REU Site: Louisiana State University; Synchrotron- Radiation-Based Research for Advanced Undergraduate Students

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge LA

Investigators

Abstract

The Louisiana State University J. Bennett Johnston, Sr., Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices (LSU CAMD) operates a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site. CAMD is the Southeasts only synchrotron-radiation (SR) center and utilizes a 1.3 GeV second-generation electron synchrotron/storage ring. Each of the ten students selected each year to participate in this REU Site chooses from among several basic research areas based on the utilization of SR: spectroscopy from the far infrared (including spectromicroscopy) to the X-ray region; structure determinations using X ray techniques such as microtomography, protein crystallography, powder diffraction and small-angle-X-ray scattering; microfabrication based on X-ray lithography involving research and development of biosensors and MEMS devices; and accelerator and control-system development and studies. The program runs for ten weeks each summer and includes introduction to general SR production and utilization, education in and practice of appropriate data acquisition and analysis, weekly seminars in which REU students are actively involved, and end-of-summer oral and poster presentations of each students research. The poster presentations are a part of a university-wide undergraduate research symposium involving over 100 students. This REU Site is supported by the ASSURE (Awards to Stimulate and Support Undergraduate Research Experiences) Program of the Department of Defense through a DoD-NSF partnership.