This award from the Division of Chemistry (CHE) and the Division of Materials Research (DMR) supports a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) site led by Jennifer Brodbelt at the University of Texas at Austin for three summers, commencing in 2010. The site will support eight students per summer in a ten week program. The research projects focus on research in the chemical and materials sciences. Sample projects include: (1) the development of surface-enhanced desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for analysis of complex mixtures; (2) the development of catalytic surfaces using surface-tethered biomolecules ; (3) the development of high-throughput methods for the measurement of reaction yield and enantiomeric excess; (4) the study of catalysis by bimetallic nanoparticles; (5) computational study of structure-function relationships in metallic nanoparticles ; (6) the synthesis of new kinds of hybrid organic/inorganic materials; (7) the development of threading polyintercalation as a molecular recognition motif for double-stranded DNA; (8) the synthesis of new kinds of lanthanide-containing polymeric materials; (9) the development of transition metal catalysts for the direct reductive coupling of unsaturated reactants to carbonyls and imines; and (10) the development of new synthetic routes for metal nanoparticles. In addition to conducting research during the summer, the students participating in this program will participate in a variety of professional development activities, and will take part in a student-led outreach program. Students will be recruited both regionally and nationally.
Young scientists need exposure to modern research methods and tools as part of their training. This REU site aims to provide practical, hands-on research training to a significant number of students who might not otherwise have this opportunity. The possible projects span a wide range of topics in current chemical and materials research -- from investigations of new kinds of materials with technologically-useful properties to fundamental studies in traditional areas of chemistry. The REU students participating in University of Texas's REU site will receive excellent training on state-of-the-art equipment. Students participating in research at this site will be well-prepared for graduate school, and eventual employment as part of the country's technical workforce. Many of the student participants will come from groups traditionally underrepresented in the chemical sciences.
This REU Site was primarily a summer research training program for undergraduates (with a secondary emphasis on development of mentoring skills of graduate students). By selecting students from underrepresented backgrounds and those from primary undergraduate institutions, it provided new opportunities for students to expand their skill-set and prepare for advanced training in graduate school in STEM fields. REU students developed confidence in their scientific preparation, developed a peer cohort to reinforce their standing as young scientists, developed lasting connections to a strong research institution and graduate program, and helped advance basic research projects in the area of materials science and chemistry. Each student was matched to a research project related to his/her interests, and they worked full-time on their projects for the duration of the program. From the first day, students were immersed into research groups and trained to new graduate students in a doctoral program. Students were introduced to frontier research areas in a number of sub-fields spanning chemistry, biology, chemical engineering, and materials science via a weekly seminar program. A variety of professional development topics were covered at each weekly Friday lunch meeting. The students were trained to master a number of research methods and experimental planning strategies, as well as engaged in safety training. Students were mentored in the areas of scientific communication, scientific funding in the USA, preparation of manuscripts, presentations, and posters, ethics, critical thinking, graduate school programs, and career opportunities. Students were trained to prepare posters and give scientific presentations. Throughout the summer, social outings were planned to establish networking opportunities and encourage development of friendships. The summer program concluded with a two phase research symposium: short oral presentations on one day and poster presentations on another day. The research projects undertaken by the REU students were primarily those aligned with the basic research mission of NSF in the area of materials science, and thus the undergraduates were directly contributing to peer-reviewed research programs established at UT-Austin. Among the nine participants during the summer of 2014, two were women and five were from underrepresented groups (Hispanic or Native American). These students gained enormous confidence as well as practical lab skills that will strengthen their opportunities to pursue graduate-level research, enter professional programs, and transition into an array of STEM careers. The end-of-summer research symposium was open to everyone interested, and the poster session integrated all research programs on the campus. This provided another opportunity for students to evaluate research from other areas, as well as connect with research-minded students from the community dormitory used to house all research participants on campus.
