The Primarily Undergraduate Nanomaterials Cooperative: A New Model for Supporting Collaborative Research at Small Institutions on a National Scale

Abstract

The Primarily Undergraduate Nanomaterials Cooperative (PUNC) is an organization for research-active faculty studying nanomaterials at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs), where undergraduate teaching and research go hand-in-hand. In this perspective, we outline the differences in maintaining an active research group at a PUI compared to an R1 institution. We also discuss the work of PUNC, which focuses on community building, instrument sharing, and facilitating new collaborations. Currently consisting of 37 members from across the United States, PUNC has created an online community consisting of its Web site (nanocooperative.org), a weekly online summer group meeting program for faculty and students, and a Discord server for informal conversations. Additionally, in-person symposia at ACS conferences and PUNC-specific conferences are planned for the future. It is our hope that in the years to come PUNC will be seen as a model organization for community building and research support at primarily undergraduate institutions.

Nanomaterials Research at a Primarily Undergraduate Institution: Transforming Nanorods, Undergraduate Research Communities, and Infrastructure

“…As identified in the recent Perspective by PUNC, 7 5a). F&M acquired a LVEM25 microscope from Delong Instruments with the support of an NSF-MRI grant (CHE- 1724948) that has supported research and class experiences for F&M and near-by PUIs.…”

“…Frequent interaction of the Plass lab with the Schaak lab has been a powerful accelerator of research, allowing the undergraduate research team to more quickly overcome experimental obstacles by consulting with graduate students and discussing experimental design through virtual group meetings. As recently laid out by PUNC, a lack of graduate students is a major challenge to research at PUIs. Graduate students and postdocs are able to commit the time necessary to truly become experts in their field, working full time for years, while PUI faculty have heavy teaching loads that relegate research to a secondary concern.…”

“…As identified in the recent Perspective by PUNC, access to nanoscience instrumentationparticularly transmission electron microscopy (TEM)is a major hurdle to advancing nanoscience research at PUIs and training undergraduates in nanoscience. It can also present a steep entry barrier to research itself.…”

“…6 The Primarily Undergraduate Nanomaterials Cooperative (PUNC) recently articulated the numerous challenges that face nanoscience researchers at PUIs. 7 These challenges include heavy teaching loads, small departments where nanomaterials researchers may be isolated, limited facilities, and a lack of graduate students. This Perspective focuses on approaches we have uncovered in our nanoscience research and education efforts that enable broad participation of numerous undergraduate students in impactful nanomaterials research at a PUI.…”

“…Small colleges also have an outsized effect on the pipeline of women and students from under-represented groups . The Primarily Undergraduate Nanomaterials Cooperative (PUNC) recently articulated the numerous challenges that face nanoscience researchers at PUIs . These challenges include heavy teaching loads, small departments where nanomaterials researchers may be isolated, limited facilities, and a lack of graduate students.…”