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Internships at the Cebe Group

An Internship Research Opportunity for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students

Follow this link to see photos of Prof. Cebe's recent lecture at Gallaudet University.

Group photo of interns and staff from 2004	Ryan (left) and Rob discuss their thermal analysis data.
Debeshu mixes polymer and clay to form nanocomposite solutions.	Group photo of interns and staff from 2006. The interns Matt, Michelle, Kristina and Ari (front row, L to R) sign "PBNC2006," which stands for "Polymer-Based Nanocomposites 2006."

Internship details: In this program for deaf and hard of hearing students, selected interns will receive a stipend of $2700 for six weeks of full time work, in a laboratory studying polymer blends for use as proton exchange membranes in hydrogen fuel cell technologies. They will spend approximately 75% of their time in hands-on laboratory research, and the remaining 25% in the classroom. In addition to the stipend, expenses for tuition, fees, dormitory housing, and some food allowance will be provided.

The research program: Polymers for Fuel Cell Technologies

Interns will make and characterize polymer blends, mixtures of two polymers, poly(vinylidene fluoride), PVDF, and poly(4,5-vinyl imidizole), PVIm, protonated with a liquid ionic salt, for ultimate use as novel proton exchange membranes for fuel cell technologies. They will fabricate films, electro-spun fibers, and/or oriented tapes, and characterize the structure and properties of the resulting materials. This research will contribute to a fundamental understanding of the effects of blend composition and thermal treatment on crystal structure of blends, and ultimately on the potential of these new materials to serve as proton exchange membranes for hydrogen fuel cell technologies. Follow this link to see recent research results from the internship program.

This internship for deaf and hard of hearing students comprises both classroom learning and laboratory exercises, all of which are taught by Tufts University faculty. In the classroom portion, the students will learn: 1. chemistry, physics, and engineering aspects of polymers and blends; 2. scientific methods and how to conduct research; 3. communication skills, including scientific writing and making group presentations. Professional interpreters will be provided during the classroom sessions. In the laboratory portion, the students will gain hands-on experience in making, characterizing, and analyzing blends. The interns will electro-spin non-woven fibrous membranes and examine the nanostructure using scanning electron microscopy. Students will work in small teams and will learn to operate the X-ray diffractometer, thermal calorimeter, infrared spectrometer, and electro-spinning apparatus. The interns will design experiments, collect data, and analyze their results. The goal is to provide an enriching experience that will strengthen the students’ confidence and abilities to perform in a scientific and engineering environment. Follow this link to see photos of the students presenting their research results at conferences.

How to apply for an internship:

When: June 30 - August 7, 2009 (The Second Summer Session at Tufts University)

Where: Science-Technology Ctr., Rm 208, Tufts University, 4 Colby St., Medford, MA 02155

What is provided: The selected interns will receive a stipend of $2700 for the six weeks and 0.5 credit from Tufts University. In addition, tuition for the 0.5 credit, registration fee, dormitory housing costs, and a small food allowance will be provided to the interns.

Interns must provide for their own travel to and from Tufts University in Medford, MA.

Eligibility: Deaf or hard of hearing students who are matriculating at college or university in the United States, in a baccalaureate program at the time of the internship. Students should have an interest in science or engineering, and be majoring in any field of science, technology, or engineering.

Applications: Prospective interns should send by e-mail, a resume, unofficial transcript, statement of purpose, and one letter of recommendation from a faculty advisor/teacher to Prof. Peggy Cebe, peggy.cebe@tufts.edu. Deadline for receipt of applications is April 3, 2009. Notification to the selected interns will be made by April 24, 2009.

This program is funded by the National Science Foundation through the Polymers Program of the Division of Materials Research, grant DMR-0906455,, and formerly through DMR-0704056 and DMR-0406127.