Sesselja Picchietti, physics student, and Sigríður Bára Min Karlsdóttir, student in biochemistry and molecular biology, are headed for the United States this summer for a ten-week research project at one of the most prestigious research universities in the world, Caltech - California Institute of Technology.
They will be taking part in the SURF – Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, a program that allows undergraduate students to work with a supervisor on a research project. Sesselja will be supervised by Joseph Falson, assistant professor of materials science, and Sigríður Bára by Linda Hsieh-Wilson, professor of chemistry.
The scholarships of USD 7,950 awarded to Sesselja and Sigríður come from the Kiyo and Eiko Tomiyasu Fund. Kiyo Tomiyasu was a world-famous academic in the field of electrical engineering and played a key role in establishing the partnership agreement between Caltech and the University of Iceland in 2008.
Over 40 UI students have taken part in the SURF programme at Caltech since the two institutions signed a partnership agreement. Many Caltech students have also completed SURF projects at the University of Iceland under the guidance of UI academics.
Three Caltech students are also due to spend this summer conducting research at the University of Iceland. Levi Alderete and Nat Hernandez will be supervised by Elías Rafn Heimisson, research specialist at the Institute of Earth Sciences, and Jacob Alderete will be under the guidance of Rúnar Unnþórsson, professor of mechanical engineering.
In the photo from the left: Sesselja Picchietti, physics student, and Sigríður Bára Min Karlsdóttir, student in biochemistry and molecular biology, with the rector of the University of Iceland, Jón Atli Benediktsson and Friðrika Harðardóttir, Director of the International Division. Image/Kristinn Ingvarsson.