REU Site: Summer Undergraduate Research Program at Clemson University

克莱姆森大学化学系的彭宁顿和加西亚教授和他们的同事主持了一个本科生研究经历(REU)网站。该网站由国防部与NSF化学REU计划合作提供支持。这个夏季本科生研究项目(SURP)每年有10名参与者参加，他们来自地区性的历史黑人学院和大学(HBCU)，主要是本科院校和两年制技术学院。本科生从事先进材料和化学生物学领域的研究。此外，通过许多研讨会、研讨会和小组讨论，本科生获得了许多个人和专业成长和发展的机会，主题包括仪器技术基础、化学各学科的研究机会、职业规划和准备，以及妇女和代表不足的群体在科学中的作用。招生和选拔过程针对的是女性和代表性不足的少数族裔学生，尽管她们的学术指标限制了她们在传统REU项目中的机会，但她们具有非认知因素(积极的自我概念、现实的自我评估、长期目标、系统导航、领导力和示范的社区服务)，表明他们有很强的研究能力。REU学生在两个有影响力的领域进行研究：先进材料和化学生物学，以改善我们社会的健康和生活质量。学生可以学习的一些领域包括碳纳米管-多肽复合结构的研究，等离子体纳米颗粒组件的合成和表征，质子导电聚合物电极的合成及其在燃料电池中的应用，纳米复合材料和生物相容性表面的开发，量子点的研究及其在传感器和成像方面的应用，以及基于多肽的手性催化剂的开发。学生在实验室接受的研究培训，克莱姆森大学的研讨会、小组讨论和研讨会促进的专业发展，以及随后在专业会议上展示他们的工作，有助于学生成功地在化学和相关科学领域追求富有成效的职业生涯。

Professors Pennington and Garcia and their colleagues in the Chemistry Department of Clemson University host a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site. This site is supported by the Department of Defense in partnership with the NSF Chemistry REU program. This Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) brings ten participants annually from regional Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), primarily undergraduate institutions, and two-year technical colleges. Undergraduates perform research in the areas of advanced materials and chemical biology. In addition, the undergraduates are provided many opportunities for personal and professional growth and development through numerous workshops, seminars, and panel discussions on topics ranging from the fundamentals of instrumentation techniques, research opportunities in the various disciplines of chemistry, career planning and preparation, and the role of women and underrepresented groups in the sciences. The recruitment and selection process targets female and underrepresented minority students who, despite having academic metrics that limit their opportunities in conventional REU programs, feature noncognitive factors (positive self-concept, realistic self-appraisal, long-range goals, system navigation, leadership, and demonstrated community service) that indicate a strong aptitude for research.The REU students perform research in two high impact areas: advanced materials and chemical biology to improve the health and quality of life of our society. Some of the areas of study available to students include examination of carbon nanotube-peptide composite structures, the synthesis and characterization of plasmonic nanoparticle assemblies, the synthesis of proton conducting polymer electrodes with applications to fuel cells, the development of nanocomposites and biocompatible surfaces, the study of quantum dots with applications to sensors and imaging, and the development of peptide-based chiral catalysts. The research training students receive in the lab, the professional development fostered by the workshops, panel discussions, and seminars at Clemson University, and the subsequent presentation of their work at professional conferences contributes to students' ability to successfully pursue a productive career in chemistry and related sciences.