IRES with the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom

Key features of this international research experience

This is a paid summer research experience for 11 weeks with partners at the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom to investigate the critical research areas of next-generation electrical power systems. This will involve developing environmentally-friendly transport systems and the human factors issues that accompany their use and adoption.

Program Highlights

11-week summer program includes two phases:

Predeparture Workshops and Seminar at Virginia Tech: two workshops at Virginia Tech during the Spring 2024 semester, plus a four-week Research Planning Seminar to be held May 28 – June 21, 2024.
International Research Experience: A six-week research experience at the University of Nottingham working in collaboration with one of their internationally recognized research groups (below) from July 1 – Aug 9, 2024.

Students receive a $5,500 stipend, international travel (including roundtrip airfare, airport transportation, and international health insurance), and lodging in the UK during the research program

Eligibility

U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Enrolled full-time at Virginia Tech
Graduate students or undergraduate juniors/seniors with at least 1 semester remaining following the summer you will be conducting research abroad
Open to engineering and science disciplines that correpond with participating research areas, including: electrical engineering, industrial systems engineering, materials science, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, and statistics

Applications for summer 2024 are now closed. Please contact Dr. Nicole Sanderlin at npsander@vt.edu for more information.

Program Details

Virginia Tech students will be co-advised by two faculty mentors – one at Virginia Tech and the other based at a research group or center at the University of Nottingham. Students may join one of five research teams representing many different engineering and science disciplines:

Research Areas:	VT Faculty Mentors	Nottingham Research Group
Power electronics	Rolando Burgos, Christina DiMarino	Power Electronics, Machines and Control Group (PEMC)
Human factors*	Joe Gabbard	Human Factors Research Group (HFRG)
Advanced manufacturing & composites	David Dillard, Mike Bortner	Centre for Additive Manufacturing; Composites Research Group
Rolls-Royce-related research	Changmin Son, Rui Qiao, Geoff Vining, Hang Yu, Todd Lowe	UTC Gas Turbine and Transmissions Research Centre (G2TRC)
Advanced materials	Abby Whittington	Advanced Materials Research Group

* HFRG has a course prerequisite, ISE 3614, offered in Spring 2022 at Virginia Tech.

Nottingham IRES Program Contacts

Dr. Nicole Sanderlin, Program Director

Tel: 540-231-1755
E-mail: Dr. Sanderlin

This program is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (Award #1854185).