REU Site: Lasers and Optics

该项目由已建立的激励竞争研究计划(EPSCoR)和国防部与NSF REU计划联合资助。内布拉斯加州-林肯大学(UNL)的本科生研究经历(REU)网站“激光和光学”提供物理、化学和工程方面的研究，重点是激光和光学的使用。在2021年至2023年期间，每年夏天，8名REU参与者将进行为期10周的第一手研究体验。学生将在教员的直接指导下进行研究，教员是各自领域的知名专家。招聘的重点是物理、化学和工程领域代表性不足的群体，以及科研资源不足的学术机构。除了在最先进的实验室进行研究外，该计划还包括学生专业发展和社区推广。该网站的独特之处在于，将选择合适的学生项目为普通观众创建虚拟或增强现实演示，以刺激公众对科学和技术的参与。REU学生将获得的第一手研究经验将为他们的科学生涯做好准备，并增强国家在全球范围内的竞争力。这个REU网站特别关注激光和光学支持的研究，提供物理、化学和工程方面的研究。一个由八名科学专家组成的团队将在广泛的主题研究项目中指导学生。这包括激光驱动的多光纤纳米尖端电子源的尖端研究、飞秒分子动力学成像、飞秒X射线脉冲的产生、光谱学、用于光子和光学应用的超材料、激光脉冲在液体中的传播、可编程空间光调制以及飞秒激光表面处理。学生们还将创建虚拟和增强现实项目。这为他们为未来使用这些新工具进行研究和提供数据做好了准备，从而有助于提高国家科学工作者的全球竞争力。由REU学生共同撰写的出版物、他们的海报演示文稿和他们的演讲将促进和传播这一广泛研究和应用领域的知识。该项目还包括专业准备和发展研讨会，包括为研究生院做准备。这一奖项反映了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。

This project is jointly funded by the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) and the Department of Defense in partnership with the NSF REU program.The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site "Lasers and Optics" at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln (UNL) offers research in physics, chemistry, and engineering, with a specific focus on the use of lasers and optics. Each summer in the period of 2021–2023, eight REU participants will have a 10-week, first-hand research experience. Students will conduct research under the direct supervision of faculty who are established experts in their fields. Recruitment focuses on underrepresented groups in physics, chemistry, and engineering and on academic institutions with insufficient scientific research resources. In addition to research in state-of-the-art laboratories, the program includes student professional development and community outreach. Unique to this site, suitable student projects will be selected to create virtual or augmented reality presentations for a general audience to stimulate public engagement with science and technology. The first-hand research experience the REU students will have gained will prepare them for scientific careers and strengthen the nation's competitiveness on a global scale. With a specific focus on research supported by lasers and optics, this REU Site offers research in physics, chemistry, and engineering. A team of eight scientific experts will mentor students in a broad range of topical research projects. This includes cutting-edge research with laser-driven multi-fiber nanotip electron sources, imaging of femtosecond molecular dynamics, generation of femtosecond X-ray pulses, spectroscopy, metamaterials for photonic and optical applications, the propagation of laser pulses in liquids, programmable spatial light modulation, and femtosecond laser surface processing. Students will also create virtual and augmented reality projects. This prepares them for a future in which these novel tools will be used to do research and present data and thus contribute to the national scientific workforce's global competitiveness. Publications co-authored by REU students, their poster presentations, and their talks will advance and spread knowledge in this broad field of research and applications. The project also includes workshops for professional preparation and development, including preparation for graduate school.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.