{"id":14018,"date":"2025-04-23T16:20:23","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T16:20:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scienceweb.clemson.edu\/uacl-new\/?page_id=14018"},"modified":"2026-01-13T20:00:43","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T20:00:43","slug":"reu","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/scienceweb.clemson.edu\/uacl\/projects\/reu\/","title":{"rendered":"REU Program"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Deep eutectic solvents (DES) are an emerging class of fluids, composed of specific ratios of two or three components, often in solid state, that lead to a material featuring a melting point that is significantly lower than the melting points of the individual components often below room temperature. From the chemical standpoint, they offer tunable physicochemical properties and broad compatibility with systems ranging from soft materials (enzymes and polymers) to metallic nanoparticles. While undergraduate students can easily recognize the green aspects of these solvents, that could replace traditional organic solvents and are applicable in a wide variety of industries targeting sustainable chemistry, DES are rarely discussed in the undergraduate curriculum. In general, only a few undergraduates are exposed to DES during research-oriented courses, as single universities do not have enough researchers to offer training experiences in this field. Aiming to address this shortcoming, this project features a collaboration of mentors working on a shared topic (rather than a shared location) that aims to provide a transformative experience for undergraduates, who will learn from each other. We\u00a0hypothesize<\/strong>\u00a0that this approach will result in a unique opportunity for all participants, allowing them to interact with some of the best researchers in the field and allowing mentors to forge collaborations with other researchers. We anticipate that the quality of the proposed activities, the scientific stature of the selected mentors, and the clear opportunities for collaboration between the groups will positively impact the scientific\u00a0outcomes<\/strong> of the program. Considering that concepts linked to deep eutectic solvents are rarely discussed in the undergraduate curriculum, this program aims at supporting their education by allowing participants to select from 10\u00a0potential projects<\/a>, ranging from machine learning and organic synthesis to interactions with proteins and cells. To maximize access to both talent and state-of-the-art facilities, projects located in various universities are available.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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