NSF-funded international research experiences for students (IRES) program

NSF IRES program in China overview

This IRES program aims to recruit four U.S. undergraduate students in STEM (UT Permian Basin STEM majors based), including from under-represented groups, for an 8-week summer research experience at the Shandong University of Science and Technology (SDUST) in Qingdao, Shandong, China. The selected students will conduct research on the topic of design and preparations of high efficiency materials for energy storage and conversion. The IRES will select from among upper-level undergraduate students, who will have already completed domestic research experiences such as REU’s or in their campuses and provide them the opportunity to envision themselves as international researchers. This IRES experience will equip them with the research and cultural skills they need to transition and thrive in graduate school.

The main objective of this IRES program is to develop a long-term international collaboration that will provide students with advanced skills in science and engineering and an opportunity to develop research and communication skills in a highly mentored, culturally, and linguistically diverse setting.

This IRES ongoing project is being implemented from 2024 to 2026.

NSF IRES research projects

• • Greenhouse gas (CH4 and CO2) reforming under microwave plasma discharge
    • Biomass-based graphitic carbon catalyst effect
    • Mechanism of hydrogen sulfide decomposition
  • Design and Stability of anode materials for high performance lithium-ion batteries
  • Design and growth of atomic thin lead-free perovskite single crystal film
  • Multipoint driving mechanism and intelligent control of scraper conveyor with permanent magnet series

Students will work on the above research projects with the intent of publishing a joint study.

IRES participants will be committed to:

• U.S. one spring semester pre-departure workshop
• 8-week intense research in Shandong University of Science and Technology
• Research symposium/regional(national) conference/research article
• Industry sites and national lab visits
• Cultural exchange and experience

Eligibility

• US Citizen/Permanent Resident with a valid passport
• Sophomore and junior undergraduate students from STEM field. Senior students will graduate at least a semester after participating in the IRES project.
• Underrepresented group are encouraged to apply.
• Minium GPA: 3.0. (preferred >3.5)

Financial Support by the NSF-IRES program

• Stipend
• Travel expense
• Living cost in foreign research site

Duration of NSF-IRES program (2024-2026)

• Beginning of June through July

Apply

Please click here to complete the application. Applicants must submit all required application materials by the deadline, November 1, 2023.

Required materials

• 2 pages CV or resume
• 2 pages personal statement
• Unofficial transcript
• Two recommendation letters upon request (make sure you fill in the recommender’s (research mentors) email address/phone number).

The application link is available on September 15th, 2023. November 1st is the deadline of the application with recommendation letter submitted.

Criteria of selection

• Academic performance
• Research experience
• Cultural competency
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal statement

Principal Investigators (PIs) of the NSF-IRES program

Dr. Chao Dong

Assistant Professor

Department of Chemistry and Physics

The University of Texas Permian Basin, Odessa, TX 79765

E-mail: dong_c@utpb.edu

Research Area: Biomedicine; computational calculations to investigate the structure-properties relationship in the various system such as protein-ligand, polymer complex, molecular catalyst.

Dr. Milka Montes

Associate Professor

Department of Chemistry and Physics

The University of Texas Permian Basin, Odessa, TX 79765

E-mail: montes_m@utpb.edu

Research area: Nanomaterials synthesis and applications

Dr. Joon Heo

Associate Professor

Department of Geosciences

The University of Texas Permian Basin, Odessa, TX 79765

E-mail: heo_j@utpb.edu

Research area: Water quality; CO2 sequestration

Institutional partners

Associate Professor Li, Longzhi

College of Mechanical and Electric Engineering

Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao city, Shandong province, China

Research area: Microwave dry reforming of CO₂ and CH₄

Associate Professor Chen, Yuan

College of Mechanical and Electric Engineering

Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao city, Shandong province, China

Research area: Design and preparation of perovskite thin film

Professor Zhang, Qiang, Dean

College of Mechanical and Electric Engineering

Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao city, Shandong province, China

Research area: Intelligent design of mining machinery

NSF-IRES Awardees

#1 (2024)    #2 (2024)    #3 (2024)    #4 (2024)