National Science Foundation: International Research Experience for Students (IRES)

Collaborative Research Activities with China on Fuel Cells

May 21, 2012 - July 15, 2012


    Welcome to the IRES: Collaborative Research with China on Fluid and Thermal Transport in Fuel Cells program at Oakland University . This International Research Experience for Students (IRES) program is hosted by the department of mechanical engineering at Oakland University (OU) and the department of power engineering at Beijing Jiaotong University (BJTU) China. This program is funded by a National Science Foundation (NSF) Award for a three-year period (Summer 2010-Summer 2012).

    The objective of the proposed IRES site is to annually provide five U.S. engineering students (4 undergraduates and one graduate) with the unique opportunity to work on fuel cell collaborative research between Oakland University (OU) and Beijing Jiaotong University (BJTU) in Beijing, China. The research focus of this program is on the critical area of the water and thermal transport problems in fuel cells. Key features of this international research experience include:

  • 8 weeks of paid summer research for 5 U.S. engineering students to conduct fuel cell related research at Beijing Jiaotong University, China and Oakland University under the supervision of faculty mentors from both OU and BJTU.

  • A number of activities meant to prepare and expose students to Chinese culture, enhance their confidence levels, improve their communication skills and provide them with the tools and motivation necessary to succeed in their professional or graduate endeavors. Activities include industry and lab tours, seminars, oral presentations, specialized lectures/training, an e-forum, and leisure activities. Students will also be encouraged to attend and/or present research findings at a conference and to prepare their research results for journal publication.
Program Announcement


Funded by the National Science Foundation through Award #0853572

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