REU Site: Dare to BE FIRST - Biomechanical Engineering Foundations in Impactful Research, Science & Technology

该项目的更广泛的意义：该中心生物力学工程研究（CBER）在特拉华州的大学提供了一个全面的研究经验的本科生谁“敢于成为第一”，这将建立生物力学工程基础影响力的研究，科学和技术（BE第一）。该计划将利用教师在骨关节炎研究方面的专业知识，培养合格的少数民族本科生在生物医学工程方面的基本研究技能。共有20名学生将在生物力学研究实验室度过10周，并受益于最先进的设施，指导和研讨会，以进行独立的研究项目。学生将从美国各地的少数民族机构和历史上的黑人学院和大学以及其他研究资源有限的机构招募。技术描述：特拉华州大学生物力学工程研究中心（CBER）为“敢于成为第一”的本科生提供全面的研究经验，这将建立生物力学工程基础，影响研究，科学和技术（BE FIRST）。该使命利用CBER在尖端骨关节炎研究方面的优势，以提高少数民族本科生的定量分析能力，重点是分子，细胞，组织和关节级生物力学的理论，建模和模拟。旨在实现这一目标的活动包括在骨关节炎研究实验室，科学和专业发展研讨会，研究实验室和临床现场访问，网络和跨学科交流的机会，从研究生到骨科医生的科学家10周的实践经验，并最终在全校范围内的研究研讨会。除了个别项目的智力价值，该计划将评估和比较学生的生产力和计划的有效性与系统管理的调查和专业评估。 该项目计划每年招收20名对定量技术和生物工程研究感兴趣的本科生，为期三年。通过与可能无法获得类似研究资源的机构结盟，预计该计划将改变科学观念，提高工程技能，并影响参与者的学术追求。因此，它还希望为研究生课程和生物医学行业所需的定量研究准备这群才华横溢，多样化的年轻科学家。最终，该计划将通过提高学生在定量分析和下一代生物医学工程师所需的相关研究技能方面的准备来加强本科教育。该项目得到了美国国家科学基金会工程教育和中心部门的支持。

BROADER SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT:The Center for Biomechanical Engineering Research (CBER) at the University of Delaware offers a comprehensive Research Experience for Undergraduates who "Dare to BE FIRST" which will establish Biomechanical Engineering Foundations in Impactful Research, Science and Technology (BE FIRST). The program will take advantage of faculty expertise in osteoarthritis research to train qualified minority undergraduate students in essential research skills for biomedical engineering. A total of 20 students will spend 10 weeks in a biomechanics research lab and benefit from state-of-the-art facilities, mentorship, and workshops to conduct an independent research project. Students will be recruited from minority institutions and historically black colleges and universities around the U.S. and other institutions with limited research resources. The goal is to improve their engineering and research skills which will influence the academic pursuits of this group of talented and diverse young scientists.TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION:The Center for Biomechanical Engineering Research (CBER) at the University of Delaware offers a comprehensive Research Experience for Undergraduates who "Dare to BE FIRST" which will establish Biomechanical Engineering Foundations in Impactful Research, Science and Technology (BE FIRST). The mission leverages CBER's strengths in cutting edge osteoarthritis research in order to improve the quantitative analysis capabilities of minority undergraduate students with emphasis on theory, modeling and simulation in molecular, cellular, tissue and joint-level biomechanics. The activities designed to meet this objective include 10 weeks of hands-on experience in an osteoarthritis research laboratory, scientific and professional development workshops, research lab and clinical site visits, opportunities for networking and interdisciplinary communication with scientists from graduate students to orthopaedic surgeons, and culminating in a university-wide research symposium. Beyond the intellectual merit of the individual projects, the program will evaluate and compare student productivity and program effectiveness with systematically administered surveys and professional evaluations. The program plans to recruit a total of 20 undergraduate students who are interested in both quantitative technologies and bioengineering research each year for three years. Through the alliance with institutions which may not have access to similar research resources, it is expected that this program will change the scientific perception, improve the engineering skills, and impact the academic pursuits of participants. As a result, it also expects to prepare this group of talented and diverse young scientists for the quantitative research required by graduate programs and the biomedical industry. Ultimately the program will strengthen undergraduate education by enhancing student preparation in quantitative analysis and related research skills needed by the next generation of biomedical engineers.This project is supported by the Division of Engineering Education and Centers of the National Science Foundation.