The research experience’s mission is to provide world class virtual research experience to Nigerian students.
The world is rapidly changing with seismic advances in AI, energy, medicine, biology and more. Research is the key. How do we ensure that Africans are an integral part of these changes and ensure that they are not left behind? The approach with RENEU is to provide high achieving Nigerian undergraduate students with research experiences such that they are competitive for US PhD programmes. RENEU was first run in 2023 and was very successful. See this news story for more information. The second year of the programme is now open.
Eligibility
a) Be a current undergraduate in a Nigerian university
b) Must currently be in your fourth year (preferred) or fifth year (‘final year’)
c) Must be interested in applying for graduate school (PhD) in the US
d) Pursuing a degree in Chemical Engineering, Biological Engineering, or Materials Science/Engineering (or similar)
e) Be on track for a first class (preferred) or second class upper (2:1)
Finalists will be required to submit verification of academic credentials (e.g., transcript)
Programme structure
a) Submit your application. Finalists will be emailed for a virtual Zoom interview. Final decisions will then be emailed to selected applicants.
b) Once selected, you will be paired with a US-based research lab for a summer research project (Virtual)
c) The research experience is projected to last 8-10 weeks. Projects are projected to start in late June 2024 and end in late August 2024
d) Meet with mentor at a predetermined frequency.
e) Present final results/project update at a summer workshop (tentatively planned for first week of September in Nigeria (in person))
Potential research projects
This research experience is virtual! Because of the virtual nature, the projects will be computational. Projects such as a) density functional theory calculations b) molecular dynamics simulations c) data science d) AI/ML e) modeling etc.
Potential research advisors
a) Professor Chibueze Amanchukwu (https://amanchukwu.uchicago.edu/)
b) Professor Shirley Meng (https://voices.uchicago.edu/smeng/)
c) Professor Po-Chun Hsu (https://pochunhsu.group/)
d) Dr. Birali Runesha (https://rcc.uchicago.edu/)
Additional programme benefits
A research and student mentor
Access to computational resources (server access)
Funds to buy “data”
“In-kind” support for graduate school PhD applications (application fees, GRE testing, Application review and similar)
Application procedure and deadline
Applications can be completed through the online portal. Application deadline is March 1st, 2024. Visit the official website for more information.
