REU Site: Applied Physics at the University of South Florida

University Of South Florida, Tampa FL

Investigators

Abstract

NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site in Applied Physics offers a unique opportunity for undergraduate physics majors nationwide to engage in research projects on the boundaries of physics, mathematics, chemistry, biology, and materials science. The main objectives are: (1) to involve the REU students in meaningful research, producing peer-reviewed publications and presentations at (inter)national scientific conferences; (2) to provide research opportunities, especially to students from underrepresented groups; (3) to target students from institutions with limited research opportunities (four- and two-year colleges); (4) to make a major impact on the REU students' professional careers by helping them gain laboratory and computing skills, familiarity with state-of-the-art research methods, critical thinking, and oral and written presentation experience; (5) to enhance participants' interest in and likelihood of admission to graduate school; (6) to engage students in team-work through mentoring from faculty, post-doctoral scholars, and graduate students; (7) to prepare undergraduate students for scientific/engineering careers through workshops and seminars. Among these are a participatory ethics workshop at the start of the summer and a seminar in entrepreneurship led by a scientist with small-business experience. Many participants in the Applied-Physics REU site continue with post-graduate study in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics field or find employment in such an area directly after their bachelor's degrees. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Each participant spends the summer embedded in a research group working with one of 14 participating faculty mentors. Projects include the following: (1) ultrafast dynamical properties in magnetic materials; (2) laser spectroscopy of biomaterials; (3) new materials for energy-related applications; (4) hybrid magnetic nanoparticles for nanomedicine applications; (5) fabrication of low-dimensional functional electronic materials ; (6) theory of the electrocaloric effect in relaxor ferroelectrics; (7) THz photonic phase modulation by polymeric micro-actuator arrays; (8) control of cell-membrane shape by protein modules; (9) theory and simulation of plastic avalanches in ductile polymer glasses; (10) data-driven modeling of ion dynamics in neurological disorders; (11) real-time optical metrology by direct measurement; (12) molecular-dynamics simulations of phase transitions in diamond under extreme conditions; (13) smart-sensor technologies for space research and aerospace applications; and (14) simulation of novel magnetic ordering in quasiperiodic tilings. Students participate in weekly scientific and career-development seminars and present their scientific findings at mid-summer and again at the end. 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.