NSF US-China IRES Program:

Summer 2008

 

 

Program Description

 

Scientific and technological research and education are increasingly global in nature. Other countries are increasing their investments in these areas. It is critically important for the nation¡¯s science and technology enterprise that the US scientists and engineers, at the early stages in their careers, develop international experiences and capabilities to support and participate in these activities. Efforts to expose future generations of US scientists and engineers to first-hand professional experiences beyond the nation¡¯s borders, and addition of international dimensions to our scientific and technological education models are essential to the future of the nation.

 

Sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under the International Research Experience for Students (IRES) Program, Prof. Albert Wang is leading a three-year US-China IRES Program that will offer selected undergraduate students from the University of California System direct international scientific and technological research and education experience. This IRES Program will recruit four students (mainly undergraduate students from UC, but may be opened to students from other universities too) to spend about six weeks of summer time in China to gain international dimension in scientific and technological education. For the 2008 IRES Program, the selected students will travel to China in the summer and spend about three weeks in each of the two selected hosting universities in China to participate in a series of carefully designed academic and cultural activities with local Chinese students. The two participating host universities in China in 2008 are the Tsinghua University (TU) in Beijing and the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC) in Chengdu, Sichuan. All travel expenses are covered by the IRES Program and a stipend will be provided as well to cover general expenses in China. The selected students will also spend two weeks at the LICS to prepare technically for the US-China activities.

 

Engineering undergraduate students at Junior/Senior level and with good academic standing are encouraged to apply for the 2008 US-China IRES Program. Female students and those from under-represented minority groups are particularly welcome to participate in this Program. The students must be US citizens or legal Permanent Resident. For any inquiry, please contact Prof. Albert Wang at 417 EUB2 or via email at aw@ee.ucr.edu.

 

 

 

Objectives

 

¡¤          To expose US undergraduate students to a competent and vibrant micro/nano-electronics research environment in China for first-hand experiences in international research collaboration.

¡¤          To encourage US students to develop a constructive and open-minded attitude in dealing, working and co-existing with foreign colleagues and cultures.

¡¤          To offer US students an opportunity to learn directly about China and Chinese people through research and cultural interactions.

 

 

Research & Educational Contents

 

¡¤          To perform hands-on experiments in design and fabrication of semiconductor structures for RF and mixed-signal integrated circuits (IC).

¡¤          To learn advanced semiconductor fabrication and measurement technologies in state-of-the-art semiconductor facilities.

¡¤          To learn electronic circuit design and testing skills.

 

 

Cultural Contents

 

¡¤          To work in pairs with hosting Chinese students.

¡¤          To experience cultural shocks in China.

¡¤          To explore local historical and scenic Chinese sites.

¡¤          To experience everyday Chinese life.

¡¤          To participate in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

 

 

Host Chinese Institutions

 

¡¤          Institute of Microelectronics, Tsinghua University (IMETU), Beijing, China.

URL: www.tsinghua.edu.cn

 

o   Tsinghua is the most prestigious engineering school in China and a world famous university as well. The Institute of Microelectronics where this IRES program will be conducted has the state-of-the-art semiconductor fabrication facility including advanced clean room laboratory and nano technology research set-ups.

o   Beijing ¨C the Capital of China that is the home for countless of world famous historical sites, such as, Forbidden City, Great Wall and Summer Palace, etc.

 

 

 

¡¤          University of Electronics Sciences and Technology of China (UESTC), Chengdu, Sichuan, China.

URL: www.uestc.edu.cn

 

o   UESTC is the one of the most prestigious universities in China in the field of Microelectronics and has the cutting-edge research and teaching facilities for semiconductors on its campus.

o   UESTC is located in the city of Chengdu in Sichuan Province, the southwest part of China, more than one kilometer from Beijing.

o   Yes, Sichuan is the hometown of the famous and cute PANDA.

o   Yes, Sichuan is the home for the world famous SPICY Chinese food.

o   And more and more, ¡­..

 

 

Financial Supports

 

 

 

 

2008 US-China NSF IRES Program Timelines

 

2/1-15/08                     IRES application window

2/20/08                        IRES winners announced

2/25/08                        Winner acceptance due

2/26-3/10/08                IRES paperwork

4/1-5/31/08                  IRES pre-departure technical orientation at LICS (Time TBD)

4/1-6/20/08                  IRES pre-departure orientations (legal, language, culture, etc., Time TBD)

6/30/08                        Depart LAX for Beijing

7/1-20/08                     IRES Session-1 at Tsinghua University in Beijing

7/21-8/10/08                IRES Session-2 at UESTC in Chengdu, Sichuan

8/11-20/08                   IRES Session-3 at Tsinghua University in Beijing

8/21/08                        Depart Beijing for LAX

9/22/08                        IRES Team Report due

10/10/08                      Post-IRES Seminar at UCR

 

 

 

Student Qualifications:

 

¡¤                    Number of IRES students to be selected: Four.

¡¤                    All applications Forms must be completed and submitted by the deadline.

¡¤                    Selection Criteria:

o   US Citizenship or Permanent Residents.

o   Engineering Junior/Senior students, ECE major preferred.

o   Prior experiences in conducting research-oriented course projects.

o   Strong interests in research and self-motivation for course projects.

o   Good academic standing with GPA = 3.0+ preferred.

o   Strong interests in foreign cultures, history and environments.

o   Women and under-represented minority students are strongly encouraged.

o   Demonstrated social, team and volunteer service experiences.

 

 

Pre-IRES Preparation:

 

¡¤          Selected IRES students will go through intensive technical training at the Laboratory for Integrated Circuits and Systems (LICS). The technical training will be conducted during the period of April 1st to May 31st, 2008. Detailed technical orientation time will be scheduled later.

¡¤          Legal, language, cultural and travel orientations will be provided during the period of April 1st to June 20th, 2008.

 

 

Post-IRES Activities:

 

¡¤          The IRES will submit a Team Report by September 22nd, 2008.

¡¤          IRES to organize a post-IRES Seminar at UCR on October 10th, 2008.

¡¤          IRES Exist Surveys will be conducted for NSF.

 

 

How To Apply?

 

¡¤        Please email your Applications to aw@ee.ucr.edu

¡¤        Email Subject line states: IRES Application.

¡¤        In the email body, provide the following information:

o   Full name and student ID#,

o   If US citizen or Permanent Resident,

o   Your Majors,

o   Which Grade are you in,

o   Your GPA = ?

o   Your contact information including mailing address, phone number and email,

o   A brief Statement on your motivation,

 

 

 

Natural and Historical Scenes

 

Beijing

 

 

The Great Wall

 

The Temple of Heaven

 

The Summer Palace

 

The TianAnMen: Center of Beijing

 

2008 Beijing Olympic Games

August 8 ¨C 24, 2008

 

 

 

The Bird¡¯s Nest ¨C The National Stadium for the Games 2008

 

 

 

The Water Cube ¨C National Aquatics Center

 

 

 

Chengdu, Sichuan

 

 

Habitats for Great Pandas

 

The JiuZhaiGou Ravine

 

 

The Ermei Maintain: 3098M above the sea where you can interact with monkeys.

 

Sanxingdui Museum: Ancient civilizations of 5000 years old.

 

 

Leshan Giant Buddha: the largest stone sculpture Buddha in world, 71M high and completed 1500 years ago.

 

 

The Dujiangyan Irrigation System: a great water conservation work built more than 2000 years ago that is still functioning today.