NANOJAPAN: Preparing Globally Engaged Scientists and Engineers

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NANOJAPANPreparing Globally Engaged Scientists
and Engineers

• SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAM
• SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

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National Science Foundation Partnerships for
International Research and Education

• "At a time when scientific and engineering
  research is becoming increasingly global, this
  NSF program is designed to enable U.S. scientists
  and engineers to build strong, long-lasting
  international research collaborations and to
  develop a new cadre of globally engaged U.S.
  scientists and engineers," said Kathryn Sullivan,
  acting director of NSF's Office of International
  Science and Engineering, which awarded the PIRE
  grants.

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National Science Foundation Partnerships for
International Research and Education

• PIRE projects are characterized by
• close integration of research and education
• extensive student preparation for foreign
  experiences and strong mentoring during
  international research
• activities that will contribute to developing an
  international community of scholars at U.S.
  universities.

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NanoJapan Program Goals

• Encourage U.S. undergraduate students to
• Consider graduate school
• Declining number of U.S. graduate students
• Choose nanotechnology as field of study
• Strong graduate program at Rice (and other
  schools)
• But few undergraduates majoring in the
  nanosciences
• Develop a generation of globally-savvy engineers
  and scientists
• Create an international network of peers
• Breakdown barriers (cultural, language, etc...)

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Why Nanotechnology?

• Emerging cross-disciplinary research field
• Exciting applications and solutions to
  contemporary global problems
• Medicine/Health
• Computation
• Energy
• Vital to future growth in U.S. and world economies

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Why Japan?

• In 2004 Japan and the US accounted for 57 of
  worldwide nanotechnology RD spending
• (Japan slightly ahead of US)

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NanoJapan
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Program Details

• May 13 Pre-Departure Orientation at Rice
• May 15 June 5 Orientation Program in Tokyo
• June/July Research Internships
• Mid-July Mid Program Meeting in Kyto
• August 4 5 Re-Entry Program RQI Colloquium
  at Rice
• Enroll for 1 ECE Research Credit through Rice
  Summer School
• Up to a 4,500 Stipend International Airfare

Hokkaido
Miyajima
Kyoto
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(No Transcript)
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NanoJapan 2010 Summer Research Program
Welcome to Japan!
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Research Internship

• 8 ½ Weeks
• 2011 projects focused on THz dynamics of
  nanostructures
• SWNT, MWNT, Graphene
• PIRE U.S.-Japan Cooperative Research and
  Education on Terahertz Dynamics in Nanostructures
• Advances our quantitative understanding of the
  THz dynamics of interacting, confined, and driven
  electrons in nanostructures,
• Grows, synthesizes, and fabricates novel
  nanostructures for THz study and applications,
• Advances our cutting-edge experimental techniques
  in THz spectroscopy and imaging
• Provides new knowledge useful for developing
  novel semiconductor or carbon-based devices that
  operate in the THz technology gap.

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Potential Host Labs

• Potential Research Hosts in JP
• Chiba University
• Hokkaido University (Sapporo)
• Keio University (Tokyo)
• Kyoto University
• Osaka Institute of Technology
• Osaka University
• RIKEN
• Shinshu University (Nagano)
• Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Tohoku University (Sendai)
• University of Tokyo

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You will be able to

• increase understanding of how to conduct a
  research project
• increase awareness of what graduate school is
  like
• increase confidence in research skills

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Eligibility

• Currently enrolled as a degree-seeking
  undergraduate student at a US institution of
  higher education
• US student or permanent resident
• Currently in the spring semester of your freshman
  or sophomore year
• In good academic standing and not currently on
  probation or under any disciplinary action at
  your home university
• Able to express a demonstrated interest in the
  field of nanotechnology as it relates to
  nanoscale semiconductor devices, nanophotonics,
  and carbon nanotubes

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Application Process

• Online Application
• Resume
• Unofficial Transcript
• Recommendation Letters (2)
• Due January 28 all letters of recommendation
  must be received by February 2

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Selection Criteria

• Have a strong and well-defined interest in
  nanoscale science and research as it relates to
  THz dynamics of nanostructures, though no prior
  research experience is required
• Have a strong and well-defined interest in
  pursuit of future graduate study in a field
  related to nanoscale science and research
• Have a strong and well-defined interest in
  international research, particularly in Japan,
  and a desire to develop the skills necessary to
  become a globally-competent scientist or
  engineer
• Have a strong and well-defined interest in Japan,
  though no prior Japanese language or culture
  study is required.

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Application Process

• Late February
• Notification of Finalists
• Early February
• Finalist Interviews (In-Person or Phone)
• Mid-March
• Participants Selected
• Early April
• Research Internship Placements Confirmed

• January 28, 2011
• Online Application Due
• Why Japan essay
• Why TeraNano essay
• Alumni Follow-on Project
• February 2, 2011
• Recommendation Letters Due
• One must be from a professor/advisor at your home
  university
• If you have previously done research one must be
  from your research advisor

Apply Online http//nanojapan.rice.edu
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Life in Japan
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• http//nanojapan.rice.edu