富的环境中进行教育和培训。注重少数群体的招聘，加上研究生作为导师的参与，将提供扩大和加强参与者人才库以及研究经验所需的支助机制。纳米技术和微流控技术的最新发展使得人们能够理解和合理利用一系列微型全分析系统(UTAS)。这两个领域之间的现有联系使其能够跨越传统的边界，为科学和工程领域的学生提供独特的培训机会。此外，在过去的几年里，人们对结合微流控和纳米材料的分析应用的兴趣呈指数级增长。虽然这种集成增强了传感、分离和提取过程，但特定纳米材料在化学分析中的适用性主要取决于化学成分、结构、尺寸、形貌和制备方法。考虑到这些特点及其对未来发展的重要性，这个IRES项目旨在为学生提供丰富的研究经验，并将化学特性与现实世界的分析问题联系起来。

This collaborative project will facilitate a three-year international research experience for U.S. undergraduates majoring in STEM disciplines. Students from a diverse regional population will be recruited as summer cohorts to participate in research projects with researchers from the Brazilian Science-Technology Corridor (Sao Paulo - Campinas - Sao Carlos). The interest in analytical applications combining microfluidics and nanomaterials has grown exponentially in the last years. Considering these advances and their importance for future developments, this IRES program aims to provide the tools for students to develop the skills required to face an internationally competitive job market linked to chemical analysis. This proposal aims to boost education and training in a creative, multidisciplinary, and culturally-rich environment. A focus on minority recruiting, combined with the involvement of graduate students as mentors, will provide the support mechanisms required to expand and strengthen the pool of participants as well as the research experience. Recent developments in nanotechnology and microfluidics have allowed the understanding and rational utilization of a series of micro total analysis systems (uTAS). The existing links between these two fields have enabled crossing the traditional borders and the development of unique training opportunities for students in science and engineering tracks. Furthermore, the interest in analytical applications combining microfluidics and nanomaterials has grown exponentially in the last years. Although this integration has enhanced sensing, separation, and extraction procedures, the applicability of specific nanomaterials for chemical analysis depends mainly on the chemical composition, structure, size, morphology, and preparation method. Considering these characteristics and their importance for future developments, this IRES program aims to provide students an enriching research experience and link chemical properties with a real-world analytical problem.