Materials World Network (MWN) to Study Liquid Precursor Formation and Crystallization at Interfaces: Fundamentals towards Applications Aim: To investigate the fundamental mechanism of a polymer-induced liquid-precursor (PILP) crystallization process. Why?  the PILP process serves as an in vitro model system of biomineralization  can mimic biomineral nanostructures of bones, teeth, and invertebrate shells Results : the thermodynamic driving force and molecular level interactions involved in this non-classical crystallization process are being determined template effects on precursor deposition and transformation are being examined non-specificity of PILP process for application to non-biological materials is being evaluated Keyword: Biomaterials Laurie B. Gower, University of Florida, DMR Laurie B. Gower, University of Florida, DMR Helmut Cölfen, MPI, Germany Dirk Volkmer, University of Ulm, Germany Atomic force microscopy of a mineralized collagen fibril CaCO 3 coated liposomes for biodegradable microcapsules

Materials World Network (MWN) to Study Liquid Precursor Formation and Crystallization at Interfaces: Fundamentals towards Applications Undergraduate Research Intl. Exchange Program Aim: To enhance undergraduate education and promote international collaboration for the future generation of materials scientists. Program: Two US undergrads spend 5 weeks each in the labs of Volkmer and Cölfen learning new techniques in surface and colloid science. the research is continued upon return to UF as part of their senior research design projects. two German students from Ulm or MPI spend 6 weeks doing research in Gower’s lab a part of their Diploma certificate. Keyword: Biomaterials Laura Pendi, undergrad from Univ. of Ulm (center), presenting a poster with US postdoc Taili Thula (left) and grad student Ya-Wen Yeh (right). Laurie Gower, University of Florida, USA Helmut Cölfen, MPI, Germany Dirk Volkmer, University of Ulm, Germany Laurie B. Gower, University of Florida, DMR

Materials World Network (MWN) to Study Liquid Precursor Formation and Crystallization at Interfaces: Fundamentals towards Applications Postdoctoral Training Program Aim: To enhance the diversity of the academic workforce by training underrepresented minorities in the field of materials engineering. Program: The postdoc received training at the Max Planck Institute for Colloids & Interfaces with leading experts in the field of biomechanics. Nanoindentation and Environmental SEM experiments were performed on biomimetic bone samples prepared in Gower’s lab in the US. - The postdoc served as mentor to the two undergraduate students visiting the lab from the exchange program of the primary MWN grant. Keyword: Biomaterials Postdoctoral researcher Douglas Rodriguez Laurie B. Gower, University of Florida, DMR supplement DMR supplement Laurie Gower, University of Florida, USA Peter Fratzl, MPI, Germany Paul Zaslansky, MPI, Germany Environmental scanning electron microscopy of mineralized collagen fibrils