REU Site: Research Experience in Functional Materials for Undergraduates in Chemistry at the University of South Florida

本研究经验的本科生（REU）网站奖给南佛罗里达，位于佛罗里达州坦帕的大学，支持8名学生在2024年至2026年的夏天10周的培训。在这个程序中，由化学部资助，参与者追求合作研究项目，专注于功能材料。参与者还参加了专业发展和研究伦理培训计划，重点是科学交流，研究生院和研究生涯的准备，知识产权和创业精神。该网站通过独立的研究项目，研讨会和培训扩大了STEM的参与。参与者在有机，无机，物理，分析和计算化学以及生物化学方面进行个人研究项目。这些项目包括催化剂，分子传感器，多功能半导体，肽模拟物，杀虫剂和天然产物的合成和表征;开发脂质体以隔离污染物，用于光捕获的金属有机框架材料和用于无溶剂提取的溶胶-凝胶涂层;光开关的光谱表征;以及蛋白质开关和塑料降解酶的计算机模拟。专业发展系列包括关于知识产权和化学创新商业化的讲习班。为了扩大对STEM的参与，该网站还从少数民族入学率高的学校和2- 4岁的学生中招收学生，本网站部分由半导体研究公司向国家科学基金会提供的资金支持。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准。

This Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site award to the University of South Florida, located in Tampa, FL, supports the training of 8 students for 10 weeks during the summers of 2024-2026. In this program, funded by the Division of Chemistry, participants pursue collaborative research projects that focus on functional materials. Participants also take part in a professional development and research ethics training program, with a focus on scientific communication, preparation for graduate school and research careers, intellectual property, and entrepreneurship. This site broadens participation in STEM through independent research projects, workshops, and trainings.Participants undertake individual research projects in organic, inorganic, physical, analytical, and computational chemistry, and biochemistry. These projects include the synthesis and characterization of catalysts, molecular sensors, multifunctional semiconductors, peptidomimetics, insecticides, and natural products; the development of liposomes to sequester pollutants, metal organic framework materials for light harvesting, and sol-gel coatings for solvent-free extractions; the spectroscopic characterization of photoswitches; and computer simulations of protein switches and plastic degrading enzymes. The professional development series includes workshops on intellectual property and commercializing chemical innovations. To broaden participation in STEM, this site also recruits students from schools with high minority enrollments and students at 2- and 4-year colleges without research opportunities.This Site is supported in part by funds provided to the National Science Foundation by the Semiconductor Research Corporation.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.