IRES Students Gain Research Experience in Denmark

Earlier this summer, a team lead by MSE Prof. Thom LaBean traveled to Aarhus, Denmark for a month-long research trip as part of the National Science Foundation funded project called “Vertically Integrated Team for Structural DNA NanoTech in Denmark” (NSF-OISE-IRES 1559077). The trip was part of the International Research Experience for Students (IRES) program and allowed students to work in the laboratories of the iNANO Center at Aarhus University and especially in the nanochemistry lab of Prof. Kurt Gothelf. The purpose of the project is to expand students’ networks to include international collaborators and to demonstrate the ease with which US scientists are able to work and live abroad. The team was able to make use of iNANO equipment including atomic force microscopes and computational resources.

MSE Graduate student Cynthia Koehler comments, “The IRES trip gave me the opportunity to interact with graduate students in another country; comparing and contrasting our experiences and expectations helped me to frame my immediate goals and future plans.”

<em>Participants include (left to right) grad student Cynthia Koehler, newly graduated Dr. Jessica Nash, undergrads Michael Fergione, Pedro Carriel, and Chinmaya Joisa, Prof. Thom LaBean, and graduate student Nikolay Frick.</em>

Besides scientific engagement, NCSU students were able to sample Denmark’s rich cultural heritage including visits to the Moesgaard history museum and the world famous ARoS art museum.

(Above: Cynthia and Jessica in the rainbow room atop the ARoS).