REU Site: Research Experience for Undergraduates in Advanced Infrastructural Materials

美国土木工程师协会2017年基础设施报告卡对美国基础设施的现状给出了D+的糟糕评分。日益恶化的基础设施极大地阻碍了我国在蓬勃发展的全球经济中竞争的能力，为了确保我国保持全球竞争力，有必要进行重大升级。升级国家基础设施需要先进的基础设施材料和技术，以及在先进基础设施材料方面受过良好训练的工程师。为了满足这一需求，路易斯安那大学拉斐特分校的本科生研究经验（REU）网站将为本科生提供先进基础设施材料的实践研究和培训机会，以鼓励学生在该领域追求职业和研究生学位。REU网站旨在支持材料工程师的劳动力发展和促进工程社区的多样性。每年夏天将有10名本科生研究人员（主要由少数族裔和女学生组成）来到REU网站，为期三年。每年，本科生研究人员将参加为期10周的跨学科实践研究计划，并在指导教师的指导下进行与先进基础设施材料相关的各种研究项目。研究项目范围从基础材料研究到由先进材料组成的创新结构系统。将组织一次教育实地考察，研讨会和研讨会（关于美国基础设施的重大挑战，研究方法和研究伦理，技术写作和演讲技巧，研究生生活和申请过程，以及STEM职业），以：1)培训学生的研究和技术沟通技巧；2)培养他们在工程领域深造和就业的兴趣；3)让他们直接了解我们的基础设施面临的挑战；4)为他们提供路易斯安那州南部基础设施问题、文化和景观的独特体验。通过该REU站点，将创建一批受过高等教育的具有先进基础设施材料专业知识的研究人员和工程师，为增强美国基础设施和更多样化的工程社区做出贡献。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The American Society of Civil Engineers 2017 Infrastructure Report Card gave a poor grade of D+ on the current condition of the US infrastructure. Deteriorating infrastructure is greatly impeding the nation's ability to compete in the thriving global economy, and significant upgrading is necessary to ensure our country remains globally competitive. Upgrading the nation's infrastructure requires advancement in infrastructure materials and technologies and well-trained engineers with expertise in advanced infrastructure materials. To fulfill this need, the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette will provide undergraduate students with hands-on research and training opportunities in advanced infrastructure materials to encourage students to pursue careers and graduate degrees in this field. The REU site aims at supporting workforce development of materials engineers and promoting diversity in the engineering community.Ten undergraduate researchers, mainly comprised of underrepresented minority and female students, will be hosted at the REU Site every summer for three years. Each year, the undergraduate researchers will participate in a 10-week hands-on interdisciplinary research program and work under the supervision of faculty advisors on a variety of research projects related to advanced infrastructure materials. The research projects range from fundamental materials research to innovative structural systems composed of advanced materials. An educational field trip, workshops and seminars (on Grand Challenges of US Infrastructure, Research Methods and Research Ethics, Technical Writing and Presentation Skills, Graduate School Life and Application Process, and Careers in STEM) will be organized to: 1) train students in research and technical communication skills; 2) cultivate their interest in pursuing advanced degrees and career in engineering field; 3) give them a direct insight into the challenges our infrastructure is facing; and 4) offer them a unique experience of southern Louisiana infrastructure problems, culture and landscape. A diverse group of highly educated researchers and engineers with expertise in advanced infrastructural materials will be created through this REU Site, contributing towards enhancement of the US infrastructure and a more diverse engineering community.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.