DoD HBCU/MI: Acquisition of an Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy System for Interdisciplinary Research and Education in Advanced Materials at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Abstract
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) is long respected teaching institution serving underrepresented Hispanic minorities. This institution is undergoing a transition to a research emerging university that is of significant importance to the preparation and success of our current STEM students. Funding of this proposal will further promote this transition. The acquisition of an EPR system will support research and student training in Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Materials Science and Engineering, and Medical fields. Faculty members from eight departments and two colleges plus one school will directly use the EPR system for their research in materials and biomedical science and engineering. The proposed activities cover a wide spectrum of programs. Specifically, the proposed equipment will support projects to advance development of inorganic materials, nanomaterials, organic compounds, composites, drugs, and biomedical devices. Acquisition of the EPR system will broaden the research scope for all participants, making it possible to address scientific problems in novel research areas. The state-of-the-art EPR system requested in this proposal provides a new approach for studying species with unpaired electrons in electronic triplet states, impurities in semiconductors, electrons in unfilled conduction bands, and electrons trapped in radiation-damaged sites. Research activities in UTRGV are actively contributing to the advancement and understanding of scientific knowledge and technology development as proven by research publications and filed/granted patents. The acquisition of this instrument will significantly enhance our research activities to understand a wide variety of advanced (in)organic materials, functional composites, biomedical and pharmaceutical materials and devices which possess broad application potentials. This proposal is being submitted with recognition and enthusiasm from various departments within the College of Sciences, College of Engineering and Computer Science, and School of Medicine. This effort has unleashed a desire to develop a common research interest complemented with individual expertise. Faculty collaborations will increase with an ultimate goal of developing a stronger research base that will significantly contribute to a human factor goal: increase and promote graduate careers of Hispanics in STEM careers. Being UTRGV a non-Ph.D. granting institution, most of the projects will be carried out by undergraduate and M.S. students, 89 percent of whom are Hispanic and have had limited opportunities to experience state of the art research. The instrument will strengthen existent courses and several more will be developed as a result of this funding. The EPR system will provide unique opportunities for the cross-disciplinary research, education and training of many undergraduate and graduate students. The opportunity to participate in the state-of-the-art research projects will motivate UTRGV students to pursue graduate school (M.S. or PhD degrees). The instrument will be used in research activities, in training and education of a large number of students from diverse backgrounds, and will serve for outreach activities to high school students and teachers in South Texas. Finally, this new instrument will allow local companies to have access to an instrument that could solve related science and engineering issues while helping to support maintenance of the instrumentation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 19, 2019
- Source ID
- W911NF1910473
Entities
People
- Yuanbing Mao
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- University of Texas Rio Grande Valley