Graduate students who are passionate about research, concerned about the environment, and eager to cross disciplinary boundaries are encouraged to apply for a summer program that lasts three weeks. They will work with engineers and scientists to develop solutions to environmental sensing problems.
Online applications are accepted Through March 20, the first Science and Engineering of Environmental Signatures Convergence Research Incubator will be available. The program was designed by physics Professor Michael ScheibnerEnvironmental engineering Professor Tom HarmonThe Convergence Of Nano-engineered Devices to Environmental and Sustainability Applications ( CONDESA) program is organizing this event. This program provides extensive training and professional development for graduate students in research and writing.
Each participant will have the opportunity to attend seminars and work with guest speakers. They can also participate in technical or professional development activities. Each participant will also be eligible for a minimum $1,000 reimbursement for travel related to their research.
It is a three-week incubator in which they will be brought up on nanoscience, be placed into teams and try out designs for specific challenges in environmental sense. We will also set them some physics challenges. Professor Sayantani GhoshCONDESA is headed by,
Teams will work under the direction of UC Merced faculty scientists and Lawrence Livermore National Lab staff scientist to research the current state-of-the-science, develop concepts, and conduct feasibility studies to help them develop their proposals. Teams will present their proposals to a panel, which may award additional funds for research-related expenses.
The incubator is currently only open to UC Merced student, but CONDESA members are hopeful that it will soon be available to students at California State University.
CONDESA students who were part of the first cohort this spring, will also be part the incubator before they leave for work this summer with Lawrence Livermore Lab researchers.
Four grad students are currently enrolled in the first CONDESA cohort. Ghosh and her colleagues also recruit for the next cohort.
CONDESA receives nearly $2 million in funding from the National Science Foundation. It aims to train around 200 graduate students over five years, as they learn and develop nano-sensors for better resource management.
