REU Site: Characterization of Advanced Materials David F. Bahr, Washington State University, DMR Over the past 9 years, the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Washington State University has hosted 102 students from around the country to perform research projects and learn novel techniques in the characterization of materials. In addition to exposing the students to cutting-edge research in materials science, the projects, lasting 9 weeks, have resulted in several of the students presenting their work at conferences and becoming co-authors on technical publications. The projects have spanned several materials engineering topics including: Performance enhancement of soy protein-based plastics through ternary polymer blends Optical Properties of Nanoparticles Strengthening multi-layer thin films for microelectronics applications Fracture and Deformation Behavior of Single Crystal Scintillators Osteoblast Precursor Proliferation on Etched Micro-Pathways Fatigue Life of 7050 Friction Stir Welds Scanning Tunneling Microscopy of Titanium Phthalocyanine Catechol 5  m Boxlike structure of high ordered pyrolytic graphite in the tetragonal lattice of Ni(II)-Octaethylporphyrin after AFM manipulation. Indentation cracks and slip bands around a microindent placed in the scintillating crystal, CdWO 4 A

REU Site: Characterization of Advanced Materials David F. Bahr, Washington State University, DMR universities have been represented in the 9 years of the program including students from the University of Puerto Rico – Humacao, University of Texas – Pan American, University of Montana, Louisiana State University, Benedict College, Clark Atlanta University, and Ft. Hays State University. 102 undergraduates have participated in the MME REU site program, 46% have been from demographic groups traditionally underrepresented in SMET fields. Over 35 journal papers and presentations at national meetings have resulted from the REU students’ summer research. At least 44 of the graduating students have pursued graduate degrees or are applying to graduate schools. Faculty from MSE, Chemistry, Chemical Eng., Mechanical Eng., and Civil Eng. participate, and students from more than a dozen disciplines have participated over the 9 years of the program. A poster session, combined with other WSU undergraduate research programs, is presented at the end of the summer to the university community bringing exposure to the students’ work and the REU experience.

Undergraduate Researchers Expected (Pre) and Perceived (Post) Benefits of REU Program, 2007 David F. Bahr, Washington State University, DMR In 2007 we undertook an assessment of student benefits using an online survey technique developed by an on campus assessment organization for students to provide feedback and time studies. The group consisted of 13 students, freshmen to seniors in engineering and science disciplines The results provide further quantitative information of what students value from their REU experience: Interaction with faculty is a critical component that students do not realize prior to their participation. “Learning the ropes” is also a valuable aspect, and the participants expected that from the program.

REU Site: Characterization of Advanced Materials David F. Bahr, Washington State University, DMR Rut Rivera Beltran, an REU student at WSU during the summer of 2007 was recently awarded the “Best Poster” award at the XVIII Undergraduate Research Symposium at the Universidad Metropolitana in Puerto Rico on Sept , This conference is supported by NSF through the Model Institutions for Excellence project with the Ana G. Mendez University System. Ms. Rivera’s poster was entitled: “Characterizing the Mechanical Properties of Human Corneas using Nanoindentation” and was done in collaboration with her advisor Dr. David Bahr, Professor, Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Washington State University. A paper on the topic will be presented at the upcoming TMS Annual meeting in 2008 in New Orleans. 5  m A Ms. Rivera Beltran, currently a sophomore in the Department of Physics and Electronics, at the University of Puerto Rico at Humacao, accepting her “Best Poster” award Sept. 15, 2007.