| NSF Org: |
CHE Division Of Chemistry |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | July 11, 2014 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | July 11, 2014 |
| Award Number: | 1359081 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Michelle Bushey
CHE Division Of Chemistry MPS Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences |
| Start Date: | July 15, 2014 |
| End Date: | June 30, 2018 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $270,000.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $270,000.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
438 WHITNEY RD EXTENSION UNIT 1133 STORRS CT US 06269-9018 (860)486-3622 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
55 North Eagleville Road Storrs CT US 06268-1712 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS IN CHEM |
| Primary Program Source: |
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| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.049 |
ABSTRACT
This award from the Division of Chemistry (CHE) supports a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Site at the University of Connecticut (UConn). Professors Mark Pezuh and Jose A. Gascon who will recruit motivated undergraduates from primarily non-Ph.D. granting institutions to participate in a graduate-level research project over a 10-week period. Students with limited opportunities for independent research, women, and students from under-represented groups are especially encouraged to apply. As a unique thrust, the program targets participation from nearby Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), a non-Ph.D.-granting institution. The program pays special attention to develop communication skills and ethical behavior in the research setting. Participants also obtain a foundation for making informed choices about future careers in chemistry and establish networks with peers from a range of disciplines and experiences. Overall, the UConn Chemistry REU program aims to enhance students' enthusiasm for chemistry and prepare them for post-graduate success in the field.
The core aim of this program is to introduce participants to the full breadth of research-related activities, a number of ancillary technical workshops, and professional development seminars. In addition to the research conducted in the host laboratories, students participate in two hands-on workshops: one on computational chemistry and the other on single crystal X-ray crystallography held at CCSU. These activities introduce an intellectually challenging technical component to the program that involves the entire cohort and provides a deeper understanding about techniques that are instrumental to all fields of chemistry. The program incorporates a graduate assistant as a near-peer leader to cultivate a group identity for each year's cohort. Activities culminate in oral presentations and a poster symposium for which the University community, parents and faculty from the students' home institutions are invited.
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH
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PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
Summary Statement
UConn Chem REU 2014 – 2017
Following its strong tradition, the Chemistry REU program at the University of Connecticut (UConn) promoted and enabled research to be the foundation of the experience for its participants. Projects in the program included cutting edge topics on interdisciplinary questions where Chemistry played a key role, in areas such as synthesis of bioactive small molecules, fabrication of inexpensive detection devices, development and analysis of catalysts for CO2 capture, assay development for clinical evaluation of human health. The projects enabled participants to work with cutting edge instrumentation, with guidance and support from graduate student and faculty mentors. Emphasis was on an “immersion simulation” of the graduate research experience.
The synergy between the summer research programs at UConn has continued; Chemistry collaborates with NSF summer programs in Physiology & Neurobiology, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and a USDA sponsored program in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources. They coordinated social and some professional programming for the whole group. Participants from all groups are also housed with each other, fostering interesting conversations, collaborations, and friendships. Technical programming such as a half-day computational chemistry workshop was an additional, unique feature for the program. Not only did the workshop allow participants to realize the power of the technique across (sub)disciplines, it strengthened connections between them, forging a UConn Chem REU cohort identity.
The >30 participants in the UConn Chem REU program were all from non-Ph.D. granting institutions. Our program was, therefore, a valuable entry into a high intensity research environment. Special effort was made to recruit participants from populations that have traditionally been underrepresented in the sciences. A majority of our participants have continued on to graduate school; this indirectly has helped to address the need for greater diversity amongst graduate student populations. In addition to the immersive research experience, participants were trained in research ethics, safety, and communication. A symposium and poster session were capstone events for the summer program. Participants have been co-authors on numerous publications in the peer-reviewed literature, and they have also presented findings from their REU projects at regional and national scientific meetings.
View a presentation on our program on SlideShare at:
https://www.slideshare.net/MarkPeczuh/we-can-workshop-it-out-reu
Last Modified: 10/01/2018
Modified by: Mark Peczuh
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