Applications are invited for a research assistantship to pursue a Ph.D. degree in Environmental Engineering under the support of the NSF-funded initiative “PIRE: New Generation Synthetic Membranes - Nanotechnology for Drinking Water Safety”. The student will be a part of an international interdisciplinary research team and will be working on the development of new membrane materials for advanced membrane-based separations.

Full-time tuition and health insurance will be covered as a part of the appointment. The appointment will begin in the Fall 2009.

The study will involve international travel. Each year of the project, the student will conduct research for a part of the Summer as a membrer of the research team at a partner institution abroad (France, Ukraine, possibly other countries). These visits will constitute an essential, formative component of the project and will provide participants with an international perspective on issues related to water supply and treatment.

Qualifications:
Persons interested in these positions should have BS or (preferably) MS in Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Chemistry, or related natural science or engineering discipline, and they should have a strong background and interest in experimental work. Special consideration will be given to candidates with research experience and a publication record in one or more of following general areas: membrane-based separation processes, nanomaterials chemistry, materials science (ceramics, polymer science). Experience with microscopy (SEM, TEM, AFM, etc) and other instrumental methods of analysis is highly desirable.

For preliminary consideration, interested applicants are invited to email CV, TOEFL (if applicable) and GRE scores, and a brief description of research interests and prior research experience to Dr. Volodymyr Tarabara. The application deadline for admission to our graduate programs and consideration for financial aid is December 31 for Fall enrollment. Fro more information on how to formally apply click here.

MSU is an equal opportunity employer. Women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. Persons with disabilities have the right to request and receive reasonable accommodation.

Applications are invited from undergraduate students for participation in an NSF-funded research initiative “PIRE: New Generation Synthetic Membranes - Nanotechnology for Drinking Water Safety”. The internship will consist of two stages:

1. Spring: laboratory-based research at MSU
2. Summer: a month-long independent study course in Kyiv, Ukraine. In Kyiv, students will conduct research as members of an international interdisciplinary research team consisting of US and international faculty and graduate students.

Financial support: Limited number of National Science Foundation fellowships is available. Additional financial support from other sources may be possible. MSU Engineering students are encouraged to apply for a fellowship via the summer research internship program at the College of Engineering.

Eligibility: While the program is primarily designed for Environmental Engineering students, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, and other majors may apply. Applicants must be in good academic standing and have an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 at the time of application.

For information on research topics contact Dr. Tarabara at 517-432-1755 or by e-mail at tarabara@egr.msu.edu

US citizens do not need a visa to enter Ukraine if the period of their stay does not exceed 90 days.