This federal Project Grant award, valued at $398,433 and provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (CFDA 47.049) program, will support an REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) site focused on interactive biomaterials research at Syracuse University.
The primary products and services to be delivered include providing hands-on research experiences for undergraduate students nationwide in cutting-edge biomaterials science and engineering. Key research areas will cover topics such as stimulus-responsive polymers, nanoparticle drug delivery, bacterial biofilms, cell-biomaterial interactions, soft robotics, and computational modeling. The program aims to train the next generation of scientists, promote STEM education, and advance scientific knowledge in biomaterials. Participating students will gain technical expertise, build essential skills, and be mentored by faculty to prepare them for future graduate studies and careers. The results and best practices from this REU site will also be widely disseminated to enable replication and expansion of similar initiatives.