NanoJapan Research Opportunity

Colleges and Universities A-Z Drexel University
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<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I have heard of this overseas research opportunity elsewhere, and I have wanted to apply there for a LONG time. It is called NanoJapan - It sounds like such an honor to be able to go, and I've always loved Japanese culture. I do plan to apply for the summer after my sophomore year. The link for more information is down below. </p>

<p><a href="http://nanojapan.rice.edu/educationOutreach_nanojapan_ireu.shtml"&gt;http://nanojapan.rice.edu/educationOutreach_nanojapan_ireu.shtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I am also very excited to be attending Drexel as a Drexel Dragon in the fall! However, I am just curious and a bit nervous about the conflict between the end of the typical academic year (mid June) and the start of the Research Abroad opportunity NanoJapan presents. I really really REALLY want to go.</p>

<p>As the time comes, should I talk to my advisor about scheduling? No, I only plan to go abroad if it's a research opportunity - as an engineering major who aspires to become a Physician Scientist, I can't really afford any risks to my GPA. </p>

<p>Turns out, during this past year in my senior year in High School I have also done research with a mentor/ assistant professor in a lab down at Drexel as well for my science research project. I have had many successes with it, and I guess it has also helped me land the $18,500 scholarship as well. Do you think that might help in case I get in - to help with managing around the schedule?</p>

<p>Please let me know what could help and what you think, Thanks a lot!</p>

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<p>Forgot to mention that the research was done in a Materials Science and Engineering Lab - and dealt with nanotechnology.</p>

3

<p>Hey Neuronerd,
I think it’s awesome that you are so ambitious and zealous about Nanotechnology. Being an undergrad in Materials Science and Engineering myself, I’m always happy to see such enthusiasm among incoming students. </p>

<p>To answer your question, I’m not sure exactly how you plan to do this “the summer after your sophomore” year. As a Drexel student, your only summer break is MidJune-MidSeptember after your freshman year. This picture really explains it: <a href=“Welcome to the Drexel University Archives | Drexel University”>Welcome to the Drexel University Archives | Drexel University;

<p>The summer of your sophomore year (as well as the spring of your sophomore year), you will be on Co-Op (assuming you’re doing the five-year option). So to do this over a summer vacation would mean doing it after your freshman year. Unfortunately, just from a quick glance, this program starts in mid-late May. Drexel’s spring term (which you would be taking classes in as a Freshman) ends in Early June. Chances are, you won’t be able to use your summer break to participate in this program.</p>

<p>You CAN, however, maybe integrate this program into your Co-Op experience. If you had a research Co-Op with a Drexel professor (Which is not uncommon in Materials), with their support, you could possibly participate in the program that way. I wouldn’t bank on it though. In all honesty, while the program sounds great, you could accomplish a lot more in your research while at Drexel, and you could do a Co-Op or study abroad to get that cultural experience. This program is a cool opportunity, but not participating it doesn’t preclude you from having the ultimate experience you want.</p>

<p>If you have any other questions, let me know!
I know it can be confusing and your stuck in between wanting to plan for the long term and yet feeling uncertain about so many things; Every college student goes through issues like this.</p>

<p>Also, on the topic of your research, that’s really awesome that you’re getting involved before you’ve even attended. You mentioned you worked with a Drexel MSE Faculty; Was it perhaps Dr. Yuri Gogotski? If not, do you know the names of any of the Drexel faculty you worked with? The MSE department is very small, chances are I know them haha</p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

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<p>Hey! </p>

<p>Thanks for the reply and your kind words - I worked with Dr. Steve May, who is an assistant professor - extremely nice and well rounded person. And haha yes, I actually posted this before I thoroughly looked at the 5 year co op program, so I do now know that it may look like the only chance I have at this would be the summer after my freshman year… unless I have my co-op in the spring and summer instead of the fall and winter, as I have seen here (is that possible?): <a href=“http://www.drexel.edu/undergrad/coop/coop-options/”>http://www.drexel.edu/undergrad/coop/coop-options/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I will be a biomedical engineering major with a concentration in neuroengineering, by the way - but I do have a strong interest in Materials Science (was my second choice as a major) and call me crazy, but I do consider merging the research I have done this year somehow with my interest in biomedical engineering sometime WAY in the future, possibly with Brain Computer Interfaces, etc. Feel free to PM me! Thanks a lot, and I am extremely excited to be attending Drexel in the fall :)</p>

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<p>Ahhh! I might actually be working with Dr. May this summer as part of Drexel’s STAR program. It’s awesome that you worked with him pre-enrollment too.</p>

<p>In terms of Co-Op cycle, yes, you can be either fall-winter Co-Op or spring-summer Co-Op. For Biomedical Engineering, it can be either one, and is assigned randomly. For Materials Science, everybody is Spring-Summer Co-Op. Just one of the perks of our department :)</p>

<p>And that’s great that you’re already thinking about research plans. As a Drexel student, as I’m sure you know, you can get involved in research anytime, and many professors would be happy to advise a student who has their own ideas/research that might be outside of the professors current projects. I’ll PM you my email. if you have any questions over the summer, as you enter school, don’t hesitate to email me!</p>

<p>best of luck!</p>