Mentoring Undergraduate Students in Computational Materials Research
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Mentoring Undergraduate Students in Computational Materials Research Jie Zou Physics Department, Eastern Illinois University, 600 Lincoln Avenue, Charleston, IL 61920, U.S.A. ABSTRACT Computation has become an increasingly important tool in materials science. Compared to experimental research, which requires facilities that are often beyond the financial capability of primarily-undergraduate institutions, computation provides a more affordable approach. In the Physics Department at Eastern Illinois University (EIU), students have opportunities to participate in computational materials research. In this paper, I will discuss our approach to involving undergraduate students in this area. Specifically, I will discuss (i) how to prepare undergraduate students for computational research, (ii) how to motivate and recruit students to participate in computational research, and (iii) how to select and design undergraduate projects in computational materials science. Suggestions on how similar approaches can be implemented at other institutions are also given. INTRODUCTION With the advancement of computer technology, computation (computer modeling and simulation) has become an important tool in materials science. The importance of computation in undergraduate education has also gained recognition in recent years. For example, the American Association of Physics Teachers held a topical conference on Computational Physics for UpperLevel Physics Programs in 2007 and a Gordon Research Conference on Computation and Physics Education was held in 2008. In the same year, the American Journal of Physics published a theme double-issue on the uses of computation in the physics curriculum and research [1]. Despite the importance of computation, involving undergraduate students in computational materials research faces several challenges. For example, computational methods and computational physics are usually not part of an undergraduate physics curriculum, and as a result, undergraduate students lack preparation in computation. Another factor is that important subjects for materials science, such as solid state physics, may be offered as electives and thus not many undergraduates may have chosen to take them. So, the important questions are: Can we involve undergraduate students in meaningful research in materials science, and if so, how to do it? In the next section, I present an approach that we take in the Physics Department at EIU. This approach is discussed in terms of three areas: preparation, motivation and recruitment, and topic selection and project design. Suggestions are also given on how similar approaches can be implemented at other institutions. THEORY
Eastern Illinois University is a public, regional university and the student body in the Physics Department consists primarily of undergraduate students. Currently, there are six tenured or tenure-track faculty in the department: three in experimental physics, two in astrophysics, and one (myself) in computational nanomaterials research. Students can participate in faculty
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