Todor Miljevic, a student of engineering physics, and Wiktor Sobczynski, a student in biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Iceland, 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 programme that allows undergraduate students to work with a supervisor on a research project. Todor will be supervised by Dr. Mohammad Mirhosseini and Wiktor by Dr. Johannes Morstein.
In addition to their research work, SURF students take part in a diverse programme organised by Caltech, which includes lectures, workshops and various events.
The grant of USD 8,110 awarded to Todor and Wiktor comes from the Kiyo and Eiko Tomiyasu Fund at the University of Iceland. Kiyo Tomiyasu was a world-famous academic in the field of electrical engineering and, together with Jón Atli Benediktsson, former Rector of the University of Iceland, played a key role in establishing the partnership agreement between Caltech and the University of Iceland in 2008.
Close to fifty students from the University of Iceland have taken part in the SURF programme at Caltech since the collaboration began. Many Caltech students have also completed research projects at the University of Iceland under the supervision of its faculty. Two Caltech students are also due to spend this summer conducting research at the University of Iceland. Madison Tongco will be supervised by Arnar Pálsson, Professor in the Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, and Brendan J. Rudberg by Ólafur Pétur Pálsson, Professor in the Faculty of Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science.
We wish Todor and Wiktor a successful and rewarding stay.
