College of Engineering Honors Students Awarded RISE Fellowships

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Sean Salazar and Jimmy Vo, RISE fellowship winners

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Two University of Arkansas engineering students — Sean Salazar and Jimmy Vo — have received prestigious Research in Science and Engineering, or RISE, Fellowships from the German Academic Exchange Service. The students will spend 12 weeks in Germany this summer working on cutting-edge research projects at top institutions and universities.

“The RISE Fellowship represents both a highly competitive award and a unique opportunity for undergraduates to take part in paid research internships in German doctoral labs,” said Kathleen Condray, professor of world languages, literatures and cultures, who is the university’s contact for the RISE program.

One of the recipients, Sean Salazar of Fayetteville, is an Honors College student pursuing a double major in civil engineering and German. He will be working under a doctoral candidate with an international team of students at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, modeling and running simulations of bridges with regard to structural and geotechnical aspects. This is one of only seven civil engineering projects funded by RISE. Salazar’s fellowship begins in May.

Jimmy Vo of Fort Smith is an Honors College biological engineering major and will work at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht Center for Biomaterial Development located in Berlin. He will be part of a research team that is exploring how polymeric microparticles are currently being used in delivery systems for vaccine components because of their ability to stimulate the immune system. Before his 12-week internship begins, Vo plans to take a two-week intensive language course in Munich.

The RISE Fellowship of the German Academic Exchange Service seeks top undergraduate students in the fields of engineering, physics, chemistry, biology, earth sciences and related disciplines for research opportunities in Germany. Students are paired with German doctoral students in a unique mentoring partnership. The purpose is to ensure immediate integration into hands-on lab work with a built-in social network that together provide an excellent opportunity for students to develop new technical skills. RISE participants receive a scholarship to cover living expenses during their time in Germany. 

This year, the RISE Foundation considered a record 1,168 applications and selected 300 recipients. A high GPA and an excellent letter of reference from a research mentor in the sciences are the best predictors of success in this competition. 

Students interested in participating in this program should contact Condray or the office of nationally competitive awards.