REU Site: Research in Materials for Energy Applications

由中佛罗里达大学材料研究部资助，一个公共西班牙裔服务机构（HSI）将主办一个REU网站，该网站将为10名本科生提供研究经验和培训，研究能源应用新材料主题的跨学科项目。其目标是招募本科生，否则他们可能不会考虑读研的前景，以获得对他们的职业道路产生持久影响的前沿研究机会。拟议的为期十周的密集研究项目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、伦理和科学诚信、书面研究交流、科学报告（海报和口头）、研究假设的制定以及研究问题的框架等方面的培训，并了解该领域的关键文献。教师导师代表物理系、化学系、材料科学与工程系和环境工程系，他们有着广泛的研究成果，包括合作努力的良好记录和指导本科生的经验。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）一个数据科学和机器学习的短期课程，（iii）一个为期10周的研究经验，（iv）所有学生和导师讨论研究进展的每周会议，(v)一个道德研讨会，（vi）一个技术写作研讨会，（vii）关于职业机会的小组讨论，（viii）一个研究生院准备研讨会（ix）一个工业现场参观，(x)促进社区建设的社会活动。参与者将在访问结束时以海报形式向UCF社区展示他们的研究结果。外部评估人员将每年对该计划进行评估。技术总结REU的学生将在发现具有强大环境，经济和社会影响潜力的能源应用新材料的及时主题下，获得各种实验和计算主题的实质性实践研究经验。这些项目分为三大类：1)发现用于催化、光伏和量子信息科学的材料；2)先进的合成和表征技术；3)计算建模、仿真和数据挖掘应用。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、透明导电薄膜等。UCF的研究环境为发展强大的“队列”体验提供了良好的基础。具体来说，研究导师是UCF可再生能源和化学转化（REACT）集群的成员，其基础在于强大的跨学科合作和研究导师以及参与学生之间的互动。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。该计划将为不同群体的本科生提供机会，包括来自代表性不足的少数民族（URM）群体的个人和来自研究机会有限的机构的个人。学生将在全国范围内招募，包括历史上的黑人学院和大学（HBCUs），以及通过参与美国物理学会的桥梁计划（UCF是该协会的创始网站）的hsi。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识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.