REU Site: American Student Placements and Internships in Rehabilitation Engineering (ASPIRE)

康复工程采用系统的方法为残疾人设计、修改、定制和/或制造辅助技术。康复工程的研究工作集中在识别和解决关键问题，这些问题对于实现和维持与行动、通信、感觉（如听觉、触觉、视觉）、认知以及与就业、独立生活和教育相关的活动相关的领域的最高水平的功能至关重要。这项由匹兹堡大学人类工程研究实验室（HERL）主办的ASPIRE REU项目的研究重点是康复工程，旨在提供一个模范的指导和资源丰富的环境，使本科生能够1)从依赖者过渡到独立思考者，2)培养进入工程或技术领域的兴奋感，3)为他们未来的职业生涯做好充分准备。在这个REU项目中，招聘活动强调少数民族和残疾学生。此外，来自研究机会有限的机构的学生将得到特别考虑。研讨会、讲习班和实地考察补充了实验室之外的教育经验。在这个REU站点的学生是一个多学科研究团队的积极参与者，并获得更大规模或试点研究项目的一部分所有权。改善残疾人的生活质量是HERL的核心使命，该REU为培养未来的研究科学家和工程师提供了独特和支持性的环境。REU的经验允许参与者向经验丰富的研究人员和有才华的临床医生学习。这些互动将帮助他们发展自己的研究技能，并开展未来的研究课题，这些课题对大量的生物信息学人口很重要。HERL的研究发展目标将加深学生对康复机器人设计、人机交互和技术转移的理解。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。

Rehabilitation engineering employs a systematic approach to the design, modification, customization and/or fabrication of assistive technology for persons with disabilities. Research efforts in rehabilitation engineering are focused on identifying and addressing problems critical to achieving and maintaining the highest possible level of function in areas related to mobility, communications, sensory (e.g., hearing, tactile, vision), and cognition and in activities associated with employment, independent living, and education. With a research focus on rehabilitation engineering, this ASPIRE REU program hosted by the Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL) in the University of Pittsburgh is to provide an exemplary mentoring and resourceful environment that enables undergraduate students to 1) transition from dependent to independent thinkers, 2) develop a sense of excitement about entering an engineering or technical field and 3) be well prepared for their future careers. In this REU program, recruitment initiatives emphasize minorities and students with disabilities. Additionally, students who come from institutions with limited research opportunities will receive special consideration. Seminars, workshops, and field trips supplement the educational experience outside of the laboratories. Students in this REU Site are an active participant of a multi-disciplinary research team and acquire ownership of part of a larger-scale or pilot research project. Improving the quality of life for individuals with disabilities (Iw/D) is central to the mission of HERL, and this REU offers a unique and supportive environment for developing future research scientists and engineers. The REU experience allows participants to learn from experienced researchers and talented clinicians. These interactions will help them develop their own research skills and carry out future research topics that are important to the large population of Iw/D. HERL's research development objectives will deepen student's understanding related to rehabilitation robotics design, human-robot interaction, and technology transfer.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.