Advanced International Studies in Mechanics of Micro- & Nanosystems

Supported by a grant #P116J080016 from US Department of Education Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE)

The departments of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Arizona, New Mexico State University, Budapest University of Technology, and Slovak Techincal University in Bratislava have initiated a 4-year project aimed at providing international experience of their students. The project is supported by a bi-lateral grant from US Dept. of Education and the Atlantis program of the European Commission and will provide a $5000 stipend to each of the 6 US students traveling to Europe (3 per school). Each participant will receive a stipend of $5000 to cover the living costs abroad for 1 semester (Sept-Dec. or Feb-May). Similar provisions are available to the 6 EU students that will come to USA. Low-income students and students with special needs (as defined by Section 427 of GEPA) can apply for additional financial assistance.The program will provide a certificate for completion of “Advanced International Studies in Mechanics of Micro- & Nanosystems”. While abroad, students are expected to take at least one course at the foreign institution and participate in an independent research activity. The following links  provide descriptions of available courses and research projects at each university. For further information and available courses, students should contact the program coordinator at their school (see contact information below).

The University of Arizona (UA)

The Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering has a strong program in the area of Micro- and Nanotechnologies supported by four faculty members (Enikov, Zohar, Wong, Wu) with a growing research program in MEMS and NEMS. Several dual-level courses are available to graduate and undergraduate students (Fabrication Technologies for Micro- and Nanodevices-AME489A/589A, Micro and Nano Transducer Physics and Design-AME 488/588, Micro Biomechanics-AME 483/583, Engineering Properties and Micro/Nano Technologies for Biological Systems, AME 489/589). These courses will support an experimental training of the mobility students hosted by the University of Arizona.

Contact: Prof. Enikov enikov@email.arizona.edu

New Mexico State University (NMSU)

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering has 23 faculty members with a diverse research and teaching interests. Professors Butcher, Ma, and Sevostianov provide courses in micro-mechanics of materials, non-linear dynamics, vibrations, robotics, and controls. Research in the Department focuses on the theoretical aspects of micro- and nano-systems.

Contact: Prof. Butcher eab@nmsu.edu 

Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BUTE)

The Department of Applied Mechanics is one of its oldest departments, former home of Endre Reuss, one of the founders of modern plasticity. Research and teaching in the department is focused in six different areas, two of which, nonlinear dynamics (Stépán, Szabó Zs., Csernák, Insperger, Wohlfart) and machine tool vibrations (Stépán, Szabó Zs., Insperger) will be the primary focus of the student mobility program.

Contact: Prof. Csernak or Bende: csernak@mm.bme.hu or margit.bende@gmail.com

Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava

The Institute of Applied Mechanics and Mechatronics has a well-established international program in Mechantronics at the undergraduate and graduate levels as well as an Applied Mechanics program at the graduate level. Courses within these programs and the research programs of the Co-PIs Elesztos and Hučko will provide the basis of curricular activities undertaken by the US mobility students visiting STUBA.

Contact: Prof. Elesztos or Hučko elesztos@sjf.stuba.sk   branislav.hucko@stuba.sk

Hungary and Slovakia are members of the European Union located in Central Europe. This area has rich cultural heritage, including scientists, artists, and other creators, who have enriching Europe’s and the world’s progress and values.

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