Following a guest speaking engagement for the 2006 MRSEC REU students, Ilona Kretzschmar, Associate Professor in the CCNY Chemical Engineering department, and Irving Herman began a discussion on introducing more CCNY students, particularly minority students, to the research opportunities at the MRSEC and at the university. In late fall, Louis Brus met with undergraduate members of CCNY's Chemical Engineering Society and informed students about the current research being conducted at the MRSEC. In addition, Justine Herrera spoke with the students about the MRSEC REU program and invited interested students take a tour of the MRSEC facilities. In December, 2006, a group of CCNY students visited the MRSEC facilities, which included a tour of the MRSEC shared labs, the clean room, and the Herman group lab. Students who attended the lab tours were encouraged to apply for the MRSEC REU program this summer. Through visiting lectures by MRSEC faculty, lab tours and summer research opportunities, we hope to continue to strengthen our partnership with CCNY as well as create a pipeline for minority students into the fields of chemistry, applied sciences and engineering.

Posted on: April 23, 2007