NRT-QISE: Bridging the Gap Between 2D Quantum Materials and Engineering in STEM Education

二维量子材料作为具有新性质和潜在应用的材料的孵化器，从量子计算到可再生能源，其重要性正在迅速增长。然而，这个国家缺乏训练有素的劳动力，他们足够有资格开发所产生的技术并将其商业化。这项授予阿肯色大学的国家科学基金会研究培训(NRT)奖将为STEM学生提供一种新的、跨学科的和可持续的二维量子材料和器件(2D-QMaD)教育体验，通过一种全面的方法来培养未来的科学家和工程师，包括发展技术知识和个人/专业“软技能”。该项目将培训57(57)名硕士和博士生，其中包括27(27)名资助学员。这将是阿肯色大学跨学科材料科学与工程(MSen)研究生项目和MonArk Quantum Foundry(蒙大拿州立大学和阿肯色大学之间由NSF资助的合作伙伴关系，为开发2D材料和设备开发类似铸造厂的环境)之间的直接合作。这项工作在自然科学、物理、电气工程以及化学、机械工程和计算机工程等学科之间架起了桥梁。这个实习生计划的独特指导原则可以主要分解为几个关键部分。它们是：a)通过必要的研讨会课程纳入专业实践和软技能培训；b)创建和利用由高水平博士生领导和指导的受行业启发的群体和小组；c)大力强调创业和技术商业化教育。这些专业技能通过D)由来自11个支持部门和3所学校/学院的50多名教员开发和教授的核心选修课程，以及E)同一教员的综合研究反馈到A部分，借出用于实践软技能培训的材料来增强。学员将有机会学习和反馈广泛不同的研究主题和个人观点。目标是在快速增长的2D量子材料领域培养成为科学、工程和创业之间的桥梁的实习生。学员的拟议课程(除材料核心课程外，还包括：量子力学；量子计算；量子传输；材料表征；和机器学习)将促进量子材料领域的研究进展，更具体地说是2D量子材料，同时为学员提供未来发现所需的技能。该项目将在MSEN研究生课程中创建一个新的永久学习中心，2D-QMaD。NSF研究培训(NRT)计划旨在鼓励为STEM研究生教育培训开发和实施大胆的、具有潜在变革意义的新模式。该计划致力于通过创新的、基于证据的、与不断变化的劳动力和研究需求保持一致的综合培训模式，在高度优先的跨学科或趋同的研究领域对STEM研究生进行有效的培训。 该项目由国家创新研究中心和现有的激励竞争研究计划共同资助。 这一奖项反映了国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力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 convergent field of Two-Dimensional Quantum Materials is rapidly growing in importance as an incubator for materials with new properties and potential applications from quantum computing to renewable energy. However, there is shortage of trained workforce in the nation that is sufficiently qualified to develop and commercialize the resulting technologies. This National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) award to the University of Arkansas will provide a new, interdisciplinary, and sustainable educational experience in Two-Dimensional Quantum Materials and Devices (2D-QMaD) for STEM students through a holistic approach to graduate education of future scientists and engineers, including development of both technical knowledge and personal/professional “soft skills”. The project will train fifty-seven (57) masters and doctoral students, including twenty-seven (27) funded trainees. This will be in direct partnership between the University of Arkansas’s interdisciplinary Materials Science and Engineering (MSEN) graduate program and the MonArk Quantum Foundry (an NSF funded partnership between Montana State University and the University of Arkansas to develop a foundry-like environment for the development of 2D materials and devices.) This work inherently bridges the disciplines of MSEN, Physics, Electrical Engineering, as well as Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, and Computer Engineering.The unique guiding principles of this traineeship program can primarily be broken down into several key components. These are: A) inclusion of professional practice and soft-skills training via the required seminar courses; B) creation and utilization of industry inspired cohorts and small teams led and mentored by upper-level doctoral students; and C) strong emphasis on education in entrepreneurship and commercialization of technology. These professional skills are enhanced by D) a core and elective curriculum developed and taught by over 50 faculty from 11 supporting departments and three schools/colleges, with E) integrated research by the same faculty that feeds back into component A by lending material for practicing the soft-skills training. The trainees will have the opportunity to learn and give feedback to widely varying research topics and individual points of view. The goal is to cultivate trainees who become the bridge between science, engineering, and entrepreneurship within the rapidly growing field of 2D quantum materials. The proposed curriculum for the trainees (including: quantum mechanics; quantum computing; quantum transport; materials characterization; and machine learning, in addition to the materials core courses) will facilitate research progress in the area of quantum materials and more specifically in 2D quantum materials, while giving the trainees the required skills to make future discoveries. This project will create a new permanent concentration of study, 2D-QMaD, within the MSEN graduate program.The NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) Program is designed to encourage the development and implementation of bold, new potentially transformative models for STEM graduate education training. The program is dedicated to effective training of STEM graduate students in high priority interdisciplinary or convergent research areas through comprehensive traineeship models that are innovative, evidence-based, and aligned with changing workforce and research needs. This project is jointly funded by NRT and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).  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.