REU Site: Multifunctional Materials

本科生研究经验（REU）在得克萨斯州A M大学网站提供多尺度实验和材料系统建模的各个方面的研究经验，这些材料系统表现出多功能特性，以多样化和有才华的学生群体，特别是来自德克萨斯州和西南部的主要本科和少数民族服务机构。美国西南部有广泛的材料研究活动，为能源，航空航天，电子和健康等呈指数增长的部门提供服务。材料，特别是多功能材料的进步对于解决该国在能源和环境可持续性方面最具挑战性的问题至关重要。学生的研究项目通过关注多功能材料的主题对社会产生了有意义和积极的影响，这些材料支持与能源和可持续性相关的大量应用，为参与者提供了大量的就业增长机会。研究成果将广泛造福社会，该项目将有助于招募更多的学生进入材料科学工程，这是一个迫切需要增加和更多样化的劳动力的领域。REU网站为本科生提供了机会，利用最先进的方法，这加强和强化了他们的课堂知识，并鼓励追求研究生教育。在为期10周的体验中，学生们将进行研究活动，重点是多尺度实验和表现出多功能特性的材料系统建模。建模活动包括分子动力学连续尺度本构建模，优化，先进的有限元为基础的微观力学，宏观有限元建模的应用。实验活动包括形状记忆合金，纤维和聚合物的制造和表征，以及逐层聚合物组件，优化聚合物电解质膜燃料电池系统和弹性材料系统的设计和测试。学生将学习如何进行研究，培养实验室和建模技能，并学习如何进行多功能材料和组件的设计，分析，测试和优化。学生将与来自材料科学与工程多学科系的教师研究导师合作，沿着还有一位训练有素的研究生导师。他们还将参加一个专业发展计划，其中包括通信和研究方法技能的培训，研究生院信息会议，以及可选的实地考察和图尔斯。学生有机会在夏季结束时举行的海报研讨会上展示他们的研究成果，并与“Aggies Invent”计划合作参加REU学生发明体验-来自学生熟悉的领域的行业合作伙伴将提出想法，REU学生将在48小时内建立原型。该计划将与TAMU的AGEP-T计划和LSAMP计划密切合作，作为全面招聘计划的一部分，以确保REU网站的多元化和有才华的申请人库。 本科生（REU）网站的研究经验由国防部与NSF REU计划合作的ASSURE计划支持。

This Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site at Texas A&M University offers research experiences on various aspects of multiscale experiments and modeling of material systems that exhibit multifunctional properties to diverse and talented cohorts of students particularly from predominantly undergraduate and minority serving institutions in Texas and the Southwest. There is extensive materials research activity in the southwestern United States, which serves exponentially growing sectors in energy, aerospace, electronics and health. Advances in materials, particularly multifunctional materials are critical to addressing the country's most challenging problems in energy and environmental sustainability. The students' research projects have meaningful and positive impacts on society by focusing on the theme of multifunctional materials which supports a large number of applications related to energy and sustainability, for which there are large job growth opportunities for participants. The research products will benefit society broadly and the project will help to recruit more students into materials science engineering, an area where an increased and more diverse workforce is urgently needed.The REU Site offers opportunities for undergraduate students to engage in comprehensive research experiences on cutting-edge topics, using state-of-the-art methods, which reinforce and strengthen their classroom knowledge and encourage pursuit of graduate education. During the 10-week experience the students perform research activities focusing on multiscale experiments and modeling of material systems that exhibit multifunctional properties. The modeling activities include molecular dynamics to continuum scale constitutive modeling, optimization, advanced finite element-based micromechanics, and macroscopic finite element modeling of applications. The experimental activities include fabrication and characterization of shape memory alloys, fibers, and polymers, as well as design and testing of Layer-by-Layer polymer assemblies, optimized polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell systems, and nastic material systems. Students will learn how research is conducted, develop laboratory and modeling skills, and learn how to conduct design, analysis, testing and optimization of multifunctional materials and components. The students will collaborate with a faculty research mentor from the multidisciplinary Department of Materials Science and Engineering along with a trained graduate student mentor. They also will participate in a professional development program that includes training in communications and research methods skills, graduate school information sessions, and optional field trips and tours. The students are provided with opportunities to present their research results in a poster symposium held at the end of the summer and participate in an REU Students Invent Experience in collaboration with the "Aggies Invent" program - where industry partners from areas familiar to the students will present ideas, and the REU students will build a prototype in 48 hours. The program will collaborate closely with TAMU's AGEP-T program and LSAMP program as part of comprehensive recruitment plan to ensure a diverse and talented applicant pool for the REU Site. This Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site is supported by the Department of Defense ASSURE program in partnership with the NSF REU program.