Four RIT students have received a Research Internship in Science and Engineering (RISE) grant from DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst) to assist with research in Germany during the summer or fall of 2023. This program is an opportunity for undergraduate students to gain practical research experience. Students work with a German university and a German Ph.D. student on research projects in science and engineering.
DAAD Rise Awardees
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Miranda Rochelle
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Sherry Robinson
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Brian Nardone
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Miranda will assist with research at Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg in Germany in the Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology on a project related to beta-diversity in forest ecosystems. “I’ll compare biodiversity at small-scale patches within the forest to larger-scale diversity across the ecosystem. This project is unique in that it focuses on higher trophic levels, namely predators and predators of predators, which have often been neglected in similar studies,” explains Miranda. Miranda hopes the DAAD program will be a natural step toward attending an international Ph.D. program. “This program is specifically geared towards future graduate students looking to make connections in Germany, which I would be very happy to maintain in my long-term career as a conservation biologist,” she says.
Sherry will assist with research at Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg in Germany on a project which focuses on developing an artificial intelligence software agent for use in the healthcare field that can use its history with patients, the current situation, as well as various inputs such as tone of voice to form an empathic response. “I pursued a DAAD award because I find myself drawn to the frontier of computer science. I want to witness discoveries and push the boundaries of our understanding. RISE DAAD is a wonderful opportunity to meet other scientists and learn about their passions and the endless opportunities for knowledge that await in this field of study,” says Sherry. 
Brian will work with Technische Universität Kaiserslautern in Germany, researching NMR techniques to help develop new experimental data processing methods to help analyze the thermodynamics of specific chemical and process engineering reactions. “This program will allow me the chance to make connections with peers who have similar mindsets and goals as myself, along with professional connections with those I'll be working for and with,” says Brian. “On top of that, going abroad will also give me the chance to experience another culture and understand life from their worldview,” he adds.DAAD Rise Professional Awardee
Dade Wood
Computer Science, College of Computing and Information Sciences
Dade will work at Control Expert in Langenfeld, Germany, on a project related to deep learning for computer vision and image normalization.
The German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst – DAAD), the largest funding organization globally, supports the international exchange of students and scholars.
DAAD programs help create goodwill and professional relationships to build a solid basis for relations between Germany and North America. DAAD scholarships are highly competitive, with independent selection committees choosing recipients based on outstanding academic records and exceptional statements of purpose.