REU Site: Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Chemical Assembly at the University of Nebraska

该奖项的全部或部分资金来自《2021年美国救援计划法案》(公法117-2)。位于内布拉斯加州林肯的内布拉斯加州-林肯大学的本科生研究体验(REU)SITE奖，在2022-2024年夏季期间支持10名学生在10周内进行培训，为本科生提供在生物化学、化学、化学生物学、化学教育研究和化学工程领域开展原创研究项目的机会。为了创造一个欢迎和包容的环境，每个参与者都被分配了一名研究生导师，他们几乎每天都与他们一起学习方法和文献。学员学习科学传播、化学工业的职业、研究生院的申请流程，以及如何通过出版物和演讲向各种受众传播研究成果。例如，参与者将花时间向经济困难高中生向上绑定数学科学(UBMS)项目的参与者描述他们的研究，帮助激励高中生攻读与科学相关的学位，宣传这个REU网站的影响。为了扩大对STEM的参与，该计划支持来自代表性不足群体的妇女和学生。通过完成这一课程，学生将发展复杂的分析和沟通技能，并对科学和工程职业有更深的了解。该REU网站提供了一系列化学组装方面的研究项目，包括神经肽-受体相互作用，二氧化碳催化氢化，RNA折叠和配体结合，卤化物钙钛矿半导体的激光光谱，药物-蛋白质相互作用的快速分析，使用生物分子的电化学传感器，学生使用证据支持化学论点的化学教育研究，适应性表面，代谢组学，MRI造影剂的有机自由基，以及石墨烯等2D材料的合成。学生通过向包括UBMS高中生、REU其他项目的学生、研究生导师、教职员工和社交媒体上的一系列受众展示他们工作的书面、口头和图形解释来培养沟通技能。参与者进行三次实地考察，探索工业职业，了解学术界的职业，并接受负责任的研究行为培训，包括安全和作者伦理研讨会。从本网站收集的最佳实践通过在国家会议上的演讲与更广泛的REU社区分享，以更广泛地传播基于证据的、有效的方法。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。

This award is funded in whole or in part under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2). This Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site award at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, located in Lincoln, NE, supports the training of 10 students over 10 weeks during the summers of 2022-2024, offering undergraduate participants the opportunity to carry out original research projects in the areas of biochemistry, chemistry, chemical biology, chemical education research, and chemical engineering. To create a welcoming and inclusive environment, each participant is assigned a graduate student mentor who works with them on an almost daily basis to learn about the methods and literature. Participants learn about science communication, careers in the chemical industry, the graduate school application process, and how to disseminate research results through publications and presentations to a variety of audiences. For instance, participants will spend time describing their research to participants in the Upward Bound Math Science (UBMS) program for economically disadvantaged high school students, helping to inspire high school students to pursue science related degrees, propagating the impact of this REU site. In a commitment to broadening participation in STEM, this program supports women and students from underrepresented groups. By the completion of this program, students develop complex analytical and communication skills and have a deeper knowledge of science and engineering careers. This REU site offers a range of research projects in chemical assembly, including neuropeptide-receptor interactions, catalyzed hydrogenation of carbon dioxide, RNA folding and ligand binding, laser spectroscopy of halide perovskite semiconductors, rapid analysis of drug-protein interactions, electrochemical sensors using biomolecules, chemical education research into the student use of evidence to support chemical arguments, adaptive surfaces, metabolomics, organic radicals for MRI contrast agents, and the synthesis of 2D materials such as graphene. Students develop communication skills by presenting written, oral, and graphic interpretations of their work to an array of audiences including the UBMS high school students, REU students from other programs, graduate student mentors, faculty members, and on social media to reach the public. Participants take three field trips to explore industrial careers, learn about careers in academia, and are trained in the responsible conduct of research, including workshops on safety and authorship ethics. Best practices gleaned from this site are shared with the wider REU community through presentations at national meetings to disseminate evidence-based, effective methodology more widely.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.