REU Site: Collaborative Research: Research Opportunities in Rock Deformation

岩石变形是地球科学的一个分支学科，它使用地质学和工程学的方法来测量岩石的强度。有关岩石强度的信息可以应用于工程、自然灾害、材料科学和地质学中的各种问题。然而，很少有科学家专门研究岩石变形领域；因此，许多重要的研究问题仍然没有被探索或探索不足，减缓了科学和工程的进步。以本科生为主或主要为少数民族服务的机构的地科学系通常没有活跃的岩石变形研究计划，处理岩石变形的实验室相对较少。这个REU网站旨在增加不同群体的学生在这一领域获得就业机会的机会。该项目为本科生提供了在全国11个最先进的实验岩石变形实验室之一进行暑期研究的独特机会。每年夏天，岩石变形专家将担任10名学生的导师。这个REU网站为来自不同背景的学生提供访问和培训，专业和职业发展活动，以及强有力的劳动力发展。REU网站将为实验岩石变形领域的本科生提供研究和指导机会。长期目标是增加从事岩石变形研究或行业职业的学生的数量和多样性。学生参与者将接受研究方法和专业发展主题的培训，这些主题将为研究生院或相关职业道路提供稳定的基础。一支由PI和资深参与者组成的庞大团队确保参与该项目的学生将拥有一个深入的专业网络，以支持他们未来的努力。学生将来自各个高等教育机构。重点将放在招收来自不同背景和代表性不足的学生，以及没有岩石变形研究项目的较小学院和大学。REU网站将包括三个综合会议：向学生介绍变形岩石地质研究的实地会议、学生对在实地会议期间收集的标本进行实验的实验室会议以及学生可以展示其研究项目结果的会议会议。REU网站将采用分布式模式，利用PI和其他高级参与者的联合实验室能力，每年支持10名学生。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Rock deformation, a sub-discipline of Earth science, uses geology and engineering methods to measure the strength of rocks. Information about rock strength can be applied to a wide range of problems in engineering, natural hazards, and material science, as well as geology. However, very few scientists specialize in the field of rock deformation; thus, many important research questions remain unexplored or underexplored, slowing advances in science and engineering. Geoscience departments at primarily undergraduate or primarily minority-serving institutions often do not have active rock deformation research programs and labs that deal with rock deformation are relatively rare. This REU site aims to increase access and exposure of a diverse population of students to career opportunities in this area. The project offers undergraduate students the unique opportunity to conduct summer research at one of eleven state-of-the-art, experimental rock deformation labs across the country. Experts in rock deformation will serve as mentors to a cohort of 10 students each summer. This REU site provides access and training, professional and career development activities, and robust workforce development for students from all backgrounds.The REU site will provide research and mentorship opportunities for undergraduate students in the field of experimental rock deformation. The long-term objective is to increase the number and diversity of students pursuing research or industry careers in rock deformation. Student participants will receive training in research methods and professional development topics that will provide a stable foundation for graduate school or related career paths. A large team of PIs and senior participants ensures that students who participate in the program will have a deep professional network to support their future endeavors. Students will be drawn from the full spectrum of higher education institutions. Strong emphases will be placed on recruiting students from diverse and under-represented backgrounds, and smaller colleges and universities that do not have research programs in rock deformation. The REU site will include three integrated sessions: a field session to introduce students to the geological study of deformed rocks, a laboratory session where students conduct experiments on specimens collected during the field session, and a conference session where students can present the results of their research projects. The REU site will adopt a distributed model, leveraging the combined lab capacity of the PIs and other senior participants to support 10 students per year.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.