This is a Research Experiences for Undergraduates Site grant. The award permits undergraduate students to participate in a research program in the materials field under the supervision of faculty members actively engaged in research. The grant involves research experiences for six undergraduate students at the University of Houston, Texas Southern University, University of Houston-Downtown Campus, and Sam Houston State University. Texas Southern is a historically black university. The goal is to have half of the students involved be minority. Students from the various campuses meet monthly to discuss progress and present results in seminars. Students first attend training classes to acquire required skills specific to individual research projects, such as operation of equipment and safety procedures. Thereafter, students elect to participate on individual research projects under supervision of a faculty member. Typical topics for research include: electron transport in semiconducting and superconducting materials, study of thin films using energy dispersive spectroscopy in a scanning electron microscope, chemical beam epitaxy of thin films, characterization of thin films using infrared spectroscopy and electron spin resonance. The program enhances current research activities as well as adding to the number of scientifically trained individuals. It is hoped that this hands-on experience will serve as a stimulus to attract and retain highly-gifted students into careers in teaching and research.
