Each summer, the RTNN welcomes middle and high school teachers as well as community college educators to participate in this program, “Atomic Scale Design and Engineering for Sustainable Solutions.” Applications are now open for Summer 2026.
Up to ten teachers will be selected to participate in research in nanotechnology labs at NC State, Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill, or the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (UNC-Greensboro and NC A&T University partnership). Participants will work in small teams to conduct research in atomic scale design and engineering. Teachers will also gain hands-on experience in the cutting edge techniques and tools used in nanoscale science and engineering within RTNN facilities. All participants will conduct a research study; example projects are listed below. Teachers will also spend time designing curricular materials to use in their classroom and will share these teaching materials during the program and after they return to their home institution. Participants will have weekly seminars focused on nanotechnology from faculty and industry leaders. Teachers also strengthen their relationship with the universities and reinforce students’ understanding of size and scale through a cohort-wide citizen scientist project that connects their classrooms to ongoing research at the Science and Technologies for Phosphorus Sustainability (STEPS) Center, an NSF-funded Science and Technology Center.Join us for an interesting summer learning about advances in research, getting involved in your own study, and thinking about new ways to teach science and engineering. Please visit RTNN’s RET Lesson Plan page to see examples of lesson plans created by previous participants in the program.
The program lasts for 5 weeks (Tentative 2026 Dates: June 16 – July 22, 2026) with follow up during the academic year. Teachers will receive a $7,000 stipend for their work as an RET with additional funding available for curricular materials and travel for lesson plan/curriculum dissemination. The program is for US citizens only and teachers must participate for the entire period of the program. Participants are required to attend all daily and weekly meetings, seminars, field trips, and workshops.
Questions? Please Contact: Dr. Maude Cuchiara (maude_cuchiara@ncsu.edu) or Dr. Gail Jones (mgjones3@ncsu.edu).
2026 RET Projects
New antiferroelectric materials for energy storage (Nina Balke, NC State): Dielectric energy storage is an emerging technology that relies on the properties of dielectric materials to store electrical energy, demonstrating promise for various applications, e.g., electric vehicles, renewable energy systems). The technology also faces challenges such as lower energy storage capacity relative to other energy storage technologies and the need to develop advanced dielectric materials with even higher energy density and efficiency. One way to increase stored energy is to use antiferroelectric (AFE) materials. AFE materials display an antiparallel alignment of dipoles in the crystal structure (sub-nanometer level), making them interesting candidates for certain energy storage applications. A potentially new class of 2-D AFE materials has emerged recently, and one candidate material is CuInP2S6. In CuInP2S6, the AFE phase competes with an energetically close ferroelectric (FE) phase. The main difference between these two phases is the distribution of Cu in the layers of this van der Waals material (Figure 1). This project will advance stabilization of the AFE phase in CuInP2S6 by modifying the Cu distribution through temperature and field excursions, as the Cu ions are the most mobile. Teacher Component: Educators learn about CuInP2S6 and are introduced to the topic of antiferroelectricity. They learn how to characterize the AFE properties of these materials by using nanoscale characterization techniques such as atomic force microscopy (AFM), chemical imaging including energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (TOF-SIMS). The educators will apply different voltage and heat treatments to samples and characterize the effect on chemical and functional material properties. The project leads to pathways to stabilize the AFE phase in these new classes of AFE materials.
Functionalizing silicon with molecular catalysts for hybrid photoelectrodes (Jillian Dempsey, UNC-Chapel Hill): Capturing solar photons and using their energy to drive the synthesis of liquid fuels presents an opportunity to address the energy storage challenges associated with a diurnal energy source. Hybrid photoelectrodes are one promising architecture for solar capture and conversion. We are constructing hybrid photoelectrodes by functionalizing the surface of silicon with protective coatings deposited via atomic layer deposition. Ellipsometry is utilized to quantify the coating thickness. Subsequently, molecular catalysts with surface anchoring groups are attached to the coated silicon, and efficacy of attachment is quantified through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Subsequently, the performance of these hybrid photoelectrodes is evaluated through photoelectrochemical measurements coupled to product analysis. Teacher Component: This research project will give teachers hands-on experience performing atomic layer deposition in collaboration with graduate students, utilizing ellipsometry to quantify coating thickness, attaching catalysts, and analyzing the hybrid photoelectrode with XPS. The samples synthesized and characterized by the participants will be tested for photoelectrochemical performance, enabling the teachers to relate processing to structure and properties.
