REU Site: Getting Students Jazzed about Research at Xavier University of Louisiana

该奖项由化学部门支持，并得到生物基础设施部门，HBCU-UP计划和物理部的额外支持，该奖项由路易斯安那州泽维尔大学的凯瑟琳·m·摩根领导，用于本科生研究经验（REU）网站。该奖项将在三年的时间里，每年夏天为八名学生提供为期十周的资助。研究项目侧重于化学、生物学和材料科学领域的合作研究。样本项目包括：(1)秀丽隐杆线虫的遗传和行为研究；(2)水、废水处理新材料的开发；(3)合成纳米材料作为基因转染剂的开发；(4)新型细胞色素P450酶抑制剂的设计与研究；(5)研究已知侵染作物的真菌产生黄曲霉毒素的机制；(6)简单环氧化物和叠氮醚的结构性质研究；(7)纳米银的合成与表征；(8)生物分析微流控技术的发展；(9)选择性雌激素受体调节剂的设计、合成及生物学评价。除了接触到最前沿的研究，参加这个项目的学生还将参加实地考察、社会活动和专业发展活动。该网站的目标学生包括来自地区HBCU机构和其他缺乏研究资源的机构的学生。作为培训的一部分，年轻科学家需要接触现代研究方法和工具。这个REU网站旨在为大量学生提供实用的，动手的研究培训，这些学生可能在他们的家庭机构没有这种机会。学生们将在泽维尔从事的跨学科项目是跨学科工作的优秀范例，这些跨学科工作越来越成为现代实验室研究最富有成果的典型途径。在这里参与研究的学生将为读研做好充分准备，并最终成为国家技术劳动力的一部分。

This award supported by the Chemistry Division, with additional support from: the Division of Biological Infrastructure, the HBCU-UP Program, and the Physics Division is for a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) site led by Kathleen M. Morgan at Xavier University of Louisiana. The award will support eight students per summer in a ten week program, over three years. The research projects focus on collaborative research in chemistry, biology and materials science. Sample projects include: (1) genetic and behavioral studies of the nematode C. elegans; (2) the development of new materials for water and wastewater treatment; (3) the development of synthetic nanomaterials as gene transfection agents; (4) the design and study of new inhibitors for Cytochrome P450 enzymes; (5) the study of the mechanisms of aflatoxin production in fungi which are known to infect crops; (6) structure-property investigations of simple epoxides and aziridines; (7) the synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles; (8) the development of microfluidic methods for bioanalytical applications; and (9) the design, synthesis and biological evaluation of selective estrogen receptor modulators. Besides being exposed to cutting-edge research, the students participating in this program will participate in site visits, social activities, and professional development activities. Students targeted for the proposed site include students from regional HBCU institutions and other institutions with lack of resources for research.Young scientists need exposure to modern research methods and tools as part of their training. This REU site aims to provide practical, hands-on research training to a significant number of students who might not have this opportunity at their home institution. The interdisciplinary projects that the students will work on while at Xavier, are excellent examples of the kinds of cross-disciplinary work that is becoming more and more typical of the most fruitful avenues for modern laboratory research. Students participating in research at this site will be well-prepared for graduate school, and eventual employment as part of the country's technical workforce.