(IREU) program is the key educational initiative of the National Science
Foundation funded Partnerships for International Research and Education
(NSF-PIRE) grant awarded to rofessor Junichiro Kono of Rice University and
his collaborators at the University of Tulsa, University at Buffalo (SUNY),
University of Florida, Texas A&M University, and Southern Illinois
University, Carbondale. Initially just one of twelve projects selected for
the PIRE program in 2006, the
PIRE: U.S.-Japan Cooperative Research and
Education on Terahertz Dynamics in Nanostructures renewal grant will support
the expansion of a unique interdisciplinary U.S.-Japan research and
education partnership focused on terahertz (THz) dynamics in nanostructures
over the next five years. The U.S. and Japan are global leaders in
both THz research and nanoscience, and stimulating cooperation is
critical to further advance THz science and develop commercial products
from new ideas in the lab. However, obstacles exist for
international collaboration – primarily linguistic and cultural barriers –
and this
PIRE renewal project aims to continue to break down these barriers
by providing future generations of researchers with a better understanding
of both the culture and the state-of-the-art technology in each country.
The NanoJapan program seeks to cultivate interest in nanotechnology
among
young U.S. undergraduate students, especially those from
underrepresented
groups, and encourage these students to pursue
further graduate study and
academic research in the physical sciences.
Recognized as a model for
international education programs for science
and engineering students, this
twelve-week summer program involves
first and second year undergraduate
science and engineering students
from U.S. universities in research
internships with Japanese
nanoscience laboratories. While the heart of the
program is the
summer research experience, NanoJapan places strong emphasis
on
preparing students to work effectively in cross-cultural
laboratory
settings.
Before beginning work in their research labs,
students complete a
three-week orientation program based in Tokyo that
combines 45-hours
of Japanese language instruction, an orientation to
Japanese life and
culture, and an introduction to nanoscale science in Japan.
At the
completion of the orientation, the students depart for their
research
labs, working for eight weeks at universities throughout
Japan.
Potential research host laboratories for the 2011 program
include:
Hokkaido University, Tohoku University, the University of Tokyo,
Chiba
University, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Keio University,
Shinshu
University, Osaka University, and Osaka Institute of Technology.
At
the end of the summer, the students return to Rice University
to
participate in a re-entry seminar and present their summer
research
with other students who completed domestic research projects as
part
of the Rice Quantum Institute Annual Research Colloquium.
The
program is open to freshman or sophomore physics or engineering
students who
are currently enrolled as degree-seeking undergraduate
students at a U.S.
university or college. Applicants must be U.S.
citizens or permanent
residents and in good academic standing at their
home university. Applicants
should have a strong and well-defined
interest in nanoscale science and
research as it relates to ThZ
dynamics of nanstructures, though no prior
research experience is
required. Applicants should also be able to express a
demonstrated
interest the study of Japan and the Japanese language, though no
prior
language experience is required as the primary working language of
the
research host laboratories will be English.
All eligible students
with a strong interest in the field of
physics-related nanotechnology
research and desire to study in Japan
are encouraged to apply. Women,
underrepresented groups, and students
from schools with limited research
opportunities are particularly
encouraged to apply. Community college
students who plan to
matriculate to a four-year university and major in
physics or
engineering are also strongly encouraged to apply.
Due to
the generous funding provided by the NSF-PIRE grant, selected
participants
will be provided with international airfare, departing
from Houston, and a
$4,500 stipend to be used towards living expenses
while abroad. In lieu of a
program fee, participants will be required
to enroll ELEC 490: Electrical
Engineering Research Projects (1 – 2
credits) through the Rice University
Summer School for College
students and will pay all applicable tuition and
fees individually.
The online application is now open and must be
submitted by January
28, 2011. Two letters of recommendation are also
required and must be
received by February 2, 2011. Selected participants
will be notified
by Mid-March.
For more information see our program
website or contact our office via
email or phone.
—
Sarah
Phillips
PIRE – Education & International Initiatives
Administrator
Rice University
6100 Main St., ECE – MS 366
Houston,
TX 77005
Phone: (713) 348-6362
Fax: (713) 348-5686
http://nanojapan@rice.edu
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/NanoJapan