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)化学部资助，在南达科他大学创建了一个本科生研究体验(REU)网站，由安德鲁·G·赛克斯教授领导。REU Site计划是专门为地区部落学院、当地主要本科院校(PUI)和美国大学的学生的研究需求而设计的。在为期三年的时间里，每年夏天将有八名学生在大学接受招待。该REU网站包括四个主要项目：1)现场接待来自地区部落学院、PUI和大学的本科生，在夏季进行为期10周的密集研究；2)为期两周的计算化学研讨会，所有参与者都参加；3)在研究经历期间和之后交流研究结果；以及4)选择具有该地区特色的社会活动。在美国大学提供的研究机会属于材料化学的主题，涉及非共价相互作用来控制结构和功能。非共价相互作用(氢键、范德华作用力、卤键、配位-共价键、偶极-偶极相互作用等)与各种材料应用有关，这些应用与美国大学参与的化学教员进行的所有研究项目有关。认识、理解和控制弱分子间力对现代化学和材料研究至关重要。此外，学生还将在研究过程中学习单晶和粉末X射线衍射、核磁共振光谱、荧光和光学技术、扫描电子显微镜和透射电子显微镜成像以及其他化学表征方法的使用。计算化学也越来越重要，文献中几乎每一次交流都提供了一些计算成分。学生将受益于与他们的个人研究项目相联系的计算方法的身临其境的学习体验。这一REU计划的更广泛影响包括增加该地区部落学院和PUI机构的学生接触化学科学的机会。南达科他大学地理位置优越，可同时服务于该地区的美洲原住民和少量的PUI学生。

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.