Surface acoustic waves for quantum information transduction (Faculty: James Cahoon): Phonons – in addition to photons or electrons – represent a fundamental excitation in solid state materials. Currently, phonons are a subject of research in numerous fields, including life sciences, microfluidics, and quantum information science. These quantized sound waves share many characteristics with their electromagnetic counterparts, photons, but differ in their propagation velocities. Using sound, the dimensions of microwave devices in the technologically relevant radio frequency (RF) domain can be shrunk by a factor of 100,000 to fit many processors on a single chip. These processors transmit their information in the form of acoustic waves, which are excited by electromechanical coupling spurred by devices fabricated on the surface of the host material. Teacher Component: Educators will learn about the structure and fabrication of these device using both photo- and electron beam lithography and design their own using computer-assisted design (CAD) software. They will test these devices with facile transmission and reflection measurements under the supervision of a graduate student. The educators will also use an electron microscope to image the surfaces of these devices for performance analysis.
Determining the structure and composition of polyphosphate granules inside bacteria (Faculty: Doug Call, NC State): Removing phosphorus from wastewater is important for mitigating eutrophication in waterways that receive effluent from wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs). Many WWTFs use biological phosphorus (Bio P) removal processes, which involve naturally occurring microorganisms removing phosphorus. In such processes, the bacteria hyperaccumulate phosphorus inside their cells, and when the biomass of the microorganisms are collected and separated from the water, their phosphorus content is removed. However, the structure and composition of phosphorus-rich granules found inside the cells remains unknown. Early evidence suggests that metals, such as magnesium, calcium, and potassium play a role in forming and stabilizing the granules; however, the association of phosphorus with the metals and the reasons behind specific metal concentrations remains unclear. Teacher Component: This research project is designed to give teachers hands-on experience with advanced microscopy techniques that can examine the granules and determine their structure and composition. The teachers will collect samples from a local wastewater facility, prepare them for microscopy through fixation and related processes, and then image them using techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This project will provide a unique opportunity to learn about the role of microorganisms in treating wastes and the importance of nanoscale science in studying fundamental aspects of large-scale processes.
Bio-Derived Pigment Intercalation in Two-Dimensional Mg-Al Layered Double Hydroxides for Optical and Environmental Applications (Tetyana Ignatova, JSNN): Two-dimensional Mg-Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have emerged as versatile materials due to their tunable chemical composition, low density, and layered architecture. One key property of LDHs is their adjustable interlayer spacing, which can be modified by varying the intercalated anions. This tunability offers opportunities for functionalization with organic molecules, enabling new applications in optics, sensing, and environmental integration. Bio-derived pigments are attractive candidates for sustainable material design; however, their stability under harsh environmental conditions remains a challenge. Intercalating these pigments into LDH layers can protect them from degradation, preserve color fidelity, and maintain optical performance. Such hybrid materials could provide camouflage capabilities in both visible and infrared spectra, opening pathways for eco-friendly coatings and sensors. Teacher Component: Teachers will functionalize Mg-Al LDHs with pyrene-4,5-dione, a small bio-derived dye, via interlayer intercalation. Under the supervision of a senior graduate student, they will analyze pigment incorporation and stability using optical and molecular spectroscopy. Optical absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy will be employed to monitor pigment stability and performance. Molecular interactions will be probed using FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. This hands-on experience will introduce educators to nanomaterials synthesis, intercalation chemistry, and advanced characterization techniques, bridging classroom concepts with cutting-edge research.
