The Nanoscience and Engineering High School Research Internship program at the University of Alabama
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The Nanoscience and Engineering High School Research Internship program at the University of Alabama David E. Nikles, and Gregory B. Thompson The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487-0209 ABSTRACT The Center for Materials for Information Technology provides a ten-week summer research experience in nanoscience and engineering for high school students. The students were between their junior and senior year or their sophomore and junior year and were interested in a career in scientific research. Each student had their own research project within the general theme of metal alloy nanoparticles. They were trained in safe laboratory practice and could prepare their own particles independently. Each used x-ray diffraction and SEM EDX to characterize the structure of their nanoparticles. They also identified potential applications for their particles such as magnetic recording, fuel cell catalysis and cancer therapy. Many of the students accomplished enough research to submit competitive entries to regional and national high school science fairs. Two were semi-finalists in the Siemens-Westinghouse Competition. Another won the West Alabama Science Fair and competed in the Intel International Science Fair. This program provided the high school students with a vision for the breadth and excitement of doing basic research in materials science. . INTRODUCTION Faculty in the Center for Materials for Information Technology at the University of Alabama have been concerned about the lack of interest K-12 students display toward careers in scientific research. This has led us to design a comprehensive program of outreach to K-12, taking a cradle to Ph. D. perspective. An important component of our program has been our Nanoscience and Engineering High School Research Internship program, a summer research experience for high school students. THE INTERNSHIP PRORGAM This is a ten week summer research program for high school students between their junior and senior years or between their sophomore and their junior years. The students began on June 1 and the program continues until high school starts in the second week of August. This is a full time job and the students are expected to work an eight hour day and a five day week. They were paid a stipend of $2,600 over the course of the summer in monthly checks. Each student was allowed to take one week off for either a family vacation or to fulfill some other commitment, e.g. band camp, Boy’s State, sports camp. These students are high achievers and often have other commitments. If we did not offer a week off, they might not be inclined to participate in the program. A committee of faculty selected the interns from a pool of applicants. Early in February announcements were sent to local high school to solicit applications. The completed application consists of a general information form, a transcript and an essay on the student’s career plan. We
also solicit three letters of reference. This generated about 20 to 30 applications, with about 20 applicants qualified for
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