| NSF Org: |
DMR Division Of Materials Research |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | February 20, 2024 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | February 20, 2024 |
| Award Number: | 2349546 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Krystle Wilson
kdwilson@nsf.gov (703)292-8129 DMR Division Of Materials Research MPS Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences |
| Start Date: | April 1, 2024 |
| End Date: | March 31, 2027 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $426,197.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $426,197.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
4400 VESTAL PKWY E BINGHAMTON NY US 13902 (607)777-6136 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
4400 VESTAL PKWY E BINGHAMTON NY US 13902-4400 |
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Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | XC-Crosscutting Activities Pro |
| 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
NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY
Addressing the rising demand for clean energy requires a skilled workforce that can develop, deploy, and manage renewable energy technologies. Despite this need, most science and engineering undergraduates have limited opportunities to gain experience with energy materials and technologies, research methods, interdisciplinary collaboration, scientific communication, or career planning to equip them for clean energy careers. Funded by the Division of Materials Research, this Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site addresses these training gaps while helping to attract and retain promising students for eventual careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and the energy sector. Towards this end, this REU site integrates undergraduates in energy-focused interdisciplinary research experiences and offers mentoring, career guidance, and training in skills needed to thrive in STEM professions. Insight into renewable energy careers is provided through interactions with local renewable energy companies and New Energy New York, a newly awarded facility aimed at making the Binghamton region a hub for battery development. The recruitment of diverse student cohorts that include students from schools with limited research infrastructure is supported by partnerships with nearby colleges and six historically black colleges and universities.
TECHNICAL SUMMARY
This REU site aims to stimulate student interest in interdisciplinary research, prepare students for careers in science and engineering (with a focus on renewable energy), and expand the diversity of students engaged in research. Working with faculty spanning four science and engineering departments and teams in the NorthEast Center for Chemical Energy Storage, the Center for Autonomous Solar Power, and the Advanced Catalysis for Energy Sustainability Center, students tackle fundamental research problems in renewable energy generation and storage. Using experimental and computational approaches, students engage in research aimed at reducing the cost of solar power, harvesting wasted thermal and mechanical energy, enhancing battery performance, and generating alternative fuels. Students also gain exposure to clean energy industry careers, manufacturing, and prototyping processes through research collaborations, facility tours, and workshops in partnership with local clean energy companies and New Energy New York. Students gain further preparation for STEM and clean energy careers through workshops on research ethics, science communication, professional skills, materials characterization, and the energy landscape.
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.
Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.