Developing ecofriendly polymeric biosensors for the detection of pesticides (Jerald Dumas, JSNN): Pesticides (e.g., organophosphorus pesticides) are currently needed to improve the production of the nation’s produce; however, their off-target effects can be detrimental to the environment. Engineering polyurethane-based composites that incorporate biopolymers (e.g., gelatin) and immobilized, fluorescent-based surface chemistry (e.g., alkaline phosphatase reactions) would provide a platform to potentially capture and detect pesticides in the produce ecosystem. The major goal of this project is to (1) design and characterize immobilized biocomponents and analytes on the polymer surface, (2) optimize surface chemistry for enable multiplexing capabilities, and (3) determine the ability of the designed biosensors to bind organophosphorus pesticides. Teacher Component: Teachers will participate in the synthesis of polyurethane-based biosensors with the capability of detecting organophosphorus pesticides. Further, they are exposed to characterization techniques such as fluorescent spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and SEM. In addition, the work will entail studying the recyclability of the polymeric materials coupled with a cost-benefit analysis with potential “customer discovery” with local farmers.
Nanoscale biocatalysts for a gigascale problem (Sonja Salmon, NC State): Carbon dioxide (CO2) removal (CDR) from the atmosphere is critical for combating global climate change. Reactive absorption of CO2 into liquids is a core technology for point source capture (PSC) at large stationary emissions sites. However, most liquids used thus far for PSC may not be scalable. In nature, the nanoscale enzyme protein carbonic anhydrase (CA) catalyzes the rapid interconversion between CO2 gas and bicarbonate (HCO3-) in aqueous systems that can be adapted for CDR purposes. The Salmon team is immobilizing CA on textile materials to create biocatalytic textiles for CO2 capture. Textiles are extremely well suited for this application because of their micro- and nanoscale structures leading to their high s.s.a., versatile and economical fabrication, and, importantly, their ability to absorb and control the transport of liquids in a way that creates high gas-liquid interfaces for efficient reactions. Ongoing research explores the fundamentals of these interfaces to enhance efficiency and durability. Teacher Component: Educators will learn the essential reaction mechanisms for CO2 capture and how to fabricate biocatalytic textiles. Participants will vary processing variables such as composition and concentrations of materials and will evaluate the impact of these changes using laboratory-scale CO2 capture methods that can be adapted for use in K-12 laboratory activities. Advanced material characterization techniques including TOF-SIMS image mapping and EM will be used to measure compositional and micro-/nano-scale features of the materials and correlate these properties to observed CO2 capture performance. Example materials to be used for fabrication include cotton fabrics and chitosan polymer as a coating and chemical anchoring material. CO2 capture measurement will be performed using color indicators, pH measurement, and IR-based CO2 analyzers.
Observing polynucleotide brush growth in-situ and in real time using video-rate AFM (Stefan Zauscher, Duke): DNA nanotechnology has the potential to drive miniaturization of sensing devices whose fabrication currently relies on cleanroom techniques with significant environmental burden due to the solvents and processes used in wafer and device fabrication. DNA origami nanostructures (DONs) provide an exquisite platform for self-assembly because they can be designed into a vast range of shapes and sizes, and they possess specifically addressable sites for functionalization with nanoscale precision. Furthermore, DONs, site-specifically modified with hydrophobic nucleotides, can self-assemble into large, micellar structures. Specifically, we aim to achieve site-specific polynucleotide brush growth to actuate, and shape-morph assembled structures. To this end, we need to better understand brush growth as a function of origami location (e.g., curvature effects) as well as a function of confinement. An innovative approach to answer these questions is afforded by in-situ, video-rate AFM imaging. The spatial resolution allowed by AFM enables us to study differences in the polymerization rate as a function of the shape of the origami tile and the precise location of brush growth in the tile. Teacher Component: Origami tiles will be prepared with cut-outs to locate staple strands with short oligo-T sequences that protrude from the 3’ end and serve as initiation sites. Imaging will reveal to what extent brushes can grow in spatially confined locations, and how confinement affects the rate of polymerization. The knowledge gained in this particular system is also transferable to site-specific growth of synthetic polymer brushes grown via controlled radical polymerizations (ATRP, RAFT, etc.). The Zauscher lab has significant experience in imaging polymeric and polynucleotide structures on surfaces using video-rate Cypher AFM. The research will increase competencies in state-of-the-art nanomechanical characterization and imaging techniques as well as opportunities in engineering of DNA nanostructures and their manipulation.