IGERT: Molecular Engineering of Microdevices (MEMD)

近年来，对具有高精度特征的非硅微型器件的需求迅速增长。与此同时，这些装置的商业化受到对新型分子工程和小型化技术的巨大需求的阻碍。进步需要工程师、化学家、物理学家和生物学家之间高度跨学科的合作。俄勒冈州立大学的四个中心已经组织了一个中心间IGERT计划，将促进新制造技术所需的广泛专业知识结合起来。这些技术将通过将分子自组装与聚合物和陶瓷材料的微/纳米制造相结合来实现。一个统一的分子工程协议将开发和appliyed在两个主要领域的设备的设计，制造和测试：（a）聚合物和陶瓷为基础的生物医学设备（即BioMEMS），和（B）高性能陶瓷传感器，传感器阵列，和膜的运输和环境应用。虽然在这四个中心之间进行了一些中心间研究项目，但它们都是孤立的案例，范围有限。据我们所知，这种集成的技术广度和复杂性以前从未尝试过这种规模。一个自然的结果将是发展一个基础广泛的，跨中心的教育计划。我们的愿景是将最新的研究进展整合到实用的学生课程中，并向博士生传授必要的多学科技能和全球意识，以促进对社会的更广泛影响。中心间教育和培训计划的关键要素包括四到五个新的MEMD课程（多用途研讨会课程，概述课程，传感器技术，纳米技术和/或膜科学与技术）;跨学科课程;在两个或更多中心进行专门研究;行业实习和国家实验室实习;参加国家和国际会议;对美国和国外研究实验室的图尔斯参观和访问;以及基于网络的传播计划。在颁发30个IGERT-MEMD研究金时，将强调征聘和留住少数群体和妇女。每个机构将致力于提供必要的基础设施，包括适当的实验室和/或洁净室和公共空间和设备共享，以支持外部用户社区。IGERT是一个NSF范围内的计划，旨在应对教育美国博士的挑战。科学家和工程师与多学科背景和技术，专业和个人技能所需的未来的职业需求。该计划旨在通过建立创新的研究生教育和培训新模式，在超越传统学科界限的合作研究的肥沃环境中促进研究生教育的文化变革。在该计划的第五年，该奖项将颁发给21个机构，这些机构的计划共同跨越了NSF支持的科学和工程领域。

In recent years the demand has been growing rapidly for non-silicon miniature devices with highly-precise features. At the same time, commercialization of these devices is hindered by a great need for novel molecular engineering and miniaturization techniques. Progress will require highly interdisciplinary collaboration between engineers, chemists, physicists, and biologists. Four centers at OSU have organized an inter-center IGERT program uniting the broad range of expertise necessary to foster new manufacturing technologies. These technologies will be achieved by integrating molecular self-assembly with micro/nano-manufacturing of polymeric and ceramic materials. A unifying molecular engineering protocol will be developed and applyed to the design, fabrication, and testing of devices in two major areas: (a) polymer- and ceramic-based biomedical devices (i.e. BioMEMS), and (b) high performance ceramic sensors, sensor arrays, and membranes for transportation and environmental applications. Although a few inter-center research projects have been conducted among these four centers, they are isolated cases having limited scope. The technical breadth and complexity of this integration, to our knowledge, has not been previously attempted on this scale. A natural outgrowth will be the development of a broad-based, cross-center educational program. The vision is to integrate the latest research developments into a practical student curriculum, and to impart to doctoral students the necessary multidisciplinary skills and global awareness needed to catalyze broader impacts on society. The key elements of the inter-center education and training program include four to five new MEMD courses (multipurpose seminar course, overview course, sensor technology, nanotechnology and/or membrane science and technology); an interdisciplinary curriculum; dedicated research at two or more centers; industry internships and internships at national laboratories; travel to national and international meetings; tours and visits to research labs in the U.S. and abroad; and a web-based dissemination plan. The recruitment and retention of minorities and women will be emphasized in the award of thirty IGERT-MEMD fellowships. Each institution will commit to providing the necessary infrastructure, including appropriate laboratory and/or clean room and common space and sharing of equipment, in support of an external user community.IGERT is an NSF-wide program intended to meet the challenges of educating U.S. Ph.D. scientists and engineers with the multidisciplinary backgrounds and the technical, professional, and personal skills needed for the career demands of the future. The program is intended to catalyze a cultural change in graduate education by establishing innovative new models for graduate education and training in a fertile environment for collaborative research that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries. In the fifth year of the program, awards are being made to twenty-one institutions for programs that collectively span the areas of science and engineering supported by NSF.