SU Chemistry Department initiates international

SU Chemistry Department initiates internationalMarch 24, 2005Edward Byrnesedbyrnes@syr.edu

The Department of Chemistry in The College of Arts and Sciences has been awarded a grant by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support a new international research exchange program for undergraduate students. The funding is ensured for three years.

The program, set to begin this summer, will sponsor eight U.S. students for a 10-week summer research experience at Graz University of Technology in Graz, Austria. In turn, six students from Austria will spend the summer at SU participating in research alongside 21 students from across the United States who are hosted by the department’s existing Research Experience for Undergraduates Program, which is also supported by the NSF.

“This program addresses the need for chemistry students to become familiar with the increasingly global scientific community. Such opportunities are rare for science students,” says Professor Karin Ruhlandt-Senge, who spearheaded the proposal effort. “This exchange program will provide international exposure not only to the students who travel, but also to the students who work with them.”

The U.S. and Austrian students will conduct research in collaboration with faculty, postdoctoral associates and graduate students in a wide variety of areas in chemistry. The program will provide a stipend for each participant in addition to travel and housing, and will include a capstone event for the U.S. students to be held at SU in October. The program co-directors are SU Professor Jerry Goodisman, Ruhlandt-Senge and Associate Professor Michael Sponsler. One of the three will accompany the students for their first few days in Austria and assist with their orientation.

SU’s Office for Undergraduate Studies will sponsor two of the eight American students. These students will be participants in the University’s Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP), which encourages and supports students from historically underrepresented groups as they prepare for careers in science, technology and health-related fields. The College of Arts and Sciences and its Department of Chemistry will provide additional funding in support of the program.

More information about the program is available at http://chemistry.syr.edu/reuaustria/reuaustriaindex.html.