REU Site: iREU: Promoting Innovation and Entrepreneurship through Academic-Industrial Partnerships

智力价值康涅狄格大学(UConn)这个为期三年的REU网站项目的目标是以创新和创业为主题，为本科生开发一个独特的研究体验(REU)网站。该项目将被命名为“本科生创新研究体验”(IREU)。每个学生将有一个独立的研究项目，由一名教职员工提供建议。然而，iREU计划还将包括一名对该项目有商业兴趣的行业导师。这位导师与一系列以商业为导向的研讨会相结合，将使工科学生接触到创新的商业方面，并帮助他们将自己的工作与目标市场联系起来。这一iREU项目将促进学术-产业合作伙伴关系，这种伙伴关系通常是技术发展的先驱。促进这种合作将通过提供更多的资金和创新机会来加强康涅狄格州大学的研究工作。化学、材料和生物分子工程(CMBE)系前沿研究的多样性为不同兴趣的学生提供了独特的机会，康涅狄格州大学提供世界级的研究设施和中心来帮助学生进行研究。首席调查员(PI)是CMBE教授，在以本科研究为基础的教育方面有良好的记录，联合调查员是康涅狄格大学商学院教授，具有在工程学院开发创业项目的丰富背景。每个REU学生将有机会在他们的实验室小组会议上展示他们的工作，向两位导师提交进展报告，项目结束口头陈述，期末报告和康涅狄格创新连接的海报会议。Broader Impact iREU计划，像大多数REU一样，将为本科生在尖端领域提供一个独立的研究项目，并给该学生一个机会，在智力上为一个动态的研究环境做出贡献。然而，此外，该计划将有助于将这一研究与市场联系起来，从而提供理论与实践之间的关键联系。这是由于iREU独特的导师结构，在这种结构中，学生由一名学术教师和一家公司合作伙伴共同指导。这为学生的书面和口头陈述提供了多个反馈来源，这两者都将是iREU项目不可或缺的一部分。它还扩大了学生的人脉，包括一家可以提供实习或永久就业的公司，以及一家可以提供推荐信和职业指导的教职员工。IRU还将通过在一所历史悠久的女子学院进行有针对性的招聘，为代表性不足的群体的参与提供便利。IREU项目与史密斯学院(98%为女性)合作，直接从其Picker工程项目中招聘人才。史密斯学院距离康涅狄格州大学不到90分钟的路程，PI每年都会来这里招生，iREU将为史密斯学院的学生保留至少两个名额。

Intellectual MeritThe objective of this three year REU site program at the University of Connecticut (UConn) is to develop a unique Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Site thematically based on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The program will be titled an "Innovative Research Experience for Undergraduates", or ( iREU). Each student will have an independent research project advised by a faculty member. The iREU program, however, will also incorporate an Industry Mentor that has a commercial interest in the project. This mentor, in combination with a business oriented seminar series, will expose engineering students to the commercial side of innovation and help them link their work to a targeted market.This iREU program will facilitate academic-industrial partnerships that are often the precursor to technology development. Fostering such collaborations will strengthen research efforts at UConn by providing additional opportunities for funding and innovation. The diversity of cutting-edge research in the Chemical, Materials, and Biomolecular Engineering (CMBE) Department provides unique opportunities for students of varying interests, and UConn provides world-class research facilities and centers to help students in their research. The Principal Investigator (PI)is a CMBE professor with a proven track record in undergraduate research based education and the Co-PI is a University of Connecticut School of Business professor with a strong background in developing entrepreneurship programs in the School of Engineering. Each REU student will have the opportunity to present their work in their laboratory group meetings, present progress reports to both mentors, an end-of-program oral presentation, a final report and a poster session at the Connecticut Innovation Connection.Broader Impacts The iREU program, like most REUs, will provide an independent research project for an undergraduate student in a cutting-edge field and give that student an opportunity to intellectually contribute to a dynamic research environment. Additionally, however, the program will help link that research to the market and thus providing the crucial connection between theory and practice. This is made possible by the unique mentorship structure of the iREU where the student is co-mentored by an academic faculty and a company partner. This provides the student with multiple feedback sources on their written and oral presentations, both of which will be an integral part of the iREU program. It also expands the student's network to include a company, which can provide internships or permanent employment, and a faculty, who can provide letters of recommendation and career mentorship. The iREU will also facilitate the participation of underrepresented groups with targeted recruitment at a Historic Women's College. The iREU program has partnered with Smith College (98% female) to directly recruit from its Picker Engineering Program. Smith College, located less than 90 minutes from UCONN, will be visited by the PI each year for recruitment and a minimum of two spots in the iREU will be reserved for Smith College Students.