The NSF-funded CREST for Advanced, Functional Materials at CSUSB has fundamental goals to develop novel, potentially commercially useful materials, while simultaneously providing career-changing research opportunities for participating students and faculty. In the past three years, six faculty in the departments of Physics and of Chemistry & Biochemistry have participated, mentoring locally more than 30 undergraduate and high school researchers at a time, along with two visiting graduate students from our partner research institutions. Concurrently, six community college faculty are mentoring introductory research sessions during the winter break, and 21 CSUSB students and one faculty member have participated in summer research experiences at our partner research-intensive institutions, bringing the total number to about 150 undergraduate researchers to date, participating at one or more of our five institutional sites. Nearly half of these students have undertaken research in chemistry departments. The problems addressed inherently require a team of theoretical, and experimental chemists and physicist to solve, leading to extensive collaboration and teamwork. Undergraduate students not only perform most of the experimental and theoretical work, they also meet regularly with our “Supergroup” of collaborators and interact frequently with students and faculty mentors outside of their own labs. External evaluators have highlighted significant increases in student development and attitudes, and CREST students all remain on track to graduate with degrees in closely related fields, or have graduated, many pursuing advanced degrees.<br/>

Leveraging CREST-center funding to advance undergraduate research at multiple Minority Serving Institutions

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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