REU Site: Nanoscale Physics and Materials REU and RET at Penn State

非技术性描述：科学、技术和工程职业正变得越来越依赖跨越多个学科的知识广度。宾夕法尼亚州立大学本科生和教师的研究体验通过让10名学生和2名教师参与纳米级物理和材料的跨学科研究，满足了这种对多学科广度的需求。学生和教师将学习和应用尖端科学技术，并体验在协作、跨学科的研究环境中工作的挑战和回报。本科生还将参加职业发展活动，重点是加强在科学研究中取得成功所必需的非技术技能，包括科学交流和建立导师-学员关系的技能。活动包括科学研讨会、专业网络活动、外联活动和参加国家会议。教师将获得材料科学知识，并将他们的经验传回给他们的学生，通过与他们的同行和宾夕法尼亚州立大学教师一起开发教学资源来影响他们和他们的社区。这一研究经验旨在激励和准备所有年龄段的学生从事科学和工程职业，具体目标是增加代表人数不足的群体在科学领域的代表性，包括少数民族和妇女。该项目的大多数学生进入科学和工程专业的研究生课程，或开始在科学学科的职业生涯。技术细节：这项面向纳米物理和材料的本科生和教师的研究经验强调研究、创造和/或操作新的纳米结构和低维材料，以了解和利用它们的电、光、磁或量子力学特性。学生将参加为期10周的指导性研究项目，范围从拓扑活性薄膜、纳米粒子、少层和2D材料中的新物理基础研究，到这些材料在设备中的设计、测试和应用。教师们参加了一个类似的为期6周的研究项目，同时还参加了以教育为主题的科学研讨会。通过他们的研究，学生和教师将有机会接受最先进的材料合成和表征设备的培训。作为对研究的补充，学生们还参加职业发展活动，目的是为他们准备纳米级物理和材料方面的科学研究并使他们接触到这些研究。他们研究经验的顶峰将是在宾夕法尼亚州立大学的一个跨学科本科生研究研讨会上展示他们的工作，一些人将前往全国会议上展示他们的发现。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Science, technology, and engineering careers are becoming increasingly dependent on a breadth of knowledge that spans multiple disciplines. This Research Experience for Undergraduates and Teachers at Penn State University addresses this need for multi-disciplinary breadth by engaging a highly diverse group of 10 students and two teachers in cross-disciplinary research in nanoscale physics and materials. Students and teachers will learn and apply cutting-edge scientific techniques and experience the challenges and rewards of working in a collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment. Undergraduate students will also participate in career development activities focused on fortifying the non-technical skills necessary for success in scientific research, including scientific communication and skills for building mentor-mentee relationships. Activities include scientific seminars, professional networking events, outreach activities, and participation in a national conference. Teachers will gain materials science knowledge and transfer their experiences back to their students, influencing them and their community through the development of teaching resources with their peers and Penn State faculty. This research experience aims to inspire and prepare students of all ages to pursue careers in science and engineering, with specific goals to increase representation in science from underrepresented groups, including minorities and women. Most students from this program matriculate to graduate programs in science and engineering or begin careers in science disciplines. TECHNICAL DETAILS: This Research Experience for Undergraduates and Teachers in nanoscale physics and materials emphasizes the investigation, creation and/or manipulation of novel nanostructures and low dimensional materials in order to understand and harness their electrical, optical, magnetic or quantum mechanical properties. Students will participate in 10 weeks of mentored research in projects ranging from the fundamental study of novel physics in topologically active thin films, nanoparticles, few-layered and 2D materials, to the design, testing and application of these materials in devices. Teachers participate in a similar 6-week research project coupled with education-themed scientific workshops. Through their research, students and teachers will have the opportunity to be trained on state-of-the-art materials synthesis and characterization equipment. Complementing their research, students also participate in career development activities aimed at preparing them for and exposing them to scientific research in nanoscale physics and materials. The culmination of their research experiences will be to present their work at a cross-disciplinary undergraduate research symposium at Penn State and some will travel to present their findings at a national conference.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.