REU Site:Wellman-HST Summer Institute for Biomedical Optics

REU网站：Wellman-HST暑期生物医学光学研究所的目标是为本科生提供一个独特的机会，在实验室创新和现实世界应用的界面上，在多学科环境中探索生物医学光学，并激励他们在科学和工程领域追求先进的研究、教育和职业。REU网站允许8名本科生从6月到8月在马萨诸塞州总医院的威尔曼光电医学中心进行为期10周的全职实验室研究。这个REU网站重视参与者种族、家庭机构和学术背景的多样性，并强调在STEM领域招募代表性不足的群体。八名具有物理、化学和工程背景的教师担任导师，并在生物医学光学领域提供各种各样的研究项目，主题多样，但具有凝聚力，重点是多学科方法，将光学物理和工程相结合，以解决重要的生物学问题和医学问题。该研究项目将增强学生在广泛的前沿课题上进行跨学科研究的能力，包括光学相干断层扫描、可植入和可穿戴光子器件、细胞激光、生物力学和光激活纳米医学。在研究方面有重要贡献的学生将得到充分支持，参加专业会议，展示他们的工程和科学成就。除了研究之外，学生们还将参加有关科学传播、伦理和创新的讲座、研讨会和专业发展讲习班。参与者将享受各种社会活动，并住在麻省理工学院校园的宿舍，靠近实验室和演讲厅。这个有组织的、有凝聚力的、充满活力的暑期项目将使他们的暑期经历远远超出在单个实验室的典型研究经历所能提供的。生物医学光学是一个快速发展的领域，已经准备好影响生物科学和人类健康。该REU网站旨在通过提供前沿研究的积极体验，成就感以及与同行和专业人士进行科学互动的乐趣，为学生参与者的未来职业道路带来重大影响。学生将见证实验室的创新研究如何帮助解决现实问题，从而为我们所生活的社会带来切实的利益。这种经历将帮助学生获得更广泛和更深入的研究视角，并进一步激励他们从事多学科科学和工程方面的职业。与导师的互动为学生提供了榜样，同时帮助他们评估自己未来的职业道路。REU网站还将通过促进积极的互动和合作，对教师导师产生积极影响。学生将与其他正在进行的国际项目的海外暑期学生互动，建立全球网络。反过来，通过提供积极的经验，这种互动可以吸引海外有才华的本科生到美国接受高等教育，从而提高美国科学和工程的国际认可度。REU网站定位良好，将成为国内和国际模式，为本科生提供高度跨学科和创新的夏季研究经验。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 objectives of the REU Site: Wellman-HST Summer Institute for Biomedical Optics, are to provide a diverse cohort of undergraduate students with a unique opportunity to explore biomedical optics in a multidisciplinary environment at the interface of laboratory innovations and real-world applications, and to inspire them to pursue advanced research, education, and careers in science and engineering. The REU site admits eight undergraduate students to pursue full-time laboratory research for ten weeks from June to August at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. This REU site values diversity in participants' ethnicity, home institution, and academic background, and place emphasis on recruiting underrepresented groups in STEM fields. Eight faculty members with backgrounds in physics, chemistry, and engineering serve as mentors and offer a variety of research projects in diverse, yet cohesive, themes in the field of biomedical optics with emphasis on multidisciplinary approaches that integrate optical physics and engineering to address important biological questions and medical problems. The research program will enhance the ability of students to undertake interdisciplinary research on a broad range of cutting-edge topics including optical coherence tomography, implantable and wearable photonic devices, cell lasers, biomechanics, and light-activated nanomedicine. Students who make important research contributions will be fully supported to travel to professional conferences to showcase their engineering and scientific achievements. In addition to research, students will attend lectures, seminars, and professional development workshops on science communication, ethics, and innovation. Participants will enjoy various social activities and stay in a dormitory at the MIT campus, which is in close proximity to laboratories and lecture halls. This organized, cohesive, and vibrant summer program will make their summer experience go way beyond what could be provided by a typical research experience in a single lab.Biomedical optics is a rapidly growing field, well poised to impact biological sciences and human health. This REU site is geared towards making a significant difference in the future career paths of student participants by providing a positive experience in cutting-edge research, a sense of accomplishment, and the joy of scientifically interacting with peers and professionals. Students will witness how innovative research in the lab can help solve real-world problems and thus provide tangible benefits to the society we live in. This experience will help students gain a broader and deeper perspective on research and further motivate them to pursue careers in multidisciplinary science and engineering. Interactions with mentors provide role models to the students while helping them evaluate their own future career paths. The REU site will also have a positive impact on faculty mentors by fostering active interactions and collaborations. Students will interact with overseas summer students in other ongoing international programs, building global networks. In turn, by providing positive experiences, this interaction can increase the international recognition of science and engineering in the U.S. by attracting talented undergraduates from overseas to the U.S. for higher education. The REU site is well positioned to become a national and international model for highly interdisciplinary and innovative summer research experiences for undergraduates.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.