Program Information / Online Application: http://materialsworldnetwork.org/US-Brazil.html
Overview: This program has two main goals: (1) establish viable research collaborations between US and Brazilian graduate students and their respective thesis advisors; and (2) offer project leadership training for young researchers in both countries. The Materials Research Institute will work with the Materials Research Society of Brazil to match US students with Brazilian counterparts at research instituions near Rio de Janiero. Matches will be based on complementary research interests and capabilities. Once the student teams have been formed, they will begin brainstorming potential projects via an online platform with guidance from their advisors. In September, the US students will spend 10 days in Rio visiting the research facilties of their prospective partners, discussing potential projects and attending the ICAM 2009 conference, where they will present their ideas to an international panel for feedback. It is hoped that the student teams and their advisors will eventually establish viable research collaborations, publish joint papers, and pursue joint US-Brazilian funding for their research.
Who can Apply? Advanced graduate students (3rd and 4th year) who are US citizens or permanent residents and working on thesis projects in diverse areas of science and engineering such as chemistry, physics, materials science, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, applied math, and biology. The involvement of thesis advisors is mandatory.
Role of Advisors: Project planning will be led by students on both sides. However, the supervising advisors on both sides will help guide these discussions to help ensure feasibility, innovation, and mutual benefit to all partner institutions. This process will be facilitated via an online platform. In the longer term, it is hoped that several successful projects will result and that the supervising advisors might remain involved as research partners, together with their students to publish joint papers, seek joint funding, etc.
Applications: Students and their advisors must apply together and both must complete online research profiles so they can be matched with Brazilian collaborators. Please visit our website to apply.
Dates:
Application Deadline: May 1, 2009
Travel: US students will depart for Rio on or around September 16, 2009 and return to the US on or around September 26, 2009.
Teams Formed / Project Discussions Begin: July 1, 2009
Travel Arrangements finalized: August 1, 2009
Questions?
Contact Jennifer Shanahan at mri@northwestern.edu