REU Site: NanoSAFE Multifunctional Nanomaterials

REU 网站：NanoSAFE 多功能纳米材料

• 批准号: 1559880
• 负责人: Lisa Holland
• 金额: $ 38万
• 依托单位: West Virginia University Research Corporation
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2016-04-15 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1559880&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: REU; Site; NanoSAFE; Multifunctional; Nanomaterials

NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION:The objective of this REU activity is to enhance workforce development through unique research in nanotechnology and to increase participation in graduate level education of women, underrepresented minorities, veterans, and persons from economically depressed areas. REU Site participants will be provided with interdisciplinary research opportunities that focus on the discovery of advanced performance multifunctional nanomaterials, which are designed concurrently with toxicity testing. This emerging area of nanotechnology is significant to accommodate the dramatic increase in commercial nanoparticle production. This is achieved through the development of enabling technology and fundamental research to generate high performance materials and address the environmental, health, and safety characteristics of nanoparticles. This REU project leverages substantial research infrastructure as well as ongoing WVU-NIOSH collaborative research in nanotoxicology. These initiatives have accelerated research and education in the nanosciences in West Virginia and create an exceptional nanotechnology training site. A total of 18 faculty members from the WVU Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, and Health Sciences are committed to serve as research mentors as part of a comprehensive training program that effectively fosters problem-solving skills critical to intellectual and research independence. Participants learn about communication, collaboration, technical presentation skills, resume preparation, and graduate education. Collegial relationships are developed through team-building activities and weekly interdisciplinary team meetings. Several undergraduate participants will publish research results and all undergraduates present their work at the annual WVU Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium. Involvement in this REU Site improves the scientific workforce by increasing participant retention in interdisciplinary STEM education. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION:REU participants are trained on research projects that support the design of safer and more effective nanoparticles that have been characterized and assessed for potential toxicity. The research activities focus on multifunctional nanomaterials and support improved material design with attention to properties that impact human and environmental health. The REU Site provides a diverse pool of projects through 18 faculty advisors each supporting independent research integrated within three NanoSAFE areas of focus: (1) design and fabrication of advanced performance nanomaterials, (2) biomolecular and inorganic material characterization, (3) and toxicity assessment. These research foci support an iterative approach enabling researchers to realize high performance nanomaterials that can safely support manufacturing processes. Faculty collaborate across research groups and students have access to cutting-edge technology in nanolithography, nanotemplating, material self-assembly, electrochemistry, spectroscopy, microscopy, fluidics, and unique tools required to elucidate complex facets of nanotoxicity. Upon completing this REU experience, undergraduate students will actively contribute to innovative research that advances nanotechnology manufacturing, while receiving professional development throughout the 10-week summer activity through workshops, speakers, and scientific conferences.

非技术描述：此REU活动的目的是通过纳米技术的独特研究来增强劳动力发展，并增加对经济沮丧领域的妇女，代表性不足的少数民族，退伍军人和人的参与。 REU网站参与者将获得跨学科的研究机会，重点是发现高级性能多功能纳米材料，这些纳米材料与毒性测试同时设计。 纳米技术的新兴领域对于适应商业纳米颗粒生产的急剧增长非常重要。 这是通过开发促进技术和基础研究来生成高性能材料并解决纳米颗粒的环境，健康和安全特征来实现的。 该REU项目利用了大量的研究基础设施以及正在进行的WVU-NIOSH纳米毒理学研究。 这些举措加快了西弗吉尼亚州纳米科学的研究和教育，并创建了一个杰出的纳米技术培训站点。 来自WVU生物学，化学，化学工程，计算机科学和电气工程，机械工程，物理学和健康科学的WVU部门的18名教职员工致力于作为一项综合培训计划的一部分，有效地培养问题对知识分子和研究至关重要的解决问题的技能。 参与者了解沟通，协作，技术演示技巧，简历准备和研究生教育。 通过团队建设活动和每周的跨学科团队会议建立了联盟关系。 几位本科参与者将发布研究结果，所有本科生在WVU夏季本科生研究研讨会上介绍他们的工作。 参与此REU网站可以通过增加参与者在跨学科STEM教育中的保留来改善科学劳动力。 技术描述：REU参与者接受了研究项目的培训，这些研究项目支持设计和评估潜在毒性的更安全，更有效的纳米颗粒的设计。 研究活动的重点是多功能纳米材料，并支持改进的材料设计，并关注影响人类和环境健康的特性。 REU网站通过18位教职顾问提供了各种各样的项目，每个教师顾问都支持在三个纳米安全区域中集成的独立研究：（1）设计和制造高级性能纳米材料，（2）生物分子和无机材料表征，（3）和毒性评估。 这些研究重点支持一种迭代方法，使研究人员能够实现可以安全支持制造过程的高性能纳米材料。 跨研究小组和学生的教师可以在纳米光刻，纳米塑料，材料自组装，电化学，光谱，显微镜，流动性以及阐明纳米毒性复杂方面所需的独特工具方面获得尖端技术。 完成这项REU经验后，本科生将积极地为纳米技术制造业的创新研究做出贡献，同时通过讲习班，演讲者和科学会议在整个为期10周的夏季活动中获得专业发展。