REU Site: Advanced Functional Membranes

这个为期三年的REU网站的学术焦点是先进功能膜。REU学生将应用专业的合成、表征和建模技术来开发(1)用于高效蛋白质分离的膜，用于提高生产率和降低治疗成本；(2)纳米复合膜，用于从天然气中回收二氧化碳和化石燃料燃烧产生的排放，以减轻全球变暖的影响；(3)用于电化学能量储存和转换的膜；(4)耐污染、自清洁的膜，用于回收我们最宝贵的资源--饮用水；以及(5)具有可切换的表面特性和可控制的阻隔性能的响应膜，例如用于受控药物释放的应用。该项目将吸引本科生进行研究，旨在为重大的社会挑战提供基于薄膜的解决方案。每年暑假将有十名本科生参加。学生的身份将通过全国搜索来确定。还将在目标机构进行招聘，其中包括八所HBCU和一所女子寄宿学院。作为教育计划的一部分，学生学习膜科学的基础知识和研究项目所需的技术背景；安全实验室实践；规划、执行和交流科学研究的方法；研究的道德行为；将科学研究从实验室转移到市场的相关挑战；以及准备竞争性奖学金和研究生院申请的战略。此外，学生们将参加北美膜学会年会，了解膜科学和工程的最新研究。参与者将展示他们的工作，并使用一个新的、互动的“虚拟海报会议”平台与全球膜研究社区进行讨论，该平台将是该REU计划的独特之处。REU Site项目的毕业生将为研究生研究和富有成效的研究职业生涯做好充分准备，为社会创造巨大的机会，从提高医疗保健的质量和成本，到创造一个更清洁、更安全的环境。

The intellectual focus of this three-year REU site is Advanced Functional Membranes. REU students will apply specialized synthesis, characterization, and modeling techniques to develop (1) membranes for highly efficient protein separations that translate into increased productivity and lower cost therapeutics; (2) nanocomposite membranes for the recovery of CO2 from natural gas and emissions generated by fossil fuels combustion to lessen the impact of global warming; (3) membranes for electrochemical energy storage and conversion; (4) foul-resistant, self-cleaning membranes for the recovery of our most precious resource, potable water; and (5) responsive membranes with switchable surface properties and controllable barrier properties for applications such as controlled drug release. This program will engage undergraduate students in research aimed at providing membrane based solutions to grand societal challenges.Broader Impacts. Ten undergraduates will participate each summer. Students will be identified through a national search. Recruiting also will be done at targeted institutions that include eight HBCUs and a residential college for women. As part of the educational program, students learn the basics of membrane science and the technical background needed for their research projects; safe laboratory practice; methods on planning, executing and communicating scientific research; ethical conduct of research; challenges associated with moving scientific research from the laboratory to the market; and strategies for preparing competitive fellowship and graduate school applications. In addition, the students will attend the North American Membrane Society Annual Meeting to learn about the latest research in membrane science and engineering. Participants will present their work and engage in discussions with the global membrane research community using a new, interactive "virtual poster session" platform that will be unique to this REU program. Graduates of this REU Site program will be well prepared for graduate research and productive research careers generating tremendous opportunities for society, from improving the quality and cost of healthcare, to producing a cleaner and safer environment.