COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: US-BRAZIL IRES / Analytical Applications of Nanomaterials and Microfluidic Devices

该合作项目将为主修STEM学科的美国本科生提供为期三年的国际研究经验。来自不同地区人口的学生将被招募为夏季队列，与来自巴西科学技术走廊（圣保罗-坎皮纳斯-圣卡洛斯）的研究人员一起参与研究项目。结合微流体和纳米材料的分析应用的兴趣在过去几年中呈指数级增长。考虑到这些进步及其对未来发展的重要性，这个IRES项目旨在为学生提供工具，培养他们面对与化学分析相关的国际竞争就业市场所需的技能。该提案旨在促进教育和培训在一个创造性的，多学科的，文化丰富的环境。注重少数民族的征聘，加上研究生作为导师的参与，将提供必要的支助机制，以扩大和加强参与者的人数以及研究经验。纳米技术和微流体技术的最新发展使人们对一系列微全量分析系统（uTAS）的理解和合理利用成为可能。这两个领域之间的现有联系使得跨越传统边界和为科学和工程领域的学生提供独特的培训机会成为可能。此外，对结合微流体和纳米材料的分析应用的兴趣在过去几年中呈指数级增长。虽然这种集成增强了传感、分离和提取程序，但特定纳米材料在化学分析中的适用性主要取决于其化学成分、结构、尺寸、形态和制备方法。考虑到这些特点及其对未来发展的重要性，这个IRES项目旨在为学生提供丰富的研究经验，并将化学性质与现实世界的分析问题联系起来。

This collaborative project will facilitate a three-year international research experience for U.S. undergraduates majoring in STEM disciplines. Students from a diverse regional population will be recruited as summer cohorts to participate in research projects with researchers from the Brazilian Science-Technology Corridor (Sao Paulo - Campinas - Sao Carlos). The interest in analytical applications combining microfluidics and nanomaterials has grown exponentially in the last years. Considering these advances and their importance for future developments, this IRES program aims to provide the tools for students to develop the skills required to face an internationally competitive job market linked to chemical analysis. This proposal aims to boost education and training in a creative, multidisciplinary, and culturally-rich environment. A focus on minority recruiting, combined with the involvement of graduate students as mentors, will provide the support mechanisms required to expand and strengthen the pool of participants as well as the research experience. Recent developments in nanotechnology and microfluidics have allowed the understanding and rational utilization of a series of micro total analysis systems (uTAS). The existing links between these two fields have enabled crossing the traditional borders and the development of unique training opportunities for students in science and engineering tracks. Furthermore, the interest in analytical applications combining microfluidics and nanomaterials has grown exponentially in the last years. Although this integration has enhanced sensing, separation, and extraction procedures, the applicability of specific nanomaterials for chemical analysis depends mainly on the chemical composition, structure, size, morphology, and preparation method. Considering these characteristics and their importance for future developments, this IRES program aims to provide students an enriching research experience and link chemical properties with a real-world analytical problem.