NRT-QISE: Bridging the Gap Between 2D Quantum Materials and Engineering in STEM Education

NRT-QISE：弥合 STEM 教育中 2D 量子材料与工程之间的差距

• 批准号: 2244274
• 负责人: Morgan Ware
• 金额: $ 300万
• 依托单位: University of Arkansas
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-08-15 至 2028-07-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2244274&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: NRT; QISE; Bridging; Gap; Between

The convergent field of Two-Dimensional Quantum Materials is rapidly growing in importance as an incubator for materials with new properties and potential applications from quantum computing to renewable energy. However, there is shortage of trained workforce in the nation that is sufficiently qualified to develop and commercialize the resulting technologies. This National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) award to the University of Arkansas will provide a new, interdisciplinary, and sustainable educational experience in Two-Dimensional Quantum Materials and Devices (2D-QMaD) for STEM students through a holistic approach to graduate education of future scientists and engineers, including development of both technical knowledge and personal/professional “soft skills”. The project will train fifty-seven (57) masters and doctoral students, including twenty-seven (27) funded trainees. This will be in direct partnership between the University of Arkansas’s interdisciplinary Materials Science and Engineering (MSEN) graduate program and the MonArk Quantum Foundry (an NSF funded partnership between Montana State University and the University of Arkansas to develop a foundry-like environment for the development of 2D materials and devices.) This work inherently bridges the disciplines of MSEN, Physics, Electrical Engineering, as well as Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, and Computer Engineering.The unique guiding principles of this traineeship program can primarily be broken down into several key components. These are: A) inclusion of professional practice and soft-skills training via the required seminar courses; B) creation and utilization of industry inspired cohorts and small teams led and mentored by upper-level doctoral students; and C) strong emphasis on education in entrepreneurship and commercialization of technology. These professional skills are enhanced by D) a core and elective curriculum developed and taught by over 50 faculty from 11 supporting departments and three schools/colleges, with E) integrated research by the same faculty that feeds back into component A by lending material for practicing the soft-skills training. The trainees will have the opportunity to learn and give feedback to widely varying research topics and individual points of view. The goal is to cultivate trainees who become the bridge between science, engineering, and entrepreneurship within the rapidly growing field of 2D quantum materials. The proposed curriculum for the trainees (including: quantum mechanics; quantum computing; quantum transport; materials characterization; and machine learning, in addition to the materials core courses) will facilitate research progress in the area of quantum materials and more specifically in 2D quantum materials, while giving the trainees the required skills to make future discoveries. This project will create a new permanent concentration of study, 2D-QMaD, within the MSEN graduate program.The NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) Program is designed to encourage the development and implementation of bold, new potentially transformative models for STEM graduate education training. The program is dedicated to effective training of STEM graduate students in high priority interdisciplinary or convergent research areas through comprehensive traineeship models that are innovative, evidence-based, and aligned with changing workforce and research needs. This project is jointly funded by NRT 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.

二维量子材料的融合领域作为具有新特性和从量子计算到可再生能源的潜在应用的材料的孵化器，其重要性正在迅速增长，但是，该国缺乏有足够资格进行开发的训练有素的劳动力。并将所得技术商业化。阿肯色大学获得的国家科学基金会研究实习 (NRT) 奖项将为二维量子材料和器件提供全新的、跨学科的、可持续的教育体验。 (2D-QMaD) 为 STEM 学生提供未来科学家和工程师的研究生教育整体方法，包括技术知识和个人/专业“软技能”的发展 该项目将培训五十七 (57) 名硕士和博士生。 ，包括二十七 (27) 名受资助的学员 这将是阿肯色大学跨学科材料科学与工程 (MSEN) 研究生项目与 MonArk Quantum Foundry（蒙大拿州立大学之间由 NSF 资助的合作伙伴关系）之间的直接合作伙伴关系。和阿肯色大学合作开发一个类似铸造厂的环境来开发 2D 材料和器件。）这项工作本质上连接了 MSEN、物理、电气工程以及化学、机械工程和计算机工程等学科。该培训计划的指导原则主要可分为几个关键部分：A）通过所需的研讨会课程纳入专业实践和软技能培训；B）创建和利用受行业启发的群体和小团队。指导者高水平博士生；C) 高度重视创业和技术商业化教育，D) 由来自 11 个支持部门和三所学院/学院的 50 多名教师开发和教授的核心和选修课程， E）由同一教师进行的综合研究，通过借出用于练习软技能培训的材料，学员将有机会学习并针对广泛不同的研究主题和个人观点提供反馈。就是培养学员将成为快速发展的二维量子材料领域中科学、工程和创业之间的桥梁。 为学员建议的课程（包括：量子力学、量子计算、量子传输、材料表征和机器学习）。该项目将在 MSEN 内创建一个新的永久研究中心 2D-QMaD NSF 研究实习 (NRT) 计划旨在鼓励为 STEM 研究生教育培训开发和实施大胆的、具有潜在变革性的新模式，该计划致力于对 STEM 研究生进行高度优先的跨学科或融合研究的有效培训。该项目由 NRT 和刺激竞争研究既定计划 (EPSCoR) 共同资助。通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，NSF 的法定使命被认为值得支持。