REU Site: Research in Materials for Energy Applications

由材料研究部资助，中央佛罗里达大学，一个公共的西班牙裔服务机构（HSI），将主办一个REU网站，将提供研究经验和培训，以跨学科项目的10名本科生在新材料的能源应用的主题。我们的目标是招募本科生，否则他们可能不会考虑研究生院的前景，以尖端的研究机会，这将对他们的职业道路产生持久的影响。拟议的十周强化研究计划将培养学生过渡到研究生院或行业所需的技能。学生还将受益于批判性思维，数据科学和机器学习，道德和科学诚信，书面研究交流，科学演示（海报和口头），研究假设的制定以及研究问题的框架与该领域关键文献的知情知识的培训。教师导师，代表物理，化学，材料科学与工程，环境工程部门，有广泛的研究组合，包括协作努力和指导本科生的经验的良好记录。该计划将包括（i）一个精简的5天短期课程，向参与者介绍研究项目的基础知识，（ii）关于数据科学和机器学习的短期课程，（iii）为期10周的研究经验，（iv）所有学生和导师每周开会讨论研究进展，（v）道德研讨会，（vi）技术写作研讨会，㈦关于职业机会的小组讨论，㈧关于研究生院准备的讲习班，㈨一次工业现场访问，㈩促进社区建设的社会活动。参与者将在逗留结束时在海报会议上向UCF社区展示他们的结果。技术总结REU学生将获得大量的实践研究经验，在各种实验和计算主题下，及时发现新材料用于能源应用，具有强大的环境，经济和社会影响的潜力。这些项目分为三大类：1）催化，光化学和量子信息科学材料的发现; 2）先进的合成和表征技术; 3）计算建模，模拟和数据挖掘应用。具体的研究方向包括单原子催化剂、纳米结构电催化剂、拓扑量子材料、二维材料和透明导电薄膜。UCF的研究环境为发展强大的“队列”经验奠定了良好的基础。具体而言，研究导师是UCF可再生能源和化学转化（REACT）集群的成员，其基础在于研究导师和参与学生之间强大的跨学科合作和互动。拟议中的REU计划将有助于培养一支高素质的年轻科学家队伍。该计划将提供机会，以本科生的多元化群体，包括来自代表性不足的少数民族（URM）群体和那些从机构与有限的研究机会的个人。学生将在全国范围内招募，包括历史上的黑人学院和大学（HBCU），以及通过参与美国物理学会的桥梁项目（UCF是其创始地）的HSI。该奖项反映了NSF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。

Non-technical summaryFunded by the Division of Materials Research, the University of Central Florida, a public Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), will host a REU site that will provide research experiences and training to ten undergraduate students in interdisciplinary projects within the theme of novel materials for energy applications. The goal is to recruit undergraduates, who might not otherwise consider the prospects of graduate school, to cutting-edge research opportunities that will have a lasting impact on their career paths. The proposed ten-week intensive research program will develop skills necessary for students to transition to graduate school or industry. Students will also benefit from training in critical thinking, data science and machine learning, ethics and scientific integrity, written research communication, scientific presentations (poster and oral), formulation of research hypotheses, and framing of research questions with informed knowledge of key literature in the field. The faculty mentors, representing Physics, Chemistry, Material Science and Engineering, and Environmental Engineering departments, have extensive research portfolios including a strong record of collaborative efforts and experience in mentoring undergraduate students. The program will include (i) a streamlined 5-day short course to introduce participants to the basics of the research projects, (ii) a short course on data science and machine learning, (iii) a 10-week research experience, (iv) a weekly meeting for all students and mentors to discuss research progress, (v) a workshop on ethics, (vi) a workshop on technical writing, (vii) panel discussions on career opportunities, (viii) a workshop on graduate school preparation (ix) one industrial site visit, and (x) social events to foster community building. The participants will present their results to the UCF community in a poster session at the end of their stay. An external evaluator will assess the program annually.Technical summaryThe REU students will receive substantive, hands-on research experience on a variety of experimental and computational topics under the timely theme of discovery of novel materials for energy applications which have the potential for strong environmental, economic, and societal impact. The projects are grouped into three broad categories: 1) Discovery of materials for catalysis, photovoltaics, and quantum information science; 2) Advanced synthesis and characterization techniques; 3) computational modeling, simulation, and data mining applications. Some examples of specific research directions include single atom catalysts, nanostructured electrocatalysts, topological quantum materials, two-dimensional materials, and transparent conducting thin films. The research environment at UCF presents an excellent foundation for development of a strong “cohort” experience. Specifically, the research mentors are members of the Renewable Energy and Chemical Transformations (REACT) cluster at UCF whose foundation lies at strong interdisciplinary collaboration and interaction between research mentors as well as participating students. The proposed REU program will help prepare a work force of highly qualified young scientists. This program will provide opportunities to a diverse group of undergraduates, including individuals from underrepresented minority (URM) groups and those from institutions with limited research opportunities. Students will be recruited nationwide, including historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and HSIs through engagement also of the Bridge Program of the American Physical Society for which UCF is a founding site.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.