NSF-RISE: Enhancement of Research and Educational Infrastructure in Nanobiomaterials Science and Engineering at Tuskegee University

历史上的黑人学院和大学科学与工程研究基础设施（HBCU-RISE）活动在科学和技术卓越研究中心（CREST）计划支持在HBCU提供科学和工程学科博士学位的研究能力的发展。HBCU-RISE项目与主办部门的长期计划和机构使命以及扩大机构研究能力以及增加科学和工程博士生产量的计划有直接联系。 在国家科学基金会的支持下，塔斯基吉大学（TU）将实施旨在扩大TU研究能力的综合战略，并利用研究项目来增强学生的教育体验。研究和教育工作的结合预计将扩大材料科学与工程领域代表性不足的群体的参与，并支持国家建立一支强大的STEM劳动力队伍的努力。该项目有可能成为增加少数民族学生攻读STEM学位课程和职业的数量，并解决材料科学与工程学科中女性和少数民族教师不足的模式。该项目将在TU的材料科学与工程系（MSE）进行，包括三个部分：a）从天然废物中研究纳米生物材料，B）为MSE的本科生开发辅修课程，以及c）支持MSE的年轻教职员工的职业生涯。这些研究项目将产生关于利用废弃物生产可持续产品的新知识，并通过开展以下工作来解决处理废弃物的严重环境问题：1）化学合成和分析，表面研究，加工和性能评估来自天然废物的各种纳米生物材料; 2）开发用于生物医学应用的生物相容性和可生物降解的聚合物支架和3）开发具有抗微生物和病原体抗性的食品包装聚合物复合膜。该项目将为初级教师提供启动资金，并为TU的所有STEM本科生提供材料科学与工程辅修课程，旨在增加进入研究生课程的学生人数。

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Research Infrastructure for Science and Engineering (HBCU-RISE) activity within the Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) program supports the development of research capability at HBCUs that offer doctoral degrees in science and engineering disciplines. HBCU-RISE projects have a direct connection to the long-term plans of the host department(s) and the institutional mission, and plans for expanding institutional research capacity as well as increasing the production of doctoral students in science and engineering. With support from the National Science Foundation, Tuskegee University (TU) will implement comprehensive strategies designed to expand TU's research capabilities and using the research projects to enhance the educational experiences of the students. The combined research and education efforts are expected to expand the participation of groups underrepresented in Materials Science and Engineering and support the nation's efforts in building a robust STEM workforce. This project has the potential to be a model for increasing the number of minority students pursuing STEM degree programs and careers and addressing the deficit of female and minority faculty members in the discipline of Materials Science and Engineering.This project will be carried out in TU's Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) with three components:a) research in nanobiomaterials from natural waste, b) development of a minor course for undergraduates in MSE, and c) support the careers of young faculty members in MSE. The research projects will generate new knowledge about the use of waste materials to produce sustainable products and address the serious environmental issue of dealing with waste products by conducting the following: 1) chemical synthesis and analysis, surface studies, processing and performance evaluation of a variety of nanobiomaterials derived from natural waste; 2) development of biocompatible and biodegradable polymer scaffolds for biomedical applications and 3) development of food packaging polymer composite films with antimicrobial and pathogen resistance. The project will provide start-up funds for junior faculty members and offer a minor in Materials Science and Engineering for all STEM undergraduates at TU with the intention of increasing the pool of students entering the graduate program.