University of Wisconsin-Madison NSEC: Templated Synthesis and Assembly at the Nanoscale

1. University of Wisconsin-Madison NSEC: Templated Synthesis and Assembly at the Nanoscale WiPREM: A University of Wisconsin-Madison University of Puerto Rico Partnership in Research and Education in Materials J.J. de Pablo, P. F. Nealey, A. Greenberg The NSF supported Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center (NSEC) at the University of Wisconsin – Madison has partnered with three universities in Puerto Rico Partnerships in Research and Education to establish the WiPREM, a Partnership in Research and Education in Materials. The WiPREM research mission is divided into four Interdisciplinary Research Teams (IRT) and an education and outreach team. The research focus of the partnership include projects on host-defense peptide-mimetic foldamers and polymers as targeted antimicrobial agents, nanoparticle heteroaggregation and transport in porous media, liquid crystalline elastomers and gels, and multifunctional nanoporous materials for sustainable catalysis. The joint education and outreach efforts are designed to train a next generation of diverse nanoscienctists and engineers through programs from K-12 students and teachers, research opportunities for undergraduates, and research exchange programs for graduate and post doctoral students. Primary Strategic Outcome Goal: Learning: Cultivate a world-class, broadly inclusive science and engineering workforce, and expand the scientific literacy of all citizens. Secondary Strategic Outcome Goals: How does this highlight address the strategic outcome goal(s) as described in the NSF Strategic Plan 2006-2011? Discovery – The WiPREM is poised to help answer fundamental science engineering questions in the area of material science through research collaborations. NSF Award Number 0832760 PI: Paul Nealey University of Wisconsin – Madison