REU Site: Smart Polymer Composite Materials and Structures

这个本科生研究经验（REU）网站奖授予位于路易斯安那州巴吞鲁日的路易斯安那州立大学，在2021-2024年的夏季支持8名学生的10周培训。在这个由化学系资助的项目中，参与者将从事化学、机械工程和建筑方面的跨学科研究项目。学生将由教师指导，并通过与研究生和博士后密切合作获得实践经验。参与者还将接受专业发展和道德培训，重点是研究和科学沟通技巧以及研究生院。通过独立的研究项目、研讨会和系列研讨会，该网站努力扩大参与范围，为研究生院和未来的STEM职业做好准备。该基地的本科生将从事科学和工程领域的研究项目，重点是智能聚合物复合材料和结构。计划中的项目包括设计、合成、建模和表征具有传感、驱动、愈合和适应能力的智能聚合物复合材料。此外，学生们还将参加每周的会议，参观研究设施，以及一系列关于研究伦理和海报设计等主题的研讨会。计划举办社会和文化交流活动，以促进多元化的未来STEM领导者群体的包容性和交流机会。学生将在全校范围的夏季研究论坛上向广大学生、教师和工作人员交流他们的研究成果。该网站旨在吸引不同的群体，重点从hbcu或其他少数族裔服务机构招聘。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。

This Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site award to Louisiana State University, located in Baton Rouge, LA, supports the training of 8 students for 10 weeks during the summers of 2021-2024. In this program, funded by the Division of Chemistry, participants will pursue interdisciplinary research projects in chemistry, mechanical engineering, and architecture. Students will be mentored by faculty and gain hands-on experience by working closely with graduate students and postdocs. Participants also will receive professional development and ethics training, focusing on research and scientific communication skills and graduate school. Through independent research projects, workshops, and a seminar series, this site strives to broaden participation and prepare students for graduate school and future STEM careers. Undergraduate research students at this site will undertake research projects across science and engineering, concentrated on smart polymer composite materials and structures. Planned projects include the design, synthesis, modeling, and characterization of smart polymer composites with sensing, actuating, healing, and adapting capabilities. Additionally, students will engage in weekly meetings, research facility tours, and a workshop series on topics including research ethics and poster design. Social and cultural exchange events are planned to promote inclusivity and networking opportunities for a diverse group of future STEM leaders. Students will communicate their research findings to a broad audience of students, faculty, and staff at a university-wide summer research forum. This site aims to attract diverse cohorts with an emphasis on recruiting from HBCUs or other minority-serving institutions.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.