REU SITE: POLYMER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON

ID：1359321 PI：Tsige，Mesfin ORG：AkronUniversity标题：REU站点：AkronTECHNICAL DESCRIPTIONS大学聚合物科学与工程REU站点(UA-REU)将专注于每年夏天在聚合物科学与工程一般领域对12名由美国国家科学基金会资助的本科生进行为期12周的培训。尽管聚合物在科学学科中的应用越来越多，但作为本科生STEM教育的一个组成部分，涵盖聚合物的专门课程往往被忽视。该网站将让学生接触尖端的聚合物教育和研究，这将有助于弥补美国推动创新所需劳动力的竞争差距。将特别努力招收多样化的学生群体，特别是那些来自教育机构的学生，这些机构提供的本科生研究机会很少。与UA-REU相关的活动旨在扩大学生对聚合物的知识，并做出重大努力，确保学生理解他们研究的社会影响。其中包括由教师专家主持的聚合物创新短期课程、前往当地聚合物行业参观设施、职业小组(包括大小公司和政府的参与)以及创业和创新研讨会。涉及REU学生的研究项目将涵盖四个广义集群领域的聚合物科学和工程的广度：化学、物理、工程和生物材料。这些项目包括但不限于先进聚合物材料的合成、用于储能和水净化的材料制造、结构和动态聚合物表征，以及通过分子动力学(MD)模拟进行的基于计算机的材料设计。在项目结束时，学生们将在与凯斯西储大学、NASA和肯特州立大学的联合研讨会上展示他们的研究成果。非技术性描述这个REU网站的愿景是成为一个培养本科生探索、教育和研究的学术环境。它将主要集中在每年夏天对12名聚合物科学与工程领域的本科生进行培训。REU学生将接触到跨学科研究项目，这些项目强调聚合物科学和工程前沿的问题，这些项目是专门考虑REU学生有限的研究经验而设计的。教师学员通过多维方法指导REU学生，包括与聚合物基础知识、专业发展和研究技能发展相关的方面。专业发展部分包括为期一周的关于聚合物科学和工程基础的密集系列讲座和教师研究研讨会系列。多个学生主导的演讲旨在培养扎实的沟通技能，以便有效地口头传播他们的研究成果。这个REU网站始建于2004年，将继续为阿克伦大学带来多样化和高度积极的传统、代表性不足和低收入学生群体。

ID: 1359321 PI: Tsige, Mesfin ORG: University of AkronTitle: REU Site: Polymer Science and Engineering at the University of AkronTECHNICAL DESCRIPTIONThis REU Site (UA-REU) will focus on the training of 12 NSF-supported undergraduate students for 12 weeks each summer in the general area of Polymer Science and Engineering. Despite the increased utilization of polymers across scientific disciplines, specialized curricula covering polymers are often neglected as a component of undergraduate STEM education. This Site will expose students to cutting edge polymer education and research that will help to bridge the competitive gap in the workforce needed to fuel innovation in the United States. Special efforts will be made to recruit a diverse group of students, especially those from educational institutions that offer few opportunities for undergraduate research. Activities associated with the UA-REU are designed to broaden the students' knowledge of polymers with significant efforts made to ensure students comprehend the societal implications of their research. These include innovative short courses on polymers led by faculty experts, trips to local polymer industry to tour facilities, career panels including participation from small and large companies and government, and entrepreneurship and innovation workshops. Research projects involving REU students will cover the breadth of Polymer Science and Engineering in four generalized cluster areas: Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, and Biomaterials. Such projects include, but are not limited to, synthesis of advanced polymer materials, materials fabrication for energy storage and water purification, structural and dynamic polymer characterization, and computer-based design of materials through molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. At the conclusion of the program, students will present their research work at a joint symposium with Case Western Reserve University, NASA, and Kent State University.NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTIONThe vision of this REU site is to be a nurturing academic environment for undergraduate exploration, education, and research. It will focus primarily on the training of 12 undergraduate students each summer in the area of Polymer Science and Engineering. The REU students will be exposed to interdisciplinary research projects that emphasize problems at the frontiers of polymer science and engineering that are specifically designed to take into account the limited research experience of REU students. The faculty participants mentor the REU students through a multidimensional approach involving facets associated with polymer fundamentals, professional development, and development of research skillsets. The professional development components include an intensive one-week series of lectures about the fundamentals of Polymer Science and Engineering and a faculty research seminar series. Multiple student-led presentations are designed to develop solid communication skills for the effective oral dissemination of their research results. This REU site, which was initiated in 2004, will continue to bring a diverse and highly motivated group of traditional, underrepresented, and low-income students to the University of Akron.