REU Site: Materials for Future Computing

REU 站点：未来计算材料

• 批准号: 2244316
• 负责人: Vincent Sokalski
• 金额: $ 37.75万
• 依托单位: Carnegie-Mellon University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-04-01 至 2026-03-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2244316&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: REU; Site; Materials; Future; Computing

Non-Technical Summary:Semiconductors, like silicon, are fascinating materials with unique electrical properties on which modern computer chips are fabricated before being incorporated into products like computers, smartphones, medical devices, and automobiles. However, the vast majority of computer chip manufacturing currently takes place outside of the United States, which presents significant economic and cyber security concerns. Moreover, advancements in new materials are driving innovations in computing technologies, which will drive advancements in next-generation computing devices. The Materials Science and Engineering Department at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) will host a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site titled “Materials for Future Computing” that supports the development of an engaged and qualified workforce for the semiconductor industry. Working with local colleges and minority serving institutions (MSIs), the site welcomes students from diverse backgrounds who have not historically had as many opportunities to conduct scientific research. Participants take a hands-on approach to learning about the structure and properties of electronic materials as well as the fundamentals of nanofabrication processes relevant to the computer chip industry. The experience incorporates field trips to local companies and direct use of the state-of-the-art CMU Materials Characterization and Nanofabrication facilities. Students attend regular seminars to learn about best practices in conducting research and are paired with a research mentor to work on an individual research project, which is communicated in a final closing ceremony. The program perpetually evaluates the student experience including outcomes beyond the 10-week period so that the long-term goals of the program are tracked.Technical Summary:The Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) site – Materials for Future Computing - exposes students to state of the art facilities for nanofabrication and advanced structural characterization of materials. As highlighted in the SRC 2020 Decadal Plan for Semiconductors, energy consumed from computation could soon be comparable to global energy production. Thus, the discovery, fabrication, and characterization of new materials is paramount to improving the energy-efficiency of modern computers. The Materials for Future Computing experience leverages existing CMU facilities including the Carnegie Mellon nanofabrication facility (CMNF) and Materials Characterization Facility (MCF). Students are paired with a faculty research mentor where they will conduct research on an individual project related to electronic materials. In addition to the individual research projects, students are offered a range of universal experiences including weekly tutorials related to best practices in research, weekly workshops held within MCF and CMNF including three off campus field trips, regular collegial meetings, and roundtable discussions with the PIs. A primary objective of this proposal is to expand opportunities to students who have historically not had equitable opportunities to pursue scientific research. The proposed REU site takes steps to recruit underrepresented minorities (URMs) and promote gender diversity through outreach to minority serving institutions (MSIs) and existing engineering professional societies. The Principal Investigators work with local colleges in the Greater Pittsburgh Area that have limited research opportunities and do not offer graduate school programs including 2-year community colleges. The long-term impact of this site is to broaden the participation of students in engineering and to strengthen research and development in the semiconductor industry in the United States.This Site is supported in part by funds provided to the National Science Foundation by the Semiconductor Research Corporation.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.

非技术概述：半导体和硅一样，都是具有独特电学特性的迷人材料，现代计算机芯片在被整合到计算机、智能手机、医疗器械和汽车等产品之前就是在这种材料上制造的。然而，目前绝大多数计算机芯片制造都是在美国以外进行的，这带来了重大的经济和网络安全问题。此外，新材料的进步正在推动计算技术的创新，这将推动下一代计算设备的进步。卡内基梅隆大学(CMU)材料科学与工程系将举办一个名为“面向未来计算的材料”的本科生研究体验(REU)网站，该网站旨在为半导体行业培养一支专业且合格的劳动力队伍。该网站与当地大学和少数民族服务机构(MSI)合作，欢迎来自不同背景的学生，他们在历史上没有那么多机会进行科学研究。学员以实践的方式学习电子材料的结构和性能，以及与计算机芯片行业相关的纳米制造工艺的基本原理。该体验包括实地考察当地公司，并直接使用最先进的CMU材料表征和纳米制造设施。学生定期参加研讨会，了解进行研究的最佳实践，并与研究导师配对进行个人研究项目，该项目在最后的闭幕式上进行交流。该计划不断评估学生的体验，包括10周后的结果，以便跟踪该计划的长期目标。技术总结：本科生研究体验(REU)网站-用于未来计算的材料-向学生展示最先进的纳米制造设施和先进的材料结构表征。正如SRC 2020半导体十年计划中强调的那样，计算消耗的能源可能很快就会与全球能源生产相当。因此，新材料的发现、制造和表征对提高现代计算机的能效至关重要。面向未来计算的材料体验利用了现有的CMU设施，包括卡内基梅隆纳米制造设施(CMNF)和材料表征设施(MCF)。学生将与一名教师研究导师配对，在那里他们将就与电子材料有关的个人项目进行研究。除了个人研究项目外，学生还可以获得一系列普遍的经验，包括每周与研究最佳实践相关的教程，在MCF和CMNF内举办的每周研讨会，包括三次校外实地考察，定期举行的大学会议，以及与私人投资机构的圆桌会议。这项提议的一个主要目标是扩大那些历来没有公平机会从事科学研究的学生的机会。拟议的REU网站采取步骤招募代表性不足的少数群体(URM)，并通过接触少数群体服务机构(MSI)和现有的工程专业学会来促进性别多样性。首席调查人员与大匹兹堡地区的当地大学合作，这些大学的研究机会有限，不提供包括两年制社区大学在内的研究生院课程。该网站的长期影响是扩大学生对工程的参与，并加强美国半导体行业的研究和开发。该网站的部分支持来自半导体研究公司向国家科学基金会提供的资金。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。