Doing research in Belgium

Gregg Duncan

Each summer, Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology (INBT) has funding to support several summer research internships abroad. The International Research Experience for Students (IRES) program, funded by the National Science Foundation, provides support for students to work with researchers at The Inter-University MircroElectronics Centre (IMEC) in Leuven, Belgium. Students work at IMEC’s world-class microfabrication facility and learn to design, fabricate and test a wide range of biomedical devices.

Colin Paul

The internships can last from 10 to 12 weeks and include travel expenses, accommodation and a stipend. Shorter term trips are also possible. The IRES program is open to Johns Hopkins undergraduate and graduate students.

During the summer of 2012 five students from Johns Hopkins were sent to IMEC. They included:

Nicolas Barbera

Gregg Duncan, a doctoral student in the laboratory of associate professor Michael Bevan in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. His work involved quantification of nanoparticle-cell interactions using dark-field microscopy.

Colin Paul, a doctoral student from the lab of Konstantinos Konstantopoulos, professor and chair of in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Colin spent a week in Belgium mentoring Nicolas Barbera (see below). Colin took cell migration devices from the Konstantopoulos lab to be used in "proof-of-concept" experiments. 

Nicolas Barbera, a master's degree student, also from the Konstantopoulos lab. He is investigating the effect of Podocalyxin on pancreatic cancer metastasis.

Sarah Friedrich

Sarah Friedrich, a doctoral student from the laboratory of Andre Levchenko, associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Her work involves the Study of axon guidance under topographic and intracellular pathways.

Peter Nelson, an undergraduate working in the lab or Jordan Green, assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Gold nanoparticles and polymer composites used for controled drug delivery and hyperthermia treatment was the concentration of his summer research project.

Peter Nelson

In addition to working in the lab, students who participate in INBT's international research program with IMEC program have the chance to enjoy traveling to the surrounding regions and even to other countries on their days off. They try local cuisine and visit famous museums. They also learn about how to conduct research in an international setting and hopefully form life long connections that will benefit them in their careers and future lives.

Johns Hopkins students from many disciplines are eligible to apply to work at IMEC during the summer.  Projects that strongly align with the research goals of INBT and IMEC are preferred.

To apply for this unique opportunity, send your resume along with a summary of your research experience and the name and contact information of at least one referee, preferably your faculty research advisor, to Ashanti Edwards at aedwards@jhu.edu. Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply.

Blog post by Mary Spiro.