NNIN International Winter School for Graduate Students (iWSG) 2009

A two-week intensive technical and social education experience in INDIA

This page is obsolete. For the 2010 iWSG (Jan 2011) please see   http://www.nnin.org/nnin_iwsg_2010.html

The Program
The National Nanotechnology Infrastructure network announces and invites applications for its 2ndannual International Winter School for Graduate Students, Nov 30-Dec. 13, 2009. This year's subject is "Nanoelectronics", conducted with IIT Bombay in Mumbai, a premier research and teaching institution in India. This two week program provides an intense academic experience in an international environment, coupled with a developing world technology implementation experience to help examine the broader social context of nanotechnology.

Ten students from the US and 5 faculty from the US will join a larger group of students and faculty from India for this program.  The academic course will encompass the equivalent of an entire semester graduate course in 6 days and include lectures by leading researchers as well as simulation and laboratory exercises. The US participants may be joined by as many as 50 Indian students and faculty members.

The academic days will be long but there will be adequate time for social and cultural interaction with the Indian hosts.

Following the academic presentation, approximately 5 days will be spent on a field-trip working jointly with Indian students under the direction of a local NGO in the Mumbai areas.  Details are still be worked out. This will be with a community directly working with and leveraging emerging technologies in the developing world context. Faculty with expertise in the social and ethical issues associated with science and technology will participate to help examine the broader social context of nanotechnology.

Applications are encouraged from graduate students with exceptional potential for research and teaching throughout the US. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents. While users of the NNIN facilities are particularly encouraged to apply, it is not a necessary condition.

Course Syllabus

Prerequisites:

• Graduate student standing in a US university; this program is intended for outstanding advanced graduate students 
• At least Undergraduate quantum mechanics       
• At least Undergraduate solid state physics or semiconductor physics
• Interest in Nanoelectronics
• US Citizen or Permanent Resident
• An interest in the international aspects of scienfific research and its connection to issues in the third world.
  

Application:

• A 1 page essay describing your career goals and why you want to participate in this program
• A one page CV with graduate GPA, education and work experience, and country of citizenship
• An official transcript of graduate work
• Above three items sent in ONE ENVELOPE to address below
  
• Two faculty recommendations sent directly to NNIN.  (Instructions for Faculty Recommendations)

Note this will not be a normal international conference in a luxury hotel. In some cases it will be more like camping in the 3d world. It will likely be a physically and emotionally challenging adventure. Please be prepared.

Please  send ALL items (except recommendations) in ONE envelope to
    Lynn Rathbun
    NNIN Program Manager
    250 Duffield Hall
    Cornell University
    Ithaca, NY 14853

    For questions only, rathbun@cnf.cornell.edu. Applications will not be accepted by email.  Please email Dr.Rathbun , however, with notificiation that you have sent an application, so that nothing gets misplaced.

Application Deadline  Sept. 14, 2009
Notification: October 1, 2009

Please email me to notify me that you will be submitting an application so I can watch for it.  And I will acknowledge receipt of mailed application materials by email. If you do not get an email confirmation, please inquire.   Please use  IWSG  as the first work of the  subject of all emails.

Applicants must be available for the entire period Nov 30-13th, 2009, in India. Travel in the US will begin on Nov. 27.

Award- selected participants will receive:

• Travel expenses from US to India
• Travel, housing, and subsistence in India
• Certificate of Completion
• No stipend will be paid to participants in this course
• No tuition or course fee will be required
• No academic credit will be issued for this course.

Participants must supply proof of internationally valid medical insurance ( school policy, or available for nominal fee via internet).