Educating Innovators
Educating the next-generation of Nanoscientist and Nanoengineer to Create Innovative Applications of Nanotechnology.
Alston Research is an interdisciplinary group at the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering that strives to educate the next generation of nanotechnology innovators. We value a hands-on research experience. Students learn by doing, and innovators learn by doing things differently. Researchers in our group are pushed to connect unrelated disciplines and explore new applications of nanomaterials.
From the beginning, our group has been a close partner with the North Carolina Space Grant. We have enjoyed proposing projects to the NC Space Grant in an effort to facilitate and increase opportunities for underrepresented students to experience working on NASA related projects and also having the chance to conduct research at NASA research facilities.
Our latest success was the opportunity of a lifetime for our Nanosciece Ph.D candidate Haley, who was able to travel to NASA Glenn and become an integral part of their research efforts in polymer aerogel development. Haley was recently featured in a news blurb hosted by the NC Space Grant. The Article Can be Read HERE at the NC Space Grant website.
The Draelos Science Scholars is a wonderful opportunity to provide research experience for some of the best and brightest high school students in the High Point, NC area. We were blessed to have the opportunity to host Sam and Spencer during their Draelos Scholar experience, both of whom excelled at learning and assisting our work on nanoparticle functionalization. We look forward to the next time we are able to participate in the Draelos Science Scholars program.