REU Site: NanoSAFE Multifunctional Nanomaterials

REU 网站：NanoSAFE 多功能纳米材料

• 批准号: 1559880
• 负责人: Lisa Holland
• 金额: $ 38万
• 依托单位: West Virginia University Research Corporation
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2016-04-15 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1559880&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: REU; Site; NanoSAFE; Multifunctional; Nanomaterials

NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION:The objective of this REU activity is to enhance workforce development through unique research in nanotechnology and to increase participation in graduate level education of women, underrepresented minorities, veterans, and persons from economically depressed areas. REU Site participants will be provided with interdisciplinary research opportunities that focus on the discovery of advanced performance multifunctional nanomaterials, which are designed concurrently with toxicity testing. This emerging area of nanotechnology is significant to accommodate the dramatic increase in commercial nanoparticle production. This is achieved through the development of enabling technology and fundamental research to generate high performance materials and address the environmental, health, and safety characteristics of nanoparticles. This REU project leverages substantial research infrastructure as well as ongoing WVU-NIOSH collaborative research in nanotoxicology. These initiatives have accelerated research and education in the nanosciences in West Virginia and create an exceptional nanotechnology training site. A total of 18 faculty members from the WVU Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, and Health Sciences are committed to serve as research mentors as part of a comprehensive training program that effectively fosters problem-solving skills critical to intellectual and research independence. Participants learn about communication, collaboration, technical presentation skills, resume preparation, and graduate education. Collegial relationships are developed through team-building activities and weekly interdisciplinary team meetings. Several undergraduate participants will publish research results and all undergraduates present their work at the annual WVU Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium. Involvement in this REU Site improves the scientific workforce by increasing participant retention in interdisciplinary STEM education. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION:REU participants are trained on research projects that support the design of safer and more effective nanoparticles that have been characterized and assessed for potential toxicity. The research activities focus on multifunctional nanomaterials and support improved material design with attention to properties that impact human and environmental health. The REU Site provides a diverse pool of projects through 18 faculty advisors each supporting independent research integrated within three NanoSAFE areas of focus: (1) design and fabrication of advanced performance nanomaterials, (2) biomolecular and inorganic material characterization, (3) and toxicity assessment. These research foci support an iterative approach enabling researchers to realize high performance nanomaterials that can safely support manufacturing processes. Faculty collaborate across research groups and students have access to cutting-edge technology in nanolithography, nanotemplating, material self-assembly, electrochemistry, spectroscopy, microscopy, fluidics, and unique tools required to elucidate complex facets of nanotoxicity. Upon completing this REU experience, undergraduate students will actively contribute to innovative research that advances nanotechnology manufacturing, while receiving professional development throughout the 10-week summer activity through workshops, speakers, and scientific conferences.

非技术描述：这项REU活动的目标是通过纳米技术的独特研究来加强劳动力发展，并增加妇女、代表性不足的少数族裔、退伍军人和来自经济不发达地区的人员对研究生教育的参与。REU研究中心的参与者将获得跨学科研究的机会，重点是发现先进性能的多功能纳米材料，这些材料是与毒性测试同时设计的。 纳米技术的这一新兴领域对于适应商业纳米颗粒生产的急剧增长具有重要意义。 这是通过开发使能技术和基础研究来实现的，以产生高性能材料并解决纳米颗粒的环境，健康和安全特性。 这个REU项目利用了大量的研究基础设施以及正在进行的WVU-NIOSH纳米毒理学合作研究。 这些举措加速了西弗吉尼亚州纳米科学的研究和教育，并创造了一个特殊的纳米技术培训场所。 来自生物，化学，化学工程，计算机科学和电气工程，机械工程，物理学和健康科学的西弗吉尼亚大学部门共18名教师致力于作为研究导师作为一个全面的培训计划，有效地培养解决问题的技能，智力和研究独立性至关重要的一部分。 参与者学习沟通，协作，技术演示技巧，简历准备和研究生教育。 通过团队建设活动和每周的跨学科团队会议来发展学院关系。 一些本科生参与者将发表研究成果，所有本科生在年度WVU夏季本科生研究研讨会上展示他们的工作。 参与这个REU网站通过增加跨学科STEM教育的参与者保留率来提高科学劳动力。 技术描述：REU参与者接受研究项目的培训，这些项目支持设计更安全，更有效的纳米颗粒，这些纳米颗粒已经过表征和评估潜在毒性。 研究活动侧重于多功能纳米材料，并支持改进材料设计，同时关注影响人类和环境健康的特性。 REU网站通过18名教师顾问提供了一个多样化的项目库，每个顾问都支持三个NanoSAFE重点领域内的独立研究：（1）先进性能纳米材料的设计和制造，（2）生物分子和无机材料表征，（3）和毒性评估。 这些研究重点支持一种迭代方法，使研究人员能够实现可以安全支持制造过程的高性能纳米材料。 教师跨研究小组合作，学生可以使用纳米光刻，纳米模板，材料自组装，电化学，光谱学，显微镜，流体学和独特的工具来阐明纳米毒性的复杂方面。 在完成这个REU的经验，本科生将积极促进创新研究，推进纳米技术制造，同时通过研讨会，演讲者和科学会议在整个10周的夏季活动接受专业发展。