IRES Track 1: Innovative Macromolecular & Polymer Research Experience in San Sebastian (IMPRESS)

IRES Track 1：创新高分子

• 批准号: 2107325
• 负责人: Jason Bara
• 金额: $ 30万
• 依托单位: University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2021-07-01 至 2025-06-30
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2107325&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: IRES; Track; Innovative; Macromolecular; &amp

____________________________________________________________________________________________________This IRES Site (Track 1) proposal will recruit seven undergraduate students pear year for three years (21 students total) from The University of Alabama (UA) to participate in an 8-week summer research experience focused on polymers and macromolecules at the POLYMAT Institute at the Universidad de Pais Vasco (University of the Basque Country, POLYMAT/UPV) in San Sebastian, Spain. With the advent and proliferation of synthetic polymers in the mid-20th Century, these materials have impacted all aspects of modern life and will continue to be critically important in nearly every scientific discipline in the future, ranging from batteries and fuel cells to tissue engineering and drug delivery. Additionally, managing plastic waste through improved recycling and/or “upcycling” (i.e., value-added) processes is a critical environmental need for improving sustainability. Although ubiquitous in daily life, only a fraction of undergraduate science and engineering students become directly acquainted with polymer science (outside of perhaps a senior-level elective course), and it is uncommon for students to be exposed to advanced applications of polymers beyond general principles introduced in chemistry courses. We will introduce undergraduate researchers to polymers early in their careers and provide these students with opportunities to work on the use of polymers in batteries, corrosion prevention, catalysis, and biological applications. The chosen host location (POLYMAT/UPV) is uniquely suited to host this IRES Site based on its high level of polymer research activity within the EU and the concentration of leading international researchers in polymers at their institution.This program will provide training and hands-on international research experiences for undergraduate students in the field of macromolecular and polymer materials at POLYMAT/UPV in San Sebastian, Spain. These students will be mentored by international researchers who are leaders in their fields, their research contributions will support the various ongoing projects within POLYMAT/UPV, and they will be introduced to the efforts and coordination necessary for a large, international research center. The technical skills and experience with POLYMAT/UPV could serve as the catalyst to increase further research and national collaborations on these topics and ensure that the U.S. remains in a leadership position in polymer research bolstered by IRES participants. This program will: i) increase the number of underrepresented STEM students participating in research; ii) strengthen the international collaborative research network between researchers in the US and Spain; iii) increase the students’ intercultural maturity through interactions with international faculty and participation in Spanish/Basque social & cultural activities; and iv) increase student understanding of graduate studies to encourage student pursuit of STEM graduate degrees. A combination of a semester-long elective course in polymers, followed by a concentrated interim course at UA will help provide the technical background and preparatory steps to help students quickly adapt and succeed once they arrive at POLYMAT/UPV. In addition to their research, students will participate in three professional development workshops while in Spain and have opportunities to present and publish their research results. This project is jointly funded by the International Research Experience for Students program and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).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.

____ ____这个IRES网站（曲目1）的建议将招募阿拉巴马大学（UA）的三年（21名学生）的七个本科生梨年（UA），参加了为期8周的夏季研究经验，该研究重点是聚合物和大分子，在Polymat De paasco的Polymat Institute（Basecian of Basequian，Polymatice，Upemat upemat/Upmat san Sebv），SEBV，SEBV，SEBV，SPERINATIANS UNIXIASIONIDAD DE PAASCO。随着20世纪中叶合成聚合物的发展和增殖，这些材料影响了现代生活的各个方面，并且将来几乎在几乎所有科学学科中都将继续至关重要，从电池和燃料电池到组织工程和药物输送。此外，通过改进的回收和/或“升级”（即增值）过程来管理塑料废物是改善可持续性的关键环境需求。尽管在日常生活中无处不在，但只有一小部分的本科科学和工程专业的学生直接被聚合物科学（可能是高级选修课程之外）获得的，而且在化学课程中引入的一般原则之外的聚合物的先进应用程序不常见。我们将在职业生涯的早期向聚合物介绍本科研究人员，并为这些学生提供在电池中使用聚合物，预防腐蚀，催化和生物学应用的机会。所选的主机位置（Polymat/upv）非常适合基于其在欧盟内的聚合物研究活动的高水平的聚合物研究活动，以及其机构中主要的国际聚合物研究人员的集中注意力。该计划将为莫克拉姆分类和Polymer材料领域的本科生提供培训和动手的国际研究经验。这些学生将被国际研究人员考虑，他们的领导者将为Polymat/upv中的各种正在进行的项目提供支持，并将向他们介绍一个大型国际研究中心所需的努力和协调。 Polymat/upv的技术技能和经验可以作为增加对这些主题的进一步研究和国家合作的催化剂，并确保美国在IRES参与者支持的聚合物研究中保持领导地位。该计划将：i）增加参与研究的代表性不足的STEM学生的数量； ii）加强美国和西班牙研究人员之间的国际合作研究网络； iii）通过与国际教师的互动并参与西班牙/巴斯克社会和文化活动来增加学生的跨文化成熟度； iv）提高学生对研究生学习的理解，以鼓励学生追求STEM研究生学位。结合了一个学期的聚合物选修课程，然后在UA进行集中的临时课程将有助于提供技术背景和准备步骤，以帮助学生在到达Polymat/upv后快速适应并成功。除研究外，学生还将在西班牙参加三个专业发展研讨会，并有机会呈现和发布他们的研究结果。该项目由国际学生计划和启发竞争性研究的既定计划共同资助（EPSCOR）。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并使用基金会的知识分子优点和更广泛的影响审查标准来通过评估来诚实地支持。