Faculty-Student Team Researcher

The Joint Science and Technology Office for Chemical and Biological Defense (JSTO-CBD) Faculty-Student Team defense lab research for Minority Serving Institutions (MIs) is no accepting applications from faculty at Minority Institutions (MI) interested in participating in a 12-week fall research team experience. The faculty-student team provides an opportunity for faculty members of undeserved academic communities to team with an undergraduate student for a fall research experience associated with real-world DoD science and technology requirements. This research experience is designed to increase and enhance faculty/student awareness of the mission space and goals of JSTO-CBD and greater DoD research environment. Faculty and student research teams will conduct research at a Department of Defense lab, normally within commuting distance of a MI. Limited housing allowance may be available for faculty/student teams not within a commuting distance to the research site.

Natick Solider Center (NSC) is seeking collaborative engagement with researchers. 

Research Project Title: Development of Lab-Scale Test Methods for Predicting Textile and Ensemble Durability in the Field

Project Description: Ensembles fielded to the United States Soldier tend to experience intense, specialized use over a long operational time. Oftentimes ensembles are worn in the field for many consecutive days without being doffed or laundered, or for a short time in extreme environments (e.g. dangerous terrain, extreme hot or cold weather, in the presence of chemical hazards, etc.). Short of actual wear trials, it is difficult to accurately estimate how long ensembles will last in the field, and even more difficult to predict how long they will adequately protect the Soldier after wear. Being able to predict service life of an ensemble is particularly important to Chemical Biological (CB) protective ensembles, where Soldiers may rely on a single ensemble to protect them against chemical warfare agents after many hours in the field.

There is great interest in finding ways to predict how long ensembles can last before being discarded and replaced, and to better understand the failure modes textiles undergo within these ensembles that impact material protection in the field. Our work seeks to bridge the gap between laboratory predictions based on textile performance and field use of a full ensemble. We will achieve this by developing lab-scale tests that better predict expected wear patterns for CB protective ensembles, with minimal technical and logistical burden. The goals of this work will be to develop and evaluate chemical and physical test methods for testing the protection level and durability of different textile materials as lone swatches and as part of an ensemble, document test methods and results for future use, and provide a final report on the work.

At the end of the twelve-week appointment, students will complete a scientific poster or research paper.

Stipend: The selected faculty participant will receive a weekly stipend of $1800 for full-time participation. Faculty participants will receive a prorated stipend for part-time participation.

Participant Benefits:

• Students will receive a stipend of $600 per week during the 12-week research experience period
• Limited Travel Reimbursement for local commuting or housing allowance

If you have questions, send an email to FSR@orau.org.  Please include the outreach name- Faculty-Student in the subject of your email.

Qualifications

Eligibility Requirements

Faculty Eligibility

To be eligible for this program, faculty must:

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Teaching full-time at an eligible Minority Serving Institution (MI) at that time of application. This also encompasses those institutions with high Hispanic Enrollment and American Indian and Alaska Native-Serving Institutions.
• Be teaching an academic discipline related to a DTRA research area.
• Have Ph.D. (or Master’s degree, if teaching at an eligible community college) in a discipline, major, or concentration directly related to a DTRA research area.
• Be able to participate in the program for twelve consecutive weeks during the same period as other team members. Part-time on-site participation at the DoD lab is required.
• Have coverage under a health insurance plan before arriving at the appointment site and maintain coverage during the appointment.

Institution Eligibility Information

Most accredited U.S. post-secondary institutions that meet the statutory criteria for identification as Minority Serving Institutions are listed at: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst.html

Institutions that meet at least one of the following criteria are eligible:

• Must be an accredited two- or four-year institution of higher education whose enrollment of a single minority or a combination of minorities exceeds 50 percent of the total enrollment (20 U.S.C 1067k(3)); or
• Must be an accredited two- or four-year Historically Black College or University under Title III Part B of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C. 1060 et seq.); or
• Must be an accredited two- or four-year Hispanic-Serving Institution under Title V of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.); or
• Must be a Tribal College or University cited in the Equity in Educational Land Grant Status Act of 1994, the Tribally Controlled College or University Assistance Act of 1978, or the Navajo Community College Assistance Act of 1978; or a Native American-Serving, Nontribal Institution as defined by the Department of Education: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst-list-pg9.html; or
• Must be an Alaska Native-serving institution and eligible as such in accordance with 20 U.S.C. 1058(b) and 20 U.S.C. 1059d(b)(2); or
• Must be a Native Hawaiian-serving institution and eligible as such in accordance with 20 U.S.C. 1058(b) and 20 U.S.C. 1059d(b)(4).