Partnership for Research and Education in Materials:Fueling Opportunities for Successful and TransformativE Retention of Chemistry Majors (PREM to FOSTER-Chem) in Graduate Programs

该奖项全部或部分根据《2021年美国救援计划法案》(公法117-2)提供资金。非技术概述佛罗里达农工大学(FAMU)和弗吉尼亚理工大学(VT)GlycoMIP之间的Prem to Foster-Chem联盟的主要目的是增加FAMU理科硕士(M.S.)代表不足的少数族裔学生(URM)的数量。化学专业化学及相关领域博士学位的招生、保留和取得。与GlycoMIP拟议的合作伙伴关系将使用新型聚合物材料作为FAMU学生与两所大学初级和职业生涯中期教师合作的基础，以建立一个新的研究平台，使其与学生建立更紧密的联系。通过研究、教学和指导，将Prem与Foster-Chem附属机构(教职员工、学生和工作人员)联系起来，将创建一条渠道，招募和录取更多URM学生进入STEM的研究生课程。最终，该项目将使FAMU在聚合物研究领域走向领先地位，并形成一个国家标准，为URM学生成功过渡到博士课程并获得高级学位。这项Prem to Foster-Chem计划的主要影响将是产生三批URM研究生和本科生(~6名研究生和6名本科生)，在FAMU完成化学硕士学位并进入博士课程。技术摘要弗吉尼亚理工大学FAMU化学和GlycoMIP的Prem to Foster-Chem研究团队将使用酚酞(PPLn)/酚酞(PPL)单体和聚合物创建混合半合成材料，以制备接枝和与纤维素和葡聚糖等多聚糖的混合物。这些单体在聚芳醚砜(PAES)中的包结物以及聚合物的微观结构将会发生变化，以利用具有多种化学、物理和建筑特性的多糖(GLY)实现不同的结构/功能特性，以用于广泛的应用。Prem to Foster-Chem将使FAMU和GlycoMIP的教职员工能够合并专业知识来实现下列研究目标：1)制备具有增强性能的接枝和共混PAES和GLY聚合物；2)确定接枝含量对相形态和物理性能的影响；3)电旋转PAES-g-GLY材料并研究构象变化和纳米结构的形成；4)开发溶剂化和微相分离PAE-GLY体系的粗晶模型；5)利用电纺异质结纳米纤维组装层状PAES-g-GLY/光催化剂纳米复合材料。GlycoMIP将通过以下方式支持FAMU化学系教员：合作研究项目，协助使用GlycoMIP/VT设施，为MS项目的学生提供共同建议，并为VT的本科生开展研究提供支持。编入当前工作预算的研究生将有机会成为GlycoMIP的一部分，并在合作者的实验室度过一段时间。计划中的研究、GlycoMIP的加入以及形成的合作伙伴关系将增进对用于水净化、燃料电池或能源采集等各种应用的半合成复合材料的进一步了解。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。

This award is funded in whole or in part under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2).NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY The overarching purpose of PREM to FOSTER-Chem alliance between Florida A & M University (FAMU) and Virginia Tech (VT) GlycoMIP is to increase the number of underrepresented minority students (URM) from FAMU Masters of Science (M.S.) in Chemistry program enrollment, retention, and attainment of doctoral degrees in chemistry and related fields. The proposed partnership with GlycoMIP will use novel polymeric materials as the foundation for FAMU students to work jointly with junior and mid-career faculty at both universities to build a new research platform to connect more strongly with students. Linking PREM to FOSTER-Chem affiliates (faculty, students, and staff) through research, teaching, and mentorship will create a pipeline to recruit and matriculate more URM students into graduate programs in STEM. Ultimately, this project will allow FAMU to grow toward leadership in polymer research and toward a national standard to form programs for URM students to successfully transition into PhD programs and obtain advanced degrees. The major impact of this PREM to FOSTER-Chem initiative will be the production of three cohorts of graduate and undergraduate URM students (~6 graduate and 6 undergraduate students) completing a MS in chemistry at FAMU and enrolling in PhD programs. TECHNICAL SUMMARY The PREM to FOSTER-Chem research team from FAMU chemistry and GlycoMIP at Virginia Tech will create hybrid semi-synthetic materials using phenolphthalin (PPLn)/phenolphthalein (PPL) monomers and polymers to prepare grafts and blends with glycans such as cellulose and dextran. The inclusion of these monomers in poly(arylene ether sulfone) (PAES), as well as the polymer microstructures will be varied to achieve distinct structural/functional features using glycans (GLY) with versatile chemical, physical, and architectural properties for a wide range of applications. The PREM to FOSTER-Chem will allow FAMU and GlycoMIP faculty to merge expertise to accomplish the following research aims: 1) Prepare graft and blended PAES and GLY polymers with enhanced properties; 2) Determine the effect of graft content on phase morphology and physical properties; 3) Electrospin of PAES-g-GLY materials and study conformational changes and nanostructure formation; 4) Develop coarse-grained models for solvated and microphase separated PAE-GLY systems; 5) Assemble layered PAES-g-GLY/photocatalyst nanocomposite from electrospun heterojunction nanofibers. GlycoMIP will support FAMU Department of Chemistry faculty by collaborating on research projects, assisting with use of GlycoMIP/VT facilities, co-advising students in MS program, and providing support for undergraduate students to carry out research at VT. The graduate students budgeted in current work will be given the opportunity to be part of GlycoMIP and spend time at collaborators' labs. The planned research, incorporation of GlycoMIP, and formed partnerships will enhance further understanding of semi-synthetic composite materials for various applications such as water purification, fuel cells, or energy harvesting.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.