REU Site: Summer MAterials Research @ Tulane (SMART)

非技术描述：暑期材料研究@杜兰大学本科生研究经历(SMART-REU)网站吸引了一批不同的学生参与暑期材料研究项目，从而维持了进入STEM高级研究生学习的学生渠道。聪明的参与者参与由杜兰大学教职员工监督的尖端研究项目，在每周的研讨会和讨论小组中了解广泛的研究和研究生院主题，并通过在大新奥尔良社区的集体活动加强关系。提供给参与者的研究项目大致属于健康、能源和环境材料领域，这反映了杜兰大学科学和工程学院的优势；此外，这些领域在全国范围内都需要熟练的STEM毕业生，以维持先进技术开发的增长。为了扩大各类群体的参与，SMART通过与路易斯安那州泽维尔大学(历史上的黑人学院或大学)、迪拉德大学(HBCU)、草原景观农工大学(HCBU)和化身世界大学(一家为拉美裔服务的机构)的教职员工合作，以及从没有STEM博士课程的机构以及从没有STEM博士课程的机构招募女性和参与者，帮助那些在本国机构可能没有太多研究机会的本科生。SMART-REU网站的长期回报是向更广泛的与路易斯安那州和海湾地区有联系的学生推广高级STEM实地学习，这些学生可以支持未来地区和国家的科技行业经济发展。技术细节：为了培养本科生在先进研究技术方面的能力，SMART-REU暑期研究项目的参与者从事广泛的材料研究项目，如合成聚合物经皮药物输送载体(卫生材料)，开发大面积、超高功率密度的二维光伏(能源材料)，以及从乳化液中回收油的纳米多孔膜的制造(环境材料)。为了扩大对材料科学和工程领域的接触，SMART-REU的参与者每周都会参加杜兰大学由教职员工领导的研究研讨会，研讨会涵盖材料研究的方方面面。为了探索高级STEM领域的潜在职业，参与者每两周参加一次讨论小组，讨论研究生的经历(由研究生导师领导)、可能的研究职业(由教员领导)和创业(由已将其研究商业化的教员领导)。暑期项目以海报研讨会结束，学生们在研讨会上向杜兰社区展示他们的研究成果。SMART通过调查跟踪过去的参与者，评估SMART-REU计划对他们职业道路的影响，以主动改进计划，使网站对未来参与者的影响最大化。该奖项反映了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: The Summer MAterials Research @ Tulane Research Experiences for Undergraduates (SMART-REU) site engages a diverse cohort of students in summer materials research projects, thereby sustaining a pipeline of students entering advanced graduate study in STEM. SMART participants engage in cutting-edge research projects supervised by Tulane University's faculty, learn about a broad range of research and graduate school topics in weekly workshops and discussion panels, and strengthen relationships through group activities in the greater New Orleans community. Research projects offered to participants broadly fall within the fields of materials for Health, Energy, and the Environment, which reflect the strengths of Tulane's Science and Engineering faculty; furthermore, these fields are nationally in need of skilled STEM graduates to sustain growth in advanced technology development. To broaden participation across a range of groups, SMART actively recruits women and participants from under-represented groups through partnerships with faculty at Xavier University of Louisiana (a Historically Black College or University), Dillard University (HBCU), Prairie View A&M University (HCBU), and the University of the Incarnate Word (a Hispanic-Serving Institution), as well as from institutions that do not have doctoral programs in STEM to reach undergraduates who may not have many research opportunities at their home institutions. The long-term payoff of the SMART-REU site is the promotion of advanced STEM field study to a broader base of students with ties to Louisiana and the Gulf Region who can support future tech sector economic development both regionally and nationally.TECHNICAL DETAILS: To build undergraduate student competence in advanced research techniques, participants in the SMART-REU summer research program engage in a wide range of materials research projects like the synthesis of polymeric transdermal drug delivery vehicles (Materials for Health), the development of large area, ultra-high-power density two-dimensional photovoltaics (Materials for Energy), and the fabrication of nano-porous membranes to recover oil from emulsions (Materials for the Environment). To broaden exposure to the field of materials science and engineering, SMART-REU participants attend weekly faculty-led research workshops covering all aspects of materials research taking place at Tulane University. To explore potential careers in an advanced STEM field, participants engage in biweekly discussion groups on the graduate school experience (led by graduate mentors), possible research careers (led by faculty), and entrepreneurship (led by faculty who have commercialized their research). The summer program concludes with a poster symposium where students present their research successes to the greater Tulane community. SMART tracks past participants through surveys assessing the impact of the SMART-REU program on their career paths to proactively improve the program in ways that maximize the impact of the site for future participants.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.