About the Program
Hands-on laboratory research in a multidisciplinary environment focusing on space and energy applications will be the focus of the 2007 Summer USRP at the participating institutions. With the help of research advisors and mentors, students learn how to plan and perform experiments, use state of the art instrumentation in world class facilities, analyze data, give informal and formal scientific presentations, write scientific reports, work independently and as members of outstanding research teams. Student research projects are designed to allow for significant results to be obtained within the ten-week program.
Houston Community College students who have successfully completed the ten-week USRP summer program may have the opportunity, as a transfer student, to join a laboratory team at the University of Houston.
Eligibility
Students should be highly motivated with a strong desire to learn about and participate in hands-on scientific research in a materials research area. The students’ academic career goals should include a focus in science, math or engineering. Preference will be given to students transferring to the University of Houston and other Texas Space Grant Consortium Member Institutions to seek an undergraduate degree in mathematics, science or engineering.
Students must meet the following requirements:
- Completion of two semesters of calculus, chemistry and calculus-based physics by June 1, 2007
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 in all science classes at time of application
- Two signed letters of recommendation from a college science or math professor
- Provide documentation establishing U.S. Citizenship, Permanent Resident status or Student VISA
(Certain projects are contingent on resident status.)
All application materials must be received by March 30, 2007.
Students must meet the following requirements:
- Completion of 2 semesters of Calculus, Chemistry and University Physics by June 6, 2006
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 in all science classes at time of application
- Letter of recommendation from a science or math instructor at HCC or another university
All applications and letters of recommendation must be received by March 31, 2006 in order to be considered for program selection.
2007 Research Topics (Tentative)
- Nanostructure-based solar cells
- Sustainability of solar cells
- Thin film solid oxide fuel cells
- Nitride based high temperature electronics
- Ceramic optical microdetector for an artificial retina
- Superconducting linear motor for electromagnetic launch
- Ceramics for use in fuel cells
- Nanophotonics
- Nanoshell based cancer therapy
- Nanoshell assisted tissue welding
- Nanostructured filtration and water purification
- Nanocatalysis with environmental application
- Single-walled nanotube fluorescence imaging
- Activity of bionanoconjugates
- Synthesis, characterization, and functionalization of nanoparticles
Stipends
Students selected to participate in the 2007 USRP Program will receive a stipend of $4,000 for the ten-week summer program.
USRP students must arrange for their own transportation. All students will receive a free campus parking pass for use at their respective institutions.
USRP Partners
Center for Advanced Materials (University of Houston)
The Center for Advanced Materials (CAM) employs over 70 professors, postdoctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students, and profession staff at the University of Houston, including faculty from the departments of chemistry, physics, chemical electrical, computer and mechanical engineering. CAM addresses research and development of new materials and their fundamental science while maintaining strong applications focus. As a NASA Research Partnership Center, CAM develops new materials leading to technologies of importance to the nation's space program in an industry/academia/government partnership. The Center applies epitaxial growth techniques to the development of advanced materials to form new micro- and nano-engineered materials and devices while training the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Current research and development projects include high energy density capacitors for extreme environments, mid-IR LASER environmental sensors, single chip-integrated bio-chemical sensors, as well as a number of promising next- generation energy sources.
For more information visit: http://www.cam.uh.edu
Johnson Space Center
The Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) is NASA's center for human spaceflight activities. JSC is home to the Mission Control Center, which coordinates and monitors all human spaceflight for the United States, and NASA's astronaut training center. Johnson Space Center is also home to devolopment and test facilities that support individual mission preparation and integration as well as wide-ranging studies of aerospace, biotechnology, robotics, neuroscience, planetary science -- fields in which universities work closely with NASA's scientists and engineers to further their own research.
For more information visit: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov
CBEN (Rice University)
CBEN discovers and develops nanomaterials to enable new medical and environmental technologies. Nanotechnologies generally have great potential to revolutionize how we treat disease and clean our environment. CBEN focuses on those technologies that use chemically prepared, soluble nanomaterials. These materials are the same size as naturally occurring biomolecules, and can be designed for specific functions in biological and environmental systems. Successful applications require fine manipulation of the interface between inorganic nanostructures (the dry side) and biological systems (the wet side). CBEN has termed this the 'wet/dry interface' and its control is the organizing theme of all of CBEN's science and engineering research.
For more information visit: http://cben.rice.edu
Houston Community College
Houston Community College is an open-admission institution of higher education offering associate degrees, certificates, academic preparation, workforce training and lifelong learning opportunities that prepare individuals in our diverse communities for living and working in an increasingly international and technological society. HCC is comprised of six colleges serving Houston and surrounding areas.
Visit online: http://www.hccs.edu
2007 USRP is supported in part through the
generosity of the Higher Education Program,
Texas Space Grant Consortium.
2007 USRP is supported in part through the
generosity of the Halliburton Foundation.
Contact Information
Bart M. Sheinberg, USRP Program Director
West Houston Center for Science and Engineering
HCC Katy Campus
1550 Foxlake Drive
Houston, TX 77450
(713) 718-5617
(713) 718-5834 (fax)
bart.sheinberg@hccs.edu
