REU: IDEA Incubator

Idea

Integrating Discovery, Engineering, and Art, the IDEA incubator for porous materials has 4 main objectives.

  1. Engage undergraduates in cutting-edge research projects in porous material design, synthesis, and characterization for chemical, electrochemical, material, and bioengineering applications;
  2. Teach undergraduates how to develop a solid understanding of size and scale;
  3. Nurture creative, innovative, and entrepreneurial thinking and ideas;
  4. Provide a safe and inclusive learning environment that supports and appreciates diversity, aimed at preparing undergraduates for future careers in engineering and science.

Our partners at KU’s Department of Architecture and Design, Spencer Museum of Art, and Natural History Museum will help facilitate arts-based learning activities. We will also leverage several campus centers of excellence, including the Institute for Sustainable Engineering (ISE). ISE has 12 industry partners (Aerosol Recycle, Bond Biosciences, Chemours, Chromis Technologies, DuPont, ExxonMobil, Hiden Isochema, Hills Pet Nutrition, Hudson Technologies, Iconium Engineering, Shell, and Wonderful) who will help us highlight career pathways. ISE partners (University of Notre Dame (ND), University of Maryland (UM), University of South Dakota (USD), University of Hawaii (UH), Lehigh University (LU), and Texas A&M University (TAMU)) add a strong avenue for recruiting students, particularly women and underrepresented groups (URG) to this program.

  • Orientation

    At orientation, students will learn about everything they need to have a fun, safe, and educational summer: lab safety, process safety management, research practices, and porous materials.

WHAT IS THE IDEA INCUBATOR PROGRAM?
This grant from the National Science Foundation immerses undergrads in research experiences at KU for 10 weeks in the summer.

WHAT IS THE NEED?
The future competitiveness of the U.S. in the global economy depends n innovators to create new or better products, processes, or services of value to society.
To nurture innovative capacity, a report by the National Academies* recommends: explicitly encouraging innovation, having physical spaces for informal discussions, and providing the freedom to tinker. We plan to incorporate these recommendations into our training strategy.

*Educate to Innovate, Washington D.C.: The National Academies Press, 2015.

WHAT INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO ME?
Our faculty have strong industry experience, including Dr. Shiflett, who joined KU after a 28-year career at DuPont. He is an inventor on 44 U.S. patents and has multiple awards, such as the 2006 ACS Hero of Chemistry and the 2016 AIChE Industrial R&D awards.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
$5,000 stipend
Housing
Meal plan
Travel costs (up to $800)
Trained mentors
State-of-the-art labs

WHO SHOULD APPLY?
Talented undergrads from diverse backgrounds who want an empowering learning and research experience that will nurture innovative thinking, enhance communication skills, foster a solid understanding of size and scale, and prepare them for graduate school.

AM I ELIGIBILE?
USA citizen or permanent resident, GPA of 2.6 or better, majoring in chemistry, chemical engineering, bioengineering, or a closely related field