Texas State University PREM: Center on Interfaces in Materials. A Partnership with the Research Triangle MRSEC

摘要PREM中心：德克萨斯州州立大学-圣马科斯（德克萨斯州）的材料界面将通过将基于发现的材料研究融入创新教育和推广计划来促进少数民族的参与。 德克萨斯州PREM与三角研究材料研究科学工程中心（三角MRSEC）合作。 这项联合努力的拟议研究成果将更好地理解非常小的物体（比人类头发小10-1000倍）如何组织成阵列。 纳米大小的蛋白质、聚合物和无机材料的分散体被称为胶体。 这项研究将通过共享导师制传播知识融入教育和公共宣传，这是教育水平之间的合作模式，将确保增加STEM学科参与的渠道。 德克萨斯州立大学是一所位于德克萨斯州中部的西班牙裔服务机构（HSI），最近被列为德克萨斯州新兴研究型大学。化学生物化学系正在发展，研究重点为1。科学教育; 2.）生物化学/材料界面的跨学科研究。 该部门参加了一个新的博士学位。材料科学工程和商业化计划。 与来自杜克大学、北卡罗来纳州州立大学、北卡罗来纳州大学和北卡罗来纳州中央大学的世界级MRSEC科学家建立伙伴关系，将大大增强基础设施、教育创新、科学进步和外联活动的声望。 区域人口统计，德克萨斯州对材料研究的机构承诺和化学生物化学系新兴的研究生产力相结合，为推进PREM计划的目标创造了理想的环境。智力价值拟议的研究分为两个方面：1）多尺度胶体界面，和2.）聚合物自组装成功能纳米材料的调控。 在推力1中，外部施加的力（例如，电场）将引导聚合物、粘土片晶和纳米颗粒的组装。 受控的胶体组装可以显著地影响诸如导电性和散热性的性质。 推力2的重点是使用小分子修饰剂和自然界内置的调节过程组装蛋白质。 使用理论和实验的结合，这项研究的结果将是构建更大的蛋白质组装体的“一套规则”。这两个胶体研究计划都需要德克萨斯州PREM和三角MRSEC的共同努力。 拟议的PREM的一个主要目标是增加少数族裔对STEM学科的参与。 研究结果将在我们的教育计划中增加知识转移概念。 这条名为“通过共享导师传播知识--STEM教育成功的管道”的管道将连接德克萨斯州和MRSEC所有教育级别的参与者。 在第三个要点中，阻碍知识传播的因素包括：1）MRSEC研究生/德克萨斯州立大学本科生合作配对，2。高中教师的PREM学院，3.）PREM博士后种子计划，和4）通过共享导师的阶梯领导力发展。 利用基于发现的项目，该中心将产生变革性的科学，并创建有效的模式和方法，以提高区域少数民族人口的参与。

Abstract The PREM Center: Interfaces in Materials at Texas State University - San Marcos (Texas State) will advance minority participation by integration of discovery-based materials research into innovative education and outreach programs. The Texas State PREM is partnered with the Research Triangle Materials Research Science & Engineering Center (Triangle MRSEC). The proposed research outcome of this joint effort will be a better understanding of how very small objects (10-1000 times smaller than a human hair) can organize into arrays. Dispersions of nanometer-sized proteins, polymers, and inorganic materials are known as colloids. This research will be integrated into education and public outreach via Propagation of Knowledge through Shared Mentorship, a model for collaboration between educational levels that will ensure a pipeline for increased participation in the STEM disciplines. Texas State is a Hispanic serving institution (HSI) located in Central Texas and has been recently classified as an Emerging Research University within Texas. The Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry is growing with research foci of 1.) science education, and 2.) interdisciplinary research at the biochemistry/materials interface. The Department participates in a new Ph.D. program in Materials Science Engineering and Commercialization. A partnership with world-class MRSEC scientists from Duke University, North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina and North Carolina Central University will significantly amplify infrastructure, educational innovation, scientific advances and prestige to outreach activities. The combination of regional demographics, Texas State institutional commitment to materials research and the emerging research productivity of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry creates an ideal environment to advance the goals of the PREM program.Intellectual Merit The proposed research is divided into two thrusts: 1.) Multiscale Colloid Interfaces, and 2.) Regulatory Control of Polymer Self-Assembly into Functional Nanomaterials. In Thrust 1, an externally applied force (e.g., electric field) will guide the assembly of polymers, clay platelets and nanoparticles. Controlled colloid assembly can dramatically affect properties such as conductivity and heat dissipation. Thrust 2 is focused on assembly of proteins using small-molecule modifiers and nature's built-in regulatory processes. Using a combination of theory and experiment, the outcome of this research will be a "set of rules" for building larger assemblies of proteins. Both colloid research programs require the combined efforts of the Texas State PREM and the Triangle MRSEC. Broader Impacts A principle objective of the proposed PREM is to increase minority participation in STEM disciplines. Research results will be augmented with knowledge transfer concepts in our education program. Entitled "Propagation of Knowledge through Shared Mentorship - The Pipeline to Success in STEM Education," this pipeline will connect Texas State and MRSEC participants at all educational levels. Elements in Thrust 3 that exemplify Propagation of Knowledge include: 1.) MRSEC graduate student/Texas State undergraduate collaborative pairings, 2.) the PREM Academy for high school teachers, 3.) the PREM Postdoctoral SEED Program, and 4) leadership development through a ladder of shared mentorship. Using discovery-based projects, this center will produce transformative science and create effective models and methods to elevate participation of the regional minority population.