Materials for a Sustainable Future
The objectives of the Joint Undertaking for an African Materials Institute (JUAMI), formerly the Joint-US Africa Materials Institute, are the development of joint materials research and education activities between universities in Africa, the US and Europe. The major activity of this institute is an intensive two-week school in Africa, on the topics of materials for energy, sustainability and technology, with instruction by world-renowned researchers. The three schools in this program, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (December 2012), Arusha, Tanzania (May-June 2016), and Kampala, Uganda (December 2018), attracted doctoral students from Africa and the United States. Impactful and lasting collaborations between researchers were established as a result of this activity (https://www.juami.org).
The fourth school will be held in Nairobi, Kenya on June 18-30, 2023, and the emphasis will be on materials for sustainable energy. This school, like the previous three, will have broad international participation. Activities will feature: tutorials on cutting-edge energy materials topics; hands-on experiments and learning activities; research seminars by top materials scientists; and student-led international research projects, which will be expected to continue after the school concludes. Instruction will be provided to approximately 65 graduate and postdoctoral researchers, 60% of whom will be from Africa.
Call for JUAMI Fellows in the US:
Approximately 20 JUAMI fellows will be selected from the US to participate in this school. Expenses, including travel costs, lodging and meals, will be paid for by the JUAMI. Successful applicants must have achieved doctoral status at their institutions, should be performing materials research in the areas of energy/sustainability. The succesful student must have a strong interest in developing collaborations with young African researchers.
Application Package (Deadline January 15, 2023):
(1) A resume; (2) description of current research interests and activities (approximately 500 words); (3) brief explanation for interest in the school (approximately 300 words). These three documents should be uploaded in PDF format using the application link at: https://www.juami.org/juami-schools/juami-2023/. (4) A letter of support from a mentor/supervisor (due Jan. 31). The application portal will open in early November 2022 on the JUAMI website, https://www.juami.org.
Local Host Institution: The University of Nairobi in Nairobi, Kenya
Location of School: The University of Nairobi and the Nairobi Safari Club Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya: Sunday, June 18 – Friday, June 30, 2023.
US Organizing committee: Prof. Sossina Haile (Chair, Northwestern University, sossina.haile@northwestern.edu) Prof. Simon Billinge (Columbia University, sb2896@columbia.edu), Prof. Thomas Mallouk (University of Pennsylvania, mallouk@sas.upenn.edu), and Prof. Sara Skrabalak (Indiana University, sskrabal@indiana.edu).
Acknowledgments: Funding for the school is provided by the National Science Foundation, Division of Materials Research through their International Programs program. Thanks also for the support and help of the Materials Research Society (MRS) and the African Materials Research Society (AMRS).