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Undergraduate research has been an important component
of the learning experience within the Department of
Macromolecular Science and Engineering since the
inception of the undergraduate major. Starting with the
2003-04 academic year, opportunities for integrating
undergraduate students into ongoing research programs
have been significantly increased. Fall 2003 ushered in
a new course, EMAC 125, which introduces Case Freshmen
to polymer research. Over its first three semesters,
EMAC 125 has brought approximately 30 students into
Macromolecular Science and Engineering labs, for an
average of five hours per week, working on projects
ranging from organic synthesis, mechanical and optical
properties of advanced materials, to simulation of
process flow and macromolecular structure. This course
is coordinated by
Professor
David Schiraldi, and is now oversubscribed each
semester. In Fall 2005, the Freshman experience will be
joined by a Sophomore/Junior level research course, EMAC
325, which can be taken multiple times for a range of
credit hours. EMAC 325 allows deeper and/or broader
exploration of polymer research by undergraduates
majoring in the field, and bridges the gap between
Freshman research and Senior thesis work. Professor
Schiraldi summarized the faculty desire to “create the
opportunity for undergraduate students to work in the
laboratory every semester that they are at Case.
Ultimately, our graduates are going to be paid to
actually do something in a laboratory or
manufacturing environment. We would like to give our
students the opportunity to grow their abilities to
function in these environments, and to hit the ground
running. Also, it is widely recognized that students
who experience a field in a practical environment more
effectively learn when they return to the classroom.”
In addition to the academic year undergraduate research programs, Macromolecular Science and Engineering has been the home of an NSF Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) program. Professor David Schiraldi was successful in obtaining a 3 year, $264,000 grant from the NSF, which brought 10 undergraduate students from other universities into the Department each summer (2004-2006) for a 10 week summer research experience. The NSF Center for Layered Polymeric Systems (CLiPS), directed by Professor Anne Hiltner, provided funding for 10 students to participate in the REU program during the summer of 2007. A new, three year grant proposal has been submitted for the summers of 2008-10. Each summer, the NSF-funded students are joined with an approximately equal number of Case undergraduates, who are funded by a number of faculty members, the CSE Dean’s office, foundations, the CSE alumni association, and corporate sponsors to creating a major center of research exploration for un dergraduate students. Students interested in applying to the summer research program should return the attached form as soon in the academic year as possible to Professor Schiraldi (fax 216-368-4243 or david.schiraldi@case.edu).
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