CHED 1507 |
| There is a national need for scientists with career in materials research. Among the current scientists, African Americans are severely underrepresented. Jackson State University – the University of California Santa Barbara partnership for Research and Education in Materials (JSU-UCSB PREM) program aims at establishing research and education infrastructure in materials science at a Historically Black University. One of the main objectives of this program is to educate and encourage our primarily African American students to pursue advanced degrees in materials science. The chemistry and physics programs at JSU are traditionally strong in education and research, but without a history of offering a course of study in materials science. The NSF PREM program provided the opportunity to create a research and academic environment focused on materials research at JSU, and the resources to enhance faculty research expertise and improve infrastructure. The PREM program also strengthened the existing relationship between JSU and UCSB, especially with the UCSB faculty and centers involved in material science research. These essential ingredients, funding, core HBCU faculty with demonstrated expertise in material science, an institutional commitment to a research and academic program in materials science, and a strong relationship with an existing NSF funded center in materials research, are combined to create a successful research and academic program with the promise of being competitive for main stream funding. The PREM has become a highly visible program on campus and beyond. Some of the graduate students will move on to doctoral programs in materials research. In addition, the JSU chemistry PhD program has proposed a concentration in materials science, with the goal to become an interdisciplinary PhD program in Materials Science in 5 years. Acknowledgement: The authors wish to thank the National Science Foundation for financial support through the NSF-PREM grant #DMR-0611539. |
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Research and Education in Material Science
8:30 AM-11:35 AM, Wednesday, April 9, 2008 Hilton New Orleans Riverside -- Rosedown, Oral
Division of Chemical Education |