REU Site: Summer MAterials Research @ Tulane (SMART)

非技术描述：夏季材料研究@杜兰大学本科生研究经验（SMART-REU）网站吸引了不同的学生群体参与夏季材料研究项目，从而维持了进入STEM高级研究生学习的学生管道。 SMART参与者参与由杜兰大学教师监督的尖端研究项目，在每周的研讨会和讨论小组中了解广泛的研究和研究生院主题，并通过在新奥尔良社区的团体活动加强关系。 为参与者提供的研究项目广泛属于健康，能源和环境材料领域，反映了杜兰大学科学与工程学院的优势;此外，这些领域在全国范围内需要熟练的STEM毕业生，以维持先进技术发展的增长。为了扩大各种群体的参与，SMART通过与路易斯安那州泽维尔大学（一所历史上的黑人学院或大学）、迪拉德大学（HBCU）、Prairie View A M大学（HCBU）和化身世界大学的教师合作，积极招募妇女和代表性不足的群体的参与者&（一个西班牙裔服务机构），以及从没有在干博士课程的机构，以达到本科生谁可能没有很多研究机会在他们的家乡机构。SMART-REU网站的长期回报是促进先进的STEM领域的研究，以更广泛的学生基础与路易斯安那州和海湾地区的联系，谁可以支持未来的技术部门的经济发展，无论是区域和国家。技术支持：为了培养本科生在先进研究技术方面的能力，SMART-REU夏季研究项目的参与者从事广泛的材料研究项目，如聚合物透皮药物递送载体的合成（健康材料）、大面积、超高功率密度二维光致发光技术的开发（能源材料）以及从乳液中回收油的纳米多孔膜的制造（环境材料）。为了扩大对材料科学和工程领域的接触，SMART-REU参与者每周参加由教师领导的研究研讨会，涵盖杜兰大学材料研究的各个方面。为了探索先进STEM领域的潜在职业，参与者每两周参加一次关于研究生院经验（由研究生导师领导），可能的研究职业（由教师领导）和创业精神（由已将其研究商业化的教师领导）的讨论小组。暑期课程以海报研讨会结束，学生们将他们的研究成果展示给更大的杜兰社区。SMART通过调查评估SMART-REU计划对过去参与者职业道路的影响来跟踪过去的参与者，以积极改善计划，最大限度地提高网站对未来参与者的影响。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: The Summer MAterials Research @ Tulane Research Experiences for Undergraduates (SMART-REU) site engages a diverse cohort of students in summer materials research projects, thereby sustaining a pipeline of students entering advanced graduate study in STEM. SMART participants engage in cutting-edge research projects supervised by Tulane University's faculty, learn about a broad range of research and graduate school topics in weekly workshops and discussion panels, and strengthen relationships through group activities in the greater New Orleans community. Research projects offered to participants broadly fall within the fields of materials for Health, Energy, and the Environment, which reflect the strengths of Tulane's Science and Engineering faculty; furthermore, these fields are nationally in need of skilled STEM graduates to sustain growth in advanced technology development. To broaden participation across a range of groups, SMART actively recruits women and participants from under-represented groups through partnerships with faculty at Xavier University of Louisiana (a Historically Black College or University), Dillard University (HBCU), Prairie View A&M University (HCBU), and the University of the Incarnate Word (a Hispanic-Serving Institution), as well as from institutions that do not have doctoral programs in STEM to reach undergraduates who may not have many research opportunities at their home institutions. The long-term payoff of the SMART-REU site is the promotion of advanced STEM field study to a broader base of students with ties to Louisiana and the Gulf Region who can support future tech sector economic development both regionally and nationally.TECHNICAL DETAILS: To build undergraduate student competence in advanced research techniques, participants in the SMART-REU summer research program engage in a wide range of materials research projects like the synthesis of polymeric transdermal drug delivery vehicles (Materials for Health), the development of large area, ultra-high-power density two-dimensional photovoltaics (Materials for Energy), and the fabrication of nano-porous membranes to recover oil from emulsions (Materials for the Environment). To broaden exposure to the field of materials science and engineering, SMART-REU participants attend weekly faculty-led research workshops covering all aspects of materials research taking place at Tulane University. To explore potential careers in an advanced STEM field, participants engage in biweekly discussion groups on the graduate school experience (led by graduate mentors), possible research careers (led by faculty), and entrepreneurship (led by faculty who have commercialized their research). The summer program concludes with a poster symposium where students present their research successes to the greater Tulane community. SMART tracks past participants through surveys assessing the impact of the SMART-REU program on their career paths to proactively improve the program in ways that maximize the impact of the site for future participants.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.