REU Site: Research Experiences and Exploration in Materials Science (REEMS) for Houston Community College Science and Engineering Students

This project integrates a wide array of tailored educational, student support, career exploration, and research activities.  These activities and strategies include the integration and measurement of the resulting effectiveness of student recruitment, retention, materials research experiences, and university transfer activities as a comprehensive program.  Over the forty-five month duration of this project, the students, designated as NSF REEMS (Research Experiences and Exploration in Materials Science) Scholars, will participate in:

• Academic guidance and exploration of university transfer options
• A series of tours and seminars focused on material science research, academic pathways and career opportunities
• Enrollment in a customized introductory materials course exploring  the roles and impacts that  materials have contributed to global societal, scientific and economic development
• Competitive application for selection in materials related research opportunities which will be conducted at partnering universities and at the West Houston Center.

Students selected to participate in the summer and/or academic year university research experiences will be carefully matched with research faculty to study a wide array of materials research topics, ranging from fabrication of polymer-based photovoltaics, nanotechnology characterization techniques, studies of the rare earth elements, and the molecular dynamics of novel biological materials.

The Principal Investigator and staff will address and disseminate information covering the broad impacts of the program components such as project recruitment & retention, effectiveness of program developed transfer strategies, student and faculty mentoring activities, research experiences, effectiveness and impact of the introduction of a unique special topics course in materials science, and review of the comprehensive evaluation and assessment activities.  It is hypothesized that based upon the broad and integrated program activities, coupled with the inherent multidisciplinary and motivational nature of materials science, this program will demonstrate a significant enhancement and development of student self-confidence, motivation, and knowledge as they consider choices and decisions regarding their academic and professional career pathways.