REU Site: Developing entrepreneurs in energy storage, catalysis, and biofuels

这个更新的本科生研究经验（REU）网站：在路易斯安那州立大学（LSU）开发储能、催化和生物燃料领域的企业家，每年将吸引传统上在STEM领域代表性不足的本科生参与能源相关研究，重点是创新，特别强调创业精神。其目标是让未来的科学家和工程师了解基础科学的进步如何通过学术实验室、工业和技术初创企业转化为实践的机制。REU项目的研究重点将围绕一个共同的能源主题，包括能源储存、催化和生物燃料等子主题。路易斯安那州立大学在能源研究方面有着悠久的历史，从早期的石油和天然气处理工作到目前在催化、生物燃料和能源储存方面的工作。路易斯安那州立大学位于石化国家的心脏地带，与世界上许多顶级石油和化工公司建立了合作关系。来自其中几家公司的博士工程师将指导REU学生了解高质量研究在工业中的重要性以及可用的职业类型。为期10周的暑期课程将为REU参与者提供世界级的动手能源相关研究经验，并为他们攻读研究生科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）学位做好准备。除了使学生成为能源储存、催化和生物燃料领域的独立研究人员外，该REU最独特的方面将是培养学生创业和工业技术发展的基础知识。每周的研讨会、实地考察和讲习班为学生提供研究技能发展和职业发展主题，如道德、专利和知识产权。学生们还将从成功创办创业公司的教师和来自路易斯安那州立大学创新园的导师那里获得创业方面的直接指导。此外，路易斯安那州立大学是路易斯安那商业和技术中心（LBTC）的所在地，这是一个世界级的技术和小企业孵化器。LBTC目前有36家由LSU学生创立的公司，这些公司总共雇佣了150多名员工，迄今为止筹集了超过500万美元的资金。LBTC将举办一个讲习班，培训REU学生了解成功创业的关键以及如何将想法付诸实践。这些优秀的培训机会以及从事尖端能源研究项目的机会，肯定会激励更多的学生参加研究生院，以获得从事创新职业所需的工具。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。

This renewal Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site: Developing entrepreneurs in energy storage, catalysis and biofuels, at Louisiana State University (LSU), will annually engage undergraduate students traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields in energy related research with a focus on innovation and a special emphasis on entrepreneurship. The goal is to expose future scientists and engineers to the mechanisms whereby advances in basic science are transitioned to practice via academic labs, industry and technology start-ups. The research focus of the REU program will be structured around a common energy theme with sub-topics including energy storage, catalysis, and biofuels. LSU has a strong history in energy research, from early work in oil and gas processing to current work in catalysis, biofuels, and energy storage. LSU is located in the heart of petrochemical country and has developed relationships with many of the top petroleum and chemical companies in the world. PhD engineers from several of these companies will mentor the REU students on the importance of high quality research in industry and the types of careers available. The 10-week summer program will provide REU participants with experience in world-class hands-on energy related research and will prepare them to pursue graduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees. In addition to enabling students to become independent researchers in the fields of energy storage, catalysis, and biofuels, the most unique aspect of this REU will be the training of students in the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and industrial technology development. Weekly seminars, field trips, and workshops provide students with research skill development and professional development topics such as ethics, patents, and intellectual property. Students will also receive direct mentoring on entrepreneurship from faculty who have successfully launched start-up companies and mentors from the LSU Innovation Park. Additionally, LSU is home to the Louisiana Business and Technology Center (LBTC), a world class technology and small business incubator. The LBTC currently has 36 companies founded by LSU students and collectively those companies employ 150+ people and have over $5,000,000 in capital raised to date. The LBTC will host a workshop to train the REU students on the keys to successful entrepreneurship and what it takes to get an idea into practice. These excellent training opportunities along with the chance to work on cutting edge energy research projects will certainly inspire more students to attend graduate school to have the tools necessary for a career in innovation.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.