REU Site: Integrated Bioengineering Research, Education, and Outreach Experiences for Females and Underrepresented Minorities at WPI

智力价值这个为期三年的REU网站项目将吸引不同的学生参与以生物工程为智力主题的研究项目，重点放在创新上。每个学生将在一名教员和研究生的指导下进行研究，该项目是专门为他/她的能力而设计的。参与研究的六名教师跨越多个系，有着让本科生参与研究的良好历史，导致了许多奖项、手稿和会议报告。为了在学生中培养强烈的社区意识，该计划将以“训练营”开始，所有研究将在一个新的多学科研究中心进行。每周的工作坊包括创造力、交流、指导和道德规范，将帮助学生获得专业技能和个人信心，这对年轻学生在创新研究中的成功至关重要。REU网站项目的一个独特之处是，在为期一周的生物工程创新项目中，学生将接受指导中学女生的培训。这些项目的评估计划侧重于预期的结果，具有多种形成性和终结性元素，并使用有效和可靠的工具。广泛的影响拟议的综合培训体验不仅将让不同的学生进行研究，还将帮助他们了解如何将科学职业生涯作为丰富个人生活的一部分。此外，与会者将认识到他们对科学和工程的参与如何使下一代学生受益。首席调查员(PI)已经制定了一项强有力的、行之有效的计划，以有效地从代表性不足的学生群体中进行招聘，并提供可信的研究项目，以鼓励信心和自尊。该项目培养的创新思维将鼓励学生更广泛和更具创造性地思考他们工作的潜在影响和影响。对于中学生来说，参与将增加他们对科学的兴趣和对自己能力的信心，目的是增加他们在对工程职业生涯至关重要的数学和科学课程中的留存。这些项目的研究成果将通过科学和非专业出版物、会议报告和网络，由私人投资机构、参与的教职员工和学生广泛传播。

Intellectual MeritThis three-year REU site program will engage a diverse cohort of students in research projects within the intellectual theme of Bioengineering with a focus on innovation. Each student will conduct research mentored by a faculty member and graduate student on a project specifically designed for his/her abilities. The six participating faculty span multiple departments and have a strong history of involving undergraduates in research, leading to numerous awards, manuscripts, and conference presentations. To foster a strong sense of community amongst the students, the program will begin with a "Boot Camp" and all research will be conducted in a new multidisciplinary research center. Weekly workshops including creativity, communication, mentoring, and ethics will help the students gain professional skills and personal confidence critical for young students success in innovative research. A unique feature of this REU site program is that the students will be trained in mentoring for outreach to middle school girls in a week-long Bioengineering Innovation Program. The programs' evaluation plan focuses on desired outcomes, has multiple formative and summative elements, and uses valid and reliable instruments.Broader ImpactsThe proposed integrated training experience will not only expose a diverse cohort of students to research, but will also help them see how a scientific career can be possible for them as part of a rich personal life. Further, participants will appreciate how their involvement in science and engineering can benefit the next generation of students. The Principal Investigators (PIs) have developed a strong, proven plan for effectively recruiting from underrepresented groups of students and for providing authentic research projects that encourage confidence and self esteem. The innovative thinking fostered by this program will encourage students to think more broadly and creatively about the potential implications and impact of their work. For the middle school students, participation will increase their interest in science and their confidence in their abilities with the aim of increasing their retention in math and science courses essential for engineering careers. The programs' research results will be disseminated broadly through scientific and lay publications, conference presentations, and the Web, by the PIs, participating faculty, and students alike.