REU Site: Biofuels Development - Feedstock to Tailpipe

堪萨斯大学这个为期三年的REU项目的目标是：1)让本科生参与跨学科的“从原料到尾气排放倡议”（Feedstock to Tailpipe Initiative）中令人兴奋的前沿研究项目，重点是生物质生产和加工、化学转化为燃料以及发动机性能和分析；2)为解决多学科问题（如利用废水喂养的藻类生产生物燃料）提供所需的学科广度和团队合作机会；3)为来自美国各地的本科生提供一个独特的机会，让他们在学术和社会上进行互动，旨在建立一个更加综合的毕业工程师网络。所有本科生都将在一名教师导师的指导下工作，并与一名由美国国家科学基金会（NSF）资助的生物燃料教师研究经验（RET）资助的K-12教师一起工作。除了研究活动外，学生还将参加专题讨论会、普通社会活动、当地工业参观和研讨会。每周的研讨会主题包括：1)安全性，2)研究方法，3)文献检索，4)数据分析，5)职业机会，6)口头报告，7)报告/论文写作，8)研究生院“入门”，9)研究与工程伦理。肯塔基大学的SELF奖学金项目还将提供为期一天的专业发展研讨会，为学生提供研究和研究生学习机会方面的指导。在夏季结束时，学生将被要求提交最终项目报告以及专业质量的海报。海报将在项目结束时的海报会议/招待会上展示，包括所有其他REU学生和堪萨斯大学的夏季本科生。此外，PI打算继续他在波兰罗兹的国际项目，因为它与以生物燃料为重点的REU网站项目直接相关。堪萨斯大学的本科生将参加正式的视频会议和讨论，在夏季举行三次当地学生和罗兹学生之间的会议和讨论，并将罗兹的项目直接纳入REU网站的重点。参与者将从全国各个学科招募，包括化学、环境和机械工程，以及化学和生物学。为了帮助招募代表性不足的学生，PI与一些历史上的黑人学院和大学（HBCUs）建立了联系，并参加了路易斯斯托克斯少数民族参与博览会联盟、女性工程师协会（SWE）和全国黑人工程师协会（NSBE）。参加REU网站计划的学生将被鼓励继续研究生学习和研究事业。

The objectives of this three-year REU Site program at the University of Kansas are to: 1) engage undergraduate students in stimulating, cutting-edge research projects in the interdisciplinary Feedstock to Tailpipe Initiative, focusing on biomass production and processing, chemical transformation into fuels, and engine performance and analysis; 2) provide exposure to the breadth of disciplines and teamwork needed to attack a multidisciplinary problem such as biofuel production from wastewater-fed algae; and 3) provide a unique opportunity for a diverse population of undergraduate students from across the United States to interact both academically and socially, aimed at building a more integrated network of graduating engineers. All of the undergraduate students will work under a faculty mentor, and alongside a K-12 teacher sponsored by the NSF Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) in biofuels. In addition to the research activities the students will participate in symposia, common social activities, local industry tours, and seminars. The weekly seminar topics include: 1) Safety, 2) Research Methods, 3) Literature Searching, 4) data Analysis, 5) Career Opportunities, 6) Oral Presentations, 7) Report/Paper Writing, 8) a Graduate School "primer", and 9) Ethics in Research and Engineering. A special one-day professional development workshop will also be offered through the SELF Fellowship Program at KY to provide guidance for students on careers in research and graduate school opportunities. At the end of the summer students will be required to a final project report along with a professional quality poster. Posters will be presented at a poster session/reception at the end of the program which will include all other REU students and summer undergraduates at KU.In addition, the PI intends to continue his international program in Lodz, Poland because it has direct relevance to this REU Site program focused on biofuels. The undergraduate students at KU will participate through formal video conferences and discussions held 3 times during the summer between the local students and the students at Lodz, and by integrating the projects in Lodz directly into the REU Site focus.Participants will be recruited nationally from a variety of disciplines including chemical, environmental and mechanical engineering, as well as from chemistry and biology. To aid in the recruitment of underrepresented students the PI has made contacts with a number Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and participates in the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Expos, Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). Students who participate in this REU Site program will be encouraged to pursue graduate studies and research careers.