I-MIRTHE REU program 2007 – highlightsIntellectual merit

Interdisciplinary research in the development of mid-infrared trace-gas sensing systems for environment and health: Leading-edge undergraduate research in (i) materials and device science, (ii) nanotechnology, (iii) fundamentals of sensing, (iv) optoelectronic systems design and manufacturing, (v) environmental chemistry, (vi) climate research, (vii) public safe-guarding, (viii) medical diagnostics, (ix) societal impact, and (x) technology policy.

Award-winning presentations and summer projects involving I-MIRTHE REU students:

Roxanne Zellin, Claire Gmachl, Princeton University DMR 005274 0021

Small-size, low-cost CO2 sensor• 0.2W control system power• 0.75W peak consumption for

our CO2 sensor• Small size (includes USB, radio,

pressure sensor)• Low cost (~$250 in qty 5 to

build boards)

Small-size, low-cost CO2 sensor

Daniel ChangREU @ Rice U.

AR coating

HR coating

Aishwarya SridharREU @ Princeton U.

High-efficiency QC Laser• X2 improvement in wall-plug

efficiency (WPE)

I-MIRTHE REU program 2007 – highlightsBroader impacts

6 MIRTHE Institutions = 1 REU Site: Experiencing that “the total can be more than the sum of its parts”

– 18 undergraduate students worked at 5 MIRTHE locations (JHU, PU, Rice, TAMU, and UMBC)– Interacted bi-weekly through web-conferencing (faculty lectures and student presentations)– Met and presented their work at MIRTHE Summer Workshop, August 6-10, 2007, in Princeton

• Students experience directly the value of collaborative research of inter-institutional research centers

• Students conduct highly interdisciplinary research from material science to climate studies• Students learn the tools and practice of effective research communication across institutions• Students form broadly cast, multi-institutional professional networks early in their career

Pictures from MIRTHE Summer Workshop:

Julia Klofas, Johns Hopkins U, discusses her poster with Miguel Bustamente, CCNY

Fatima Toor, Princeton U, discusses her poster with Robinson Kuis, UMBC

MIRTHE students enjoy a baseball game.

Roxanne Zellin, Claire Gmachl, Princeton University DMR 005274 0021