IGERT: Atomic and Molecular Imaging of Interfaces/Defects in Electronic, Spintronic, and Organic/Inorganic Materials

界面和缺陷在决定现代电子产品性能中起着最重要的作用。纳米科学和技术的快速发展进一步放大了界面/缺陷的关键作用，因为在纳米结构中，界面和缺陷的体积比随着尺寸的减小而显著增加。这项IGERT建议建立了一个关于纳米结构材料界面/缺陷的原子和分子成像的跨学科博士培训计划。该项目将纳米结构制造、原子尺度表征和材料理论整合到面向研究生的全面教育和研究培训计划中，该计划包括德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校自然科学和工程学院的六个不同系。基本的研究目标是获得原子水平的理解，了解界面和缺陷如何影响纳米电子、自旋电子和有机/无机材料的局部电子结构和功能，以及它们如何影响基于这些材料的器件的性能。接受这一研究项目培训的学生将在解决重要科学问题的视角方面获得极大的广度，这是未来一代纳米科学和技术领导者的关键和必要特征。主要的教育和培训特点包括开发纳米科学和技术核心课程，并无缝过渡到跨学科研究计划。将通过在高科技行业和国家实验室的实习为学生提供职业发展机会。社区教育推广计划旨在加强从学前班到高中的所有级别的纳米科学教育。此外，通过与德克萨斯大学国际纳米技术和先进材料中心(ICNAM)合作，该计划旨在增加代表不足的群体，特别是拉美裔学生在研究生教育中的参与。IGERT是一个NSF范围内的项目，旨在应对培养具有跨学科背景、所选学科的深厚知识以及满足未来职业需求所需的技术、专业和个人技能的美国博士科学家和工程师的挑战。该项目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，催化研究生教育的文化变革。

Interfaces and defects have played the most important roles in determining the performance of modern electronics. The rapid progress of nanoscience and technology further amplifies the critical roles of interfaces/defects since, in nanostructures, the volume ratio of interfaces and defects grows significantly with the size reduction. This IGERT proposal establishes an interdisciplinary doctoral training program on Atomic and Molecular Imaging of Interfaces/defects in Nanostructured Materials. This program integrates nanostructure fabrications, atomic scale characterizations, and materials theory into a comprehensive education and research training program for graduate students, including six different departments in the colleges of Natural Sciences and Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. The underlying research goal is to obtain atomic level understanding of how interfaces and defects impact the local electronic structure and functionality of nanoscale electronic, spintronic, and organic/inorganic materials, and how they impact the performance of devices based on these materials. Students trained in this research program will be provided great breadth in their perspectives toward solving important scientific problems, a key and necessary characteristic for the future generation of leaders in nanoscience and technology. The key education and training features include development of a nanoscience and technology core curriculum with a seamless transition to interdisciplinary research programs. Career development opportunities for students will be provided through internships at high-tech industry and national labs. The community educational outreach program is aimed at enhancing nanoscience education at all levels, from pre-K to high school. In addition, by partnering with the International Center for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (ICNAM) at the University of Texas, this program is aimed at increasing the participation of under-representated groups, especially Hispanic students, in graduate education. IGERT is an NSF-wide program intended to meet the challenges of educating U.S. Ph.D. scientists and engineers with the interdisciplinary background, deep knowledge in a chosen discipline, 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.