Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Chemistry at Wichita State University

Wichita State University, Wichita KS

Investigators

Abstract

This Chemistry Division award supports a new Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site at Wichita State University. Paul Rillema is the site's Program Director; Erach Talaty is the Co-Program Director. Nine faculty will be available to serve as REU student mentors. During the award period (2001-2003), each summer ten students will participate in a ten-week program. Recruitment efforts will be 54 institutions of higher learning in the state of Kansas. There will be a special effort devoted to attract women and minorities. The research focus will cover all the basic areas of chemistry, and involve a range of topics such as solar energy conversion, inorganic ferromagnetic, molecular association by mass spectrometry, electrochemistry of porphyrins, heterocyclic chemistry, mechanisms of bio-organic reactions and theoretical calculations. Other activities planned for the student participants include workshops and off-campus visits. Student participants will conclude the program with a oral presentation at a local symposium. A final written research report is also required. Evaluation of the program will include input from both the students and the participating faculty.