Michael Tubergen, professor in Chemistry and Biochemistry and Torsten Hegmann, professor in Chemistry and Biochemistry as well as the Materials Science Graduate Program and Director of the Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute (AMLCI), may be working in different fields of research, but they have been continuously collaborating with one another to achieve their like-minded goal: Help shape and prepare the next generation of researchers and scientists, regardless of what school they attend.
Hegmann and Tubergen received a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) grant that supports undergraduates from universities all over North America to work with 5X faculty. This grant was funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
“Overall, there are well over a dozen different research projects happening within this program,” said Tubergen. “The university is very fortunate to have so many advanced labs and programs, this gives students from other universities the opportunity to work with experienced faculty and grow their understanding within their field.”
Over a 10-week period during the summer, students will individually contribute around 400 hours to conduct research within the fields of physics, chemistry, advanced materials, liquid crystals, and biology.
Unfortunately, the COVID pandemic led the researchers to delay the program one year. “The true learning experience stems from personal interaction with one another, so until we can guarantee that it can be done safely, the program will be postponed. If we are going to do this, we are going to do it right,” said Hegmann.