REU: Synthesis, Assembly and Characterization of Soft Matter Systems

非技术描述：克利夫兰州立大学(CSU)REU网站的目标是让物理和工程专业的二年级和三年级学生参与软物质科学/工程领域有意义的跨学科研究项目。这将鼓励学生攻读物理和工程方面的研究生课程。CSU REU网站的基础是有目的的教师指导，特别是为物理学和工程学专业的少数族裔学生提供的指导。软物质是一组物质，包括液体、胶体、聚合物、凝胶和生物材料。软物质研究人员将物理、化学、生物学和工程学结合起来，研究这些材料的独特性质和应用。每个参与的学生将在CSU物理系和化学与生物医学工程系的培养和合作气氛中，直接与一名教师导师一起工作10周。CSU对“参与式学习”的关注培养了一种支持本科生研究的强大文化。REU的学生将从这种文化中受益，通过来自经验丰富的教师的一对一指导和各种专业发展机会。学生的科学和专业发展将通过以下方式得到支持：a)每周一次的科学研讨会，向学生介绍软物质研究的多面性和研究中的职业；b)每周一次的学生研讨会，非正式的学生最新情况和正式的学生陈述；c)在俄亥俄州东北部的NSF-REU本科生研究会议上的最终海报演示文稿；d)为在REU之后的区域/全国会议上的演讲提供差旅支持；e)与科学导师发展长期的关系；以及f)开展多种REU社会活动，以帮助在REU学生之间以及与来自CSU和俄亥俄州东北部的其他REU的学生研究人员之间发展网络。技术描述：该REU的科学重点是软物质，这是凝聚态物质的一个子领域，涵盖了各种材料，从可用于运输和引导其他软或硬材料组装的液体，到可用于电子或机械应用的聚合物，再到人们研究以更好地模拟自然的复杂性并开发新的愈合途径的生物材料。本科生研究人员将直接与两个系的教职员工合作，为有意义的科学研究项目做出重大贡献。几个可用的研究项目是致力于REU网站的九名教职员工之间的合作。REU的参与者将通过专门设计的学生项目在三个主要领域进行原创研究：1)微凝胶和水凝胶纳米颗粒：为各种应用和体积相变的基础研究设计环境敏感的纳米颗粒；2)各向异性软物质薄膜：驱动软物质自组装，以开发具有与材料形状各向异性相关的独特性质的薄膜；以及3)软物质流体流动：努力更好地了解和改善液体软物质系统中的混合，并使用液体流动来测试和理解生物现象。在密歇根州立大学REU从事真实研究体验的学生将为尖端软物质研究做出重大贡献，潜在应用范围从药物输送到有机太阳能电池。学生的研究经验将通过一系列科学和专业发展研讨会、研究陈述机会和通过社会活动发展科学网络来补充。

NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION:The objective of the REU site at Cleveland State University (CSU) is to involve sophomore and junior physics and engineering majors in meaningful interdisciplinary research projects within soft matter science/engineering. This will encourage students to pursue graduate studies in physics and engineering. Fundamental to CSU's REU site is intentional faculty mentoring, particularly, for underrepresented and minority students in physics and engineering. Soft matter is a group of materials that includes liquids, colloids, polymers, gels, and biological materials. Soft matter researchers combine physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering to study the unique properties and applications of these materials. Each participating student will work for 10 weeks directly with a faculty advisor in the nurturing and collaborative atmosphere of CSU's Department of Physics and Department of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering. CSU's focus on "engaged learning" has cultivated a strong culture of support for undergraduate research. REU students will benefit from this culture through one-on-one mentoring from experienced faculty and a variety of professional development opportunities. Students' scientific and professional development will be supported through: a) a weekly science seminar introducing students to the multifaceted nature of soft matter research and careers in research; b) a weekly student seminar with informal student updates and formal student presentations; c) a final poster presentation at the Northeast Ohio NSF-REU Undergraduate Research Conference; d) travel support for presentation at a regional/national conference after REU; e) development of a long-term relationship with a scientific mentor; and f) a multitude of REU social activities to help develop networks among REU students as well as with student researchers from CSU and other REUs in Northeast Ohio. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION:The scientific focus of this REU is soft matter, a subfield of condensed matter that encompasses a large variety of materials, from liquids that can be used for transport and for directing assembly of other soft or hard materials, to polymers that can be used for electronic or mechanical applications, to biological materials which people study to better mimic nature's complexity and develop new pathways towards healing. Undergraduate researchers will work directly with faculty members from two departments to contribute significantly to meaningful scientific research projects. Several of the available research projects are collaborations among the nine faculty committed to the REU site. REU participants will conduct original research via specially designed student projects within three main foci: 1) Microgel and Hydrogel Nanoparticles: Designing environmentally sensitive nanoparticles for a variety of applications and fundamental studies of volume phase transitions; 2) Anisotropic Soft Matter Thin Films: Driving self-assembly of soft matter to develop thin films with unique properties tied to the shape anisotropy of the materials; and 3) Soft Matter Fluid Flow: Striving to better understand and to improve mixing in liquid soft matter systems and use liquid flow to test and understand biological phenomena. Students engaged in an authentic research experience at CSU's REU will contribute significantly to cutting edge soft matter research with potential applications ranging from drug delivery to organic solar cells. Student research experience will be supplemented with a series of scientific and professional development seminars, research presentation opportunities, and development of a scientific network via social activities.