Center for Sustainable Polymers Research Opportunity

Center for Sustainable Polymers 2012 Summer Research Opportunity

Applications due 17 February 2012

The Center for Sustainable Polymers (CSP) integrates research, education, and public outreach initiatives that focus on sustainability issues surrounding the science and technology of polymeric materials. Members of the center concentrate their research efforts on harnessing the renewable, functional, degradable and non-toxic ingredients provided by Nature for tomorrow’s advanced plastics, foams, adhesives, elastomers, coatings and other macromolecular materials that are central to innumerable technologies. CSP researchers also work to broaden the participation of underrepresented minority students in relevant fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) by fostering various research opportunities with the center.

The Center for Sustainable Polymers (CSP) will provide up to six (6) undergraduate research opportunities to undergraduate students during the summer of 2012. This program is open to undergraduates in science and engineering majors, preferably chemistry, chemical engineering and material science. We strongly encourage underrepresented multicultural students — African-American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American students with U.S. citizenship or permanent residency status — to apply. This CSP undergraduate research program is collaborating with the North Star STEM Alliance, a National Science Foundation program supporting underrepresented students attaining bachelor’s degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

This research opportunity requires a full-time commitment to extensive lab work for 10 weeks during the summer of 2012, specifically from June 4, 2012 through August 11, 2012. These research experiences are funded by the Center for Sustainable Polymers — a National Science Foundation supported Center for Chemical Innovation. Students will receive a stipend of $6,400.

Requirements:

(i) Current Junior or Senior status and currently enrolled (science or engineering majors and more specifically Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Material Science majors preferred)

(ii) U.S. citizen or permanent resident

(iii) Able to make full-time commitment for 10 weeks of research during summer 2012

(iv) Participate in graduate preparation workshops and related events and meetings required by the North Star STEM Alliance

(v) Present research at a joint research symposium at the end of summer and the North Star STEM Alliance student research symposium in the spring of 2013

(vi) Attend Center for Sustainable Polymers summer meetings

Application Materials Required (Due February 17, 2012):

(1) North Star STEM Alliance Fellow application - download this application here: http://www.northstarstem.org/students/fellows

(2) Personal Statement: A 500-word (maximum) statement describing why you wish to participate in this program, any research experiences and your career goals.

(3) Your current resume

Submit the above application materials (1–3) electronically as separate PDF files in one email message to Marc Hillmyer at hillmyer@umn.edu by 5pm CST February 17, 2012.

In addition please have the following information sent directly to Marc Hillmyer by e-mail:

(A) A letter of recommendation as a PDF file from a faculty member whom you have had as an instructor or for independent study sent directly to hillmyer@umn.edu

(B) Official transcript mailed or e-mailed to: Prof. Marc Hillmyer, UMN Department of Chemistry, 207 Pleasant St. SE 55455-0431 OR hillmyer@umn.edu

Further information:

The Center for Sustainable Polymers (CSP):http://www.chem.umn.edu/csp