Student selected for Pan-American research institute
Sept. 24, 2003
KALAMAZOO -- A Western Michigan University doctoral student, who is a member of the University's nanotechnology research group, has been selected to travel to Brazil next month to propose his research ideas to a Pan-American materials institute.
Pedro Gonzalez was chosen through a highly competitive process conducted by Northwestern University to attend the Oct. 20-29 Pan-American Advanced Studies Institute on Materials for Energy Conversion and Environmental Protection in Ro de Janeiro. The institute objective is to foster collaborative research among Pan-American nations, and during the event, Gonzalez will submit two collaborative proposals for peer review and funding.
"This is a great opportunity not only for Pedro, but for our graduate and nanotechnology programs, which will receive international visibility," says Dr. Subra Muralidharan, associate professor of chemistry and director of the Nanotechnology Research and Computation Center.
Gonzalez's doctoral research topic is "Quantum Dot Nanosensors for Environmental Pollutants and Homeland Security Applications." He recently published his research in Chemistry of Materials, a prestigious journal for nanotechnology, and he was the recipient of the Department of Chemistry's doctoral student award last year. He currently is on leave from his post as an instructor at the University of Panama, where he teaches chemistry. He earned his master's degree from the University of Costa Rica in environmental chemistry and his bachelor's degree from the University of Panama in physical and environmental chemistry.
Media contact: Matt Gerard, 616 387-8400, matthew.gerard@wmich.edu