Howard-Columbia Partnership for Research and Education in Superatomic and 2D Materials (PRES2M)

该奖项的全部或部分资金来自《2021年美国救援计划法案》(公法117-2)。霍华德大学是一所私立的联邦特许大学，位于华盛顿特区，历史上是黑人大学，有10,000多名学生，从事120个领域的研究；目前被归类为高级研究活动机构。霍华德大学的材料科学与工程(MSE)相关研究主要集中在量子材料、光学和光子学以及量子技术(计算、通信和传感)上。与哥伦比亚大学材料研究科学和工程中心(MRSEC)合作的材料研究和教育伙伴关系(PREM)的研究重点是光与物质的相互作用，用于量子信息时代的新光学和电子设备。这一合作，即超原子和2D材料研究和教育伙伴关系(PRES2M)，旨在为MSE霍华德大学的教职员工和学生建立必要的框架，以寻求新的Prem-Path。具体来说，我们设想了以下内容：一个综合性的研究和教育计划，增加本科生对MSE相关研究的参与，由MSE的研究生实习生和教师-学者博士后助理指导，以加强哥伦比亚大学现有的多样性努力，并为霍华德大学的MSE学位授予计划提供基础。PREM途径的重点是录取MSE相关学科的本科生，以使获得学位的黑人学生总数大幅增长。此外，Howard和哥伦比亚大学MRSEC的合作旨在影响哥伦比亚大学目前在K-12扩展、本科生研究机会和研究生入学方面的多样性努力。PRES2M的主要研究目标是通过材料合成、加工、分析和理论之间的循环相互作用，更好地了解功能材料(如2D材料和超原子分子)中的量子现象。这项研究旨在改变材料性质以操纵光-物质相互作用，包括二维纳米薄膜中超强耦合的热可调谐和等离子体增强电导的新实验技术。这项研究建立在2D和超原子材料的材料科学以及量子现象的应用基础上，目前哥伦比亚大学MRSEC正在进行这项研究。这一伙伴关系的目标是从根本上影响凝聚态物理和材料科学与工程。通过MRSEC，霍华德的教职员工和学生可以接触到基础设施、新材料和量子材料研究方面的专业知识。通过PRES2M，两个机构之间的合作得到了扩大，并有更多机会共同指导学生和博士后助理、联合项目和出版物以及学生/教师交流。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). Howard University is a private, federally chartered historically Black University in Washington, DC with more than 10,000 students pursuing 120 areas of study; and currently classified as a High Research Activity Institution. Materials science and engineering (MSE) related research at Howard focuses primarily on quantum materials, optics and photonics and quantum technologies (computing, communications, and sensing). The research focus of this Partnership for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) with Columbia University Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) is on interaction of light with matter for new optical and electrical devices for the quantum information age. This collaboration, namely Partnership for Research and Education in Superatomic and 2D Materials (PRES2M), is to establish the framework needed to pursue new PREM-Pathway for faculty and students at Howard University in MSE. In particular, the following is envisioned: an integrated research and education program that increases participation of undergraduate students in MSE-related research mentored by graduate student trainees and teacher-scholar postdoctoral associates in MSE to strengthen existing diversity efforts at Columbia and provide a foundation for the MSE degree-granting program at Howard. The PREM pathway focuses on matriculation of undergraduate students in MSE-related disciplines to allow for significant growth in the total number of Black students that attain degrees. Furthermore, the collaboration between Howard and Columbia University MRSEC is aimed at impacting current diversity efforts at Columbia with respect to K-12 outreach, undergraduate student research opportunities, and graduate student admissions.The primary research goal of PRES2M is a better understanding of the quantum phenomena within functional materials, such as, 2D materials and superatomic molecules through a cyclic interplay between materials synthesis, processing, analysis, and theory. The research is aimed at altering material properties to manipulate light-matter interaction including new experimental techniques for thermal tunablity of ultra-strong coupling in 2D nanopatterned films and plasmon-enhanced conductance. This research builds on the materials science of 2D and superatomic materials and applications of quantum phenomena, currently pursued at the Columbia University MRSEC. The goal of this partnership is to fundamentally impact condensed matter physics and materials science and engineering. Through the MRSEC, Howard faculty and students have access to infrastructure, new materials, and expertise in quantum materials research. With the PRES2M, there is an expanded collaboration between both institutions and additional opportunities for co-mentorship of students and postdoctoral associates, joint projects and publications as well as student/faculty exchanges.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.