REU Site: Weak chemical bonds yield strong research experiences in Materials Chemistry at the University of South Dakota

该项目由美国国家科学基金会（NSF）化学部门资助，在南达科他州大学（USD）创建了一个本科生研究体验（REU）站点，由Andrew G. Sykes教授领导。REU网站计划是专门为满足地区部落学院，当地主要本科机构（PUIs）和USD学生的研究需求而设计的。每年夏天将有8名学生在美国学习，为期三年。该REU网站包括四个主要项目要素：1)在夏季，来自地区部落学院，PUIs和USD的本科生进行为期十周的密集研究；2)所有参与者参加的为期两周的计算化学研讨会；3)研究期间及之后的研究成果交流；4)选择具有区域特色的社会活动。USD提供的研究机会属于材料化学主题，涉及控制结构和功能的非共价相互作用。非共价相互作用（氢键，范德华力，卤素键，配位共价键，偶极子-偶极子相互作用，仅举几例）与各种材料应用有关，这些应用与USD参与化学教师进行的所有研究项目有关。认识、理解和控制弱分子间作用力对现代化学和材料研究至关重要。此外，学生将学习单晶和粉末XRD的使用；核磁共振光谱学;荧光和光学技术；SEM和TEM成像；以及其他化学表征方法的研究经验。计算化学也越来越重要，几乎每一次文献交流都提供了一些计算成分。学生将受益于与个人研究项目相关的计算方法的沉浸式学习体验。这项REU计划的广泛影响包括增加了在该地区的部落学院和PUI机构就读的学生接触化学科学的机会。南达科他州大学（USD）地理位置优越，为该地区的印第安人和PUI学生提供服务。

This project funded by the Chemistry Division at the National Science Foundation (NSF) creates a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Site at the University of South Dakota (USD), led by Professor Andrew G. Sykes. The REU Site program is specifically designed to serve the research needs of students at regional tribal colleges, local primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs), and USD. Eight students will be hosted at USD each summer for three years. This REU site includes four major project elements: 1) onsite hosting of undergraduate students from regional tribal colleges, PUIs and USD conducting intensive research for ten weeks during the summer; 2) a two week computational chemistry workshop involving all participants; 3) communication of research results during and following the research experience; and 4) select social activities characteristic of the region. The research opportunities offered at USD fall under the theme of materials chemistry that involves non-covalent interactions to control structure and function. Non-covalent interactions (hydrogen bonds, van de Waals forces, halogen bonds, coordinate-covalent bonding, dipole-dipole interactions, to name a few) are linked to a variety of material applications that are associated with all the research projects conducted by participating chemistry faculty at USD.Recognizing, understanding and controlling weak intermolecular forces is critical to modern chemical and materials research. In addition, students will learn about the use of single-crystal and powder XRD; NMR spectroscopy; fluorescence and optical techniques; SEM and TEM imaging; and other chemical characterization methods during their research experience. Computational chemistry is also of growing importance, where almost every communication in the literature offers some computational component. Students will benefit from an immersive learning experience in computational methods as linked to their individual research projects. The broader impact of this REU program includes increased access to the chemical sciences for students attending Tribal colleges and PUI institutions in the area. The University of South Dakota (USD) is ideally situated geographically to serve both Native American and small PUI student populations in the region.