REU Site: Immersive Research in Energy Generation, Storage/Conversion, and Power Transmission

田纳西理工大学（TTU） REU网站专注于每年从全国范围内的搜索中为10名本科生的不同群体提供夏季研究经验。参与的学生将在能源发电（太阳能、生物质、压电、盐度梯度发电等）、能源存储/转换（锂离子电池和锂空气电池以及甲酸燃料电池）和电网整合（太阳能和电动汽车到电网整合）领域进行前沿研究。拟议的集体研究课题体现了与可再生能源收集、储存和分配相关的挑战，这些挑战将影响21世纪人们的生活质量，并为实现我国能源独立的关键职业培养未来的科学家和工程师。NSF-REU网站的设计考虑了四个关键的更广泛的影响：(1)学生将接触到对他们的职业生涯至关重要的广泛的技能培养活动，包括良好的项目管理实践（每日报告和反思），以及研究问题的解决。(2)该计划将在能源重点新兴领域培养顶尖的国家研究人才，这对保持国家优势至关重要。(3)参与者将通过参加一项服务学习活动来了解外展的重要性，以提高高中生和社区成员对能源技术的认识。(4)将增加代表性不足的群体在工程研究中的参与，从而有助于建立一个更多元化的全国劳动力队伍。田纳西理工大学（TTU） REU网站致力于向有抱负的工程师和科学家介绍尖端的能源技术。随着世界常规化石资源供应的减少，可持续能源生产和储存战略变得越来越重要。如果我们的国家要获得能源独立，保持技术和经济领先地位，就需要在能源领域不断取得研究进展。这些因素产生了对能源相关研究领域训练有素的人员的需求。REU的学生将进行与能量收集（太阳能、生物质热解、压电换能器、盐度梯度电力）电网整合（太阳能发电和输电、电动汽车电网整合）和成本效益存储（锂离子和锂-空气可充电电池和直接甲酸燃料电池）相关的主题研究。TTU的一个专门的教师小组正在相关能源领域密切合作。我们的目标是通过“智能研究”课程和“专业发展”研讨会以及拟议的研究课题，将实习生引入沉浸式研究。PI团队还将提供有关有效研究、优秀研究人员的特征、有效解释数据和信息、高效记录保存、发展报告和写作技能（日记保存）、有效传播结果、优秀演讲者的素质、道德决策和专业成长与发展等主题的课程。我们还将安排学生到ORNL和工业实地考察，让他们接触能源相关的职业机会和合作。REU网站将促进和鼓励妇女、少数民族、退伍军人和研究活动有限的机构积极参与。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The Tennessee Technological University (TTU) REU Site focuses on providing a summer research experience to a diverse group of ten undergraduate students yearly from a nationwide search. Participating students will perform cutting-edge research in the areas of energy generation (solar, biomass, piezoelectric, generation from salinity gradients, etc.), energy storage/conversion (lithium-ion and lithium-air batteries and formic acid fuel cells) and power grid integration (solar and electric vehicle to grid integration). The proposed collective research topics embody challenges related to renewable energy harvesting, storage and distribution that will impact the quality of life for 21st Century peoples and train future scientists and engineers for careers critical to achieving energy independence of our Nation. The NSF-REU Site is designed with four key broader impacts in mind: (1) Students will be exposed to a wide range of skill-building activities crucial for their careers including good project management practices (daily reporting and reflection), and research problem solving. (2) The program will train top national research talent in key emerging areas of energy, critical for maintaining national preeminence. (3) Participants will learn the importance of outreach by participating in a service learning activity to improve awareness of energy technologies among high-school students and community members. (4) Participation of under-represented groups in engineering research will be increased, thereby contributing to building a more nationally diverse workforce.The Tennessee Technological University (TTU) REU Site focuses on introducing cutting-edge energy technologies to aspiring engineers and scientists. Sustainable energy generation and storage strategies are becoming increasingly important as the world's conventional supplies of fossil resources dwindle. Ongoing research advancements in the energy sector are needed if our nation is to obtain energy independence and maintain preeminence in technology and economic leadership. These factors generate a need for trained personnel in energy related research areas. The REU students will perform research on topics related to energy harvesting, (solar energy, biomass pyrolysis, piezoelectric transducers, electricity from salinity gradients) grid integration (solar power generation and transmission, electric vehicle grid integration) and cost-effective storage (lithium-ion and lithium-air rechargeable batteries and direct formic acid fuel cells). A dedicated group of faculty at TTU is working in close collaboration in related energy areas. Our goal is to introduce the interns to immersive research through an "Intelligent Research" course and "Professional Development" workshops along with the proposed research topics. The PI team will also offer lessons on topics pertaining to effective research, attributes of a good researcher, interpreting data and information effectively, efficient recordkeeping, developing reporting and writing skills (diary keeping), effective dissemination of results, qualities of an excellent presenter, ethical decision making and professional growth and development. Field trips to ORNL and industries will also be arranged to expose the students to energy related career opportunities and collaborations. The REU Site will promote and encourage strong participation of women, minorities, veterans and institutions with limited research activities.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.