REU Site: American Student Placements in Rehabilitation Engineering

美国学生康复工程实习（ASPIRE）本科生研究经验（REU）项目由美国国家科学基金会工程教育和中心部资助。康复工程采用系统的方法为残疾人设计、修改、定制和/或制造辅助技术。康复工程的研究工作集中在识别和解决关键问题，这些问题对于实现和维持与行动、通信、感觉（如听觉、触觉、视觉）、认知以及与就业、独立生活和教育相关的活动相关的领域的最高水平的功能至关重要。ASPIRE REU项目的主要目标是提供一个模范的指导和资源丰富的环境，使本科生能够1)从依赖者过渡到独立思考者，2)培养进入工程或技术领域的兴奋感，3)为他们未来的职业生涯做好充分准备。招聘计划强调少数民族和残疾学生。此外，来自研究机会有限的机构的学生将得到特别考虑。研讨会，讲习班和实地考察补充了实验室之外的教育经验。在这个REU站点的学生是一个多学科研究团队的积极参与者，并获得更大规模或试点研究项目的一部分所有权。ASPIRE REU项目更广泛的影响是赋予本科生在研究生学习和未来作为工程师或科学家的职业生涯中取得优异成绩所需的信心、经验和技能，所有这些都在康复工程项目的背景下进行，这些项目的副产品增加了残疾人的独立性。项目导师在提供适当水平的指导以支持学生对这些属性的独立发展方面经验丰富。这所REU的学生培养了一种价值感，这种价值感来自于成为“更大”事物不可分割的一部分。此外，这个REU网站为学生提供了从事对社会改善有直接应用的项目的机会。在他们的学术生涯早期就有这样的经历，不仅提高了他们对作为一名工程师的社会责任的认识，而且还提供了一种“课堂之外的体验”，为工程课程带来了目的和意义。

The American Student Placements and Internships in Rehabilitation Engineering (ASPIRE) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program is funded by the National Science Foundation Division of Engineering Education and Centers. Rehabilitation engineering employs a systematic approach to the design, modification, customization and/or fabrication of assistive technology for persons with disabilities. Research efforts in rehabilitation engineering are focused on identifying and addressing problems critical to achieving and maintaining the highest possible level of function in areas related to mobility, communications, sensory (e.g., hearing, tactile, vision), and cognition and in activities associated with employment, independent living, and education. The primary objective of the ASPIRE REU program is to provide an exemplary mentoring and resourceful environment that enables undergraduate students to 1) transition from dependent to independent thinkers, 2) develop a sense of excitement about entering an engineering or technical field and 3) be well prepared for their future careers. Recruitment initiatives emphasize minorities and students with disabilities. Additionally, students who come from institutions with limited research opportunities will receive special consideration. Seminars, workshops and field trips supplement the educational experience outside of the laboratories. Students in this REU Site are an active participant of a multi-disciplinary research team and acquire ownership of part of a larger-scale or pilot research project.The broader impact of the ASPIRE REU program is about empowering undergraduate students with the confidence, experience and skills necessary to excel in graduate studies and in their future careers as engineers or scientists, all within the context of rehabilitation engineering projects whose byproducts increase the independence of people with disabilities. Program mentors are well experienced in providing the appropriate level of guidance needed to support the students' independent development of these attributes. Students in this REU develop a sense of worth that comes from being an integral part of something 'bigger'. Moreover, this REU Site provides opportunities for students to work on projects that have direct application to the betterment of society. Having this experience early in their academic careers not only raises awareness to the social obligations of being an engineer, but also provides a "beyond the classroom experience" that brings purpose and meaning to an engineering curriculum.