REU Site: Research Experience for Undergraduates in Advanced Infrastructural Materials

美国土木工程师协会2017年基础设施报告卡对美国基础设施的现状给出了D+的低评级。日益恶化的基础设施极大地阻碍了我国在蓬勃发展的全球经济中的竞争能力，必须进行重大升级，以确保我国保持全球竞争力。国家基础设施的升级需要基础设施材料和技术的进步以及训练有素的工程师，他们拥有先进基础设施材料的专门知识。为了满足这一需求，路易斯安那大学拉斐特分校的本科生研究经验（REU）网站将为本科生提供先进基础设施材料的实践研究和培训机会，以鼓励学生在这一领域追求职业和研究生学位。REU网站旨在支持材料工程师的劳动力发展，并促进工程界的多样性。十名本科生研究人员，主要由代表性不足的少数民族和女学生组成，将在REU网站每年夏天接待，为期三年。每年，本科研究人员将参加为期10周的动手跨学科研究计划，并在教师顾问的监督下，就与先进的基础设施材料相关的各种研究项目开展工作。研究项目范围从基础材料研究到由先进材料组成的创新结构系统。一次教育性的实地考察、讲习班和研讨会（有关美国基础设施的重大挑战、研究方法和研究道德、科技写作和演讲技巧、研究生院生活和申请程序，以及STEM的职业生涯），目的是：1）训练学生的研究和技术沟通技巧; 2）培养他们攻读高级学位和从事工程领域职业的兴趣; 3）让他们直接了解我们的基础设施面临的挑战; 4）为他们提供路易斯安那州南部基础设施问题，文化和景观的独特体验。通过这个REU网站，将创建一个由受过高等教育的研究人员和工程师组成的多元化团队，他们在先进的基础设施材料方面拥有专业知识，为增强美国基础设施和更多元化的工程社区做出贡献。这个奖项反映了NSF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 American Society of Civil Engineers 2017 Infrastructure Report Card gave a poor grade of D+ on the current condition of the US infrastructure. Deteriorating infrastructure is greatly impeding the nation's ability to compete in the thriving global economy, and significant upgrading is necessary to ensure our country remains globally competitive. Upgrading the nation's infrastructure requires advancement in infrastructure materials and technologies and well-trained engineers with expertise in advanced infrastructure materials. To fulfill this need, the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette will provide undergraduate students with hands-on research and training opportunities in advanced infrastructure materials to encourage students to pursue careers and graduate degrees in this field. The REU site aims at supporting workforce development of materials engineers and promoting diversity in the engineering community.Ten undergraduate researchers, mainly comprised of underrepresented minority and female students, will be hosted at the REU Site every summer for three years. Each year, the undergraduate researchers will participate in a 10-week hands-on interdisciplinary research program and work under the supervision of faculty advisors on a variety of research projects related to advanced infrastructure materials. The research projects range from fundamental materials research to innovative structural systems composed of advanced materials. An educational field trip, workshops and seminars (on Grand Challenges of US Infrastructure, Research Methods and Research Ethics, Technical Writing and Presentation Skills, Graduate School Life and Application Process, and Careers in STEM) will be organized to: 1) train students in research and technical communication skills; 2) cultivate their interest in pursuing advanced degrees and career in engineering field; 3) give them a direct insight into the challenges our infrastructure is facing; and 4) offer them a unique experience of southern Louisiana infrastructure problems, culture and landscape. A diverse group of highly educated researchers and engineers with expertise in advanced infrastructural materials will be created through this REU Site, contributing towards enhancement of the US infrastructure and a more diverse engineering community.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.