Nanotechnology REU with a Focus on Community Colleges

该项目的广泛意义：莱斯大学以社区学院为重点的本科生纳米技术研究体验(REU)将为大休斯顿地区的社区大学学生提供纳米技术领域的暑期研究实习机会。该计划旨在通过从社区大学(包括那些主要为少数族裔服务的机构)招聘传统上代表性不足的学生来吸引STEM领域的学生。通过实验室经验和与莱斯大学教师、博士后和学生导师的互动，REU的参与者将接触到STEM研究、应用和职业。研究表明，参与本科研究有助于从两年制大学过渡到四年制大学，并提供了进入研究生院和研究职业的途径。这个项目的学生将从事涉及能源、医学和环境健康领域的实际应用的项目。此外，该计划不仅通过参与的莱斯教职员工和学生的支持，而且通过其为促进多样性和学生成功而建立的强大基础设施，为这些学生提供大量的培训和指导。该计划的一个主要成果是影响学生，否则他们不会考虑STEM研究或职业，丰富和变革性的研究经验导致STEM劳动力更加多样化和扩大。项目描述：莱斯大学以社区学院为重点的本科生纳米技术研究体验(REU)将为大休斯顿地区的10名社区大学生提供为期10周的纳米技术领域暑期研究实习机会。该计划旨在影响STEM领域传统上代表性不足的学生，这些学生在当地社区大学中有相当数量的代表。通过实验室经验和与莱斯大学教师、博士后和学生导师的互动，REU的参与者将接触到STEM研究、应用和职业。研究表明，参与本科生研究有助于进入研究生院和从事研究工作。此外，该计划不仅通过参与的莱斯教职员工和学生的支持，而且通过其为促进多样性和学生成功而建立的强大基础设施，为这些学生提供大量的培训和指导。赖斯大学凭借其广泛的研究设施、跨学科合作和里程碑式的突破，在纳米技术领域取得了明显的进展。该REU项目将为学生提供机会进行STEM在能源、医学和环境健康方面的应用研究。纳米技术是多学科的，因此，这项研究通常汇集了许多工程和科学领域。学生将有不同的研究领域可供参与，包括：新纳米材料的合成和表征；空气和水的净化；光子学和等离子；医学成像、诊断和治疗；以及清洁能源。

BROADER SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT:The Nanotechnology Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) with a Focus on Community Colleges at Rice University will provide community college students in the Greater Houston area with summer research internships in the field of nanotechnology. The program aims to engage traditionally underrepresented students in the STEM fields by recruiting from community colleges including those that are primarily minority serving institutions. Through laboratory experiences and interactions with faculty, post-docs, and student mentors at Rice University, REU participants will be exposed to STEM research, applications, and careers. Studies show that participation in undergraduate research supports the transition from two-year to four-year colleges and provides a pathway to graduate school and research careers. Students in this program will work on projects that involve real-world applications in the field of energy, medicine, and environmental health. In addition, the program provides considerable training and mentoring of these students not only through the support of the participating Rice faculty, staff, and students but through its strong infrastructure established to promote diversity and student success. A main outcome of the program is to impact students, who otherwise would not have considered STEM research or careers, with enriching and transformative research experiences resulting in a more diverse and expanded STEM workforce.PROJECT DESCRIPTION:The Nanotechnology Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) with a Focus on Community Colleges at Rice University will provide ten community college students in the Greater Houston area with a ten-week summer research internship in the field of nanotechnology. The program aims to impact traditionally underrepresented students in the STEM fields who are represented in significant numbers in the local community colleges. Through laboratory experiences and interactions with faculty, post-docs, and student mentors at Rice University, REU participants will be exposed to STEM research, applications, and careers. Studies show that participation in undergraduate research support the pathway to graduate school and research careers. In addition, the program provides considerable training and mentoring of these students not only through the support of the participating Rice faculty, staff, and students but through its strong infrastructure established to promote diversity and student success. Rice University has made demonstrable strides in the field of nanotechnology with its extensive research facilities, interdisciplinary collaboration, and landmark breakthroughs. This REU program will provide opportunities for students to conduct research involving STEM applications in energy, medicine, and environmental health. Nanotechnology is multidisciplinary, and thus, the research usually brings together many fields of engineering and science. Students will have various research areas for participation that include: synthesis and characterization of new nanomaterials; air and water purification; photonics and plasmonics; medical imaging, diagnoses, and treatment; and clean energy.