REU Site: Engineering and Nanoscience of Materials and Device Applications in Biotechnology and Medicine

中佛罗里达大学本科生研究经验（REU）网站旨在促进多学科工程研究，以开发应用于生物技术和医学的新材料和设备。医疗技术不断进步，经常以颠覆性的速度跟上人口的现有和新的需求。监测人类健康、改进诊断、改善疾病期间和之后的生活质量，以及治疗和预防当前和新发展的疾病，正在推动对更好的工具和疗法的需求。这是一个新兴市场，随着研究成果不断从实验室转移到现场，对训练有素的人员有很大的需求。这个REU网站汇集了工程、计算机科学、光子学研究、化学和生物化学以及纳米科学和技术领域的多学科团队，专注于这些领域。REU参与者的经验包括使用可植入传感器远程监测生理参数，使用生物标志物尽早检测疾病以及智能治疗工具等主题的研究项目。该计划还包括丰富活动，包括专业发展机会，以建立与研究和职业生活相关的技能。社会活动将促进在REU现场、工业现场访问和研究展示建立联系和网络。中佛罗里达大学是一所西班牙裔服务机构。这个REU网站非常强调多样性和包容性，以扩大来自代表性不足群体的学生以及来自研究机会有限的大学和主要本科院校（PUI）的学生参与STEM研究活动。三维微电极体外芯片，电子生物传感器，伤口愈合贴片，片上等离子体生物传感器，以及用于研究生物分子-底物相互作用和减少脊椎动物实验的软件工程，是REU网站研究的前沿例子。研究是基于假设的，REU的参与者被指导独立和假设制定技能，同时发展与研究方法，工具，分析和传播他们工作的实践专业知识。这个REU网站每年吸引参与者10周，我们强调对传统上代表性不足的工程群体的学生，以及来自研究机会有限的大学和主要本科机构（PUI）的学生产生更广泛的影响。除了研究之外，学生还将了解工程在生物医学技术和医学中的作用，接受负责任的研究行为方面的培训，并通过研究、写作计划和社区外展，培养学生在跨学科环境中的沟通技巧。REU的参与者代表了新一代的未来工程师和科学家，他们将引领生物技术和医学应用的先进材料和技术的发展。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。

The University of Central Florida’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site is aimed at fostering multidisciplinary engineering research towards developing new materials and devices for application in biotechnology and medicine. Medical technology keeps advancing, often at a disruptive pace to keep up with the existing and new needs of the population. Monitoring human health, improved diagnostics, improvement of quality of life during and after illness, and treatment and prevention of current and newly developing diseases are driving demand for better tools and therapies. This is an emerging market with large demand for trained personnel as research findings continue to move from laboratory to the field. This REU site brings together engineering, computer science, photonics research, chemistry and biochemistry, and nanoscience and technology fields in multidisciplinary teams focused around these areas. Experiences for the REU participants include research projects in topics such as remote monitoring of physiological parameters using implantable sensors, as early as possible disease detection using biomarkers, and smart therapeutic tools. This program also includes enrichment activities including professional development opportunities to build skill sets relevant to research and to professional life. Social activities will facilitate developing bonds and networking at the REU site, industry site visits, and a research showcase. The University of Central Florida is a Hispanic Serving Institution. This REU site has a strong emphasis on diversity and inclusion to broaden participation by students from underrepresented groups and by students from colleges with limited research opportunities and primarily undergraduate institutions (PUI) in STEM research activities. 3D microelectrode in vitro chips, electronic biosensors, wound healing patches, on-chip plasmonic biosensors, and software engineering for study of biomolecule-substrate interactions and for reduction of vertebrate animal testing are cutting edge examples of research at the REU site. The research is hypothesis based and REU participants are mentored to independence and hypothesis formulating skills, while developing hands-on expertise with research methods, tools, analysis and dissemination of their work. This REU site engages participants 10 weeks per year, and we emphasize broader impacts on students from traditionally underrepresented groups in engineering, and on students from colleges with limited research opportunities and primarily undergraduate institutions (PUI). In addition to research, students are also made aware of the role of engineering in biomedical technology and medicine, receive training in responsible conduct of research, and develop communication skills of students in interdisciplinary environment, through research, our writing program and community outreach. REU participants represent a new generation of future engineers and scientists that will lead the way in the development of advanced materials and technologies for application in biotechnology and medicine.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.