Are you ready to take your engineering career international?
*** The application closes at 11:59 PM on November 25th ***
The iPRISM program is an international paid research experience open to 3rd and 4th-year undergraduate students running June - July 2025. Although organized by Penn State University Park, the program is seeking applicants from UMBC, a partner institution in this National Science Foundation sponsored program. Applicants are sought from the College of Engineering and Information Technology.
The program builds on the strong partnership between the Penn State Center for Living Multifunctional Materials Systems and the University of Freiburg livMatS Center of Excellence in Germany. Dr. Paris von Lockette (Professor, Mechanical Engineering, UMBC) also has ongoing collaborations with both Penn State and Freiburg that bring this opportunity to UMBC COEIT students.
The application closes on November 25th.
The iPRISM program is a fully paid summer research internship at
the University of Freiburg centered on engineered living materials
research. The selected undergraduate students will receive a competitive
stipend for their stay as well as a per diem to cover food and
incidentals, with both travel and lodging also covered by the program.
We have local University of Freiburg mentors and hosts, as well as an
iPRISM graduate student mentor, to mentor the iPRISM cohort on various
research skills and acclimating to Freiburg.
- For moe information, you can see the program website (at https://limc2.psu.edu/research/iprism/)
- For questions , contact Dr. Paris von Lockette, pvonlock@umbc.edu.
- The application closes on November 25th.
FAQ:
- What is the stipend?: I cannot confirm this at this point, but the past two yers of students has said it is more than enough.
- Where can I get more information and apply?: You can find more information here (https://limc2.psu.edu/research/iprism/ ). The applicatoin is under the heading: "How do I apply". NOTE: The application asks for a PSU ID. Instead, just enter "UMBC" and be sure to use your UMBC email when asked.
- Who handles travel arrangements?: The program will schedule, book, and buy plane and train transportation from the US to Freiburg. The goal has been to have all students arrive in Germany at or near the same time such that they can take a single train out to Freiburg to meet the hosts and get settled.
- Who books lodging?: The program secures lodging for the entire group at a local establishment in Freiburg.
- Who handles Visas an passports?: The program gives guidance through the international student offices at the respective universities. Students, however, are responsible for keeping up with required deadlines. Missing these deadline has caused a participant to be unable to participate in the program.
- Do I have to speak German?: No. There are on boarding courses where you are taught BASIC German phrases and words, but you are not required to be able to speak German.
- Who can apply?: All engineering majors who are Rising Juniors or Seniors can apply (chemical, computer, mechanical, etc). Straight computer science majors may apply, however the skillset the program selects on generally includes hands-on experience (prototyping, wet / dry lab work, etc) or specific knowledge of topics studied as part of the program. Consequently, computer science majors are generally not ranked as highly as other majors. No CS majors have been selected in the past.
