UD teams with Koreans on nanotechnology research (11/22/2007)

A team that includes two faculty affiliated with UD's Center for Composite Materials (CCM) and researchers from the Korea Institute of Materials (KIMS) has been selected to receive a $5 million grant from the Korea Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) for work in the area of nanotechnology. Tsu-Wei Chou, Pierre S. du Pont Chair of Engineering, and Erik Thostenson, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, will lead the UD effort in the nine-year program.

MOST provides central direction, planning, coordination and evaluation of all science and technology activities in Korea. The funding comes through MOST's Global Research Laboratory (GRL) program, which is aimed at developing fundamental and original technologies through international collaborative research between Korean and foreign laboratories. In addition to nanotechnology, GRL program supports collaborative research in biotechnology and information technology.

The UD-KIMS team is one of only two teams awarded GRL funding in the nanotechnology area, out of 39 proposals submitted to the competitive program. The Korean principal investigator at KIMS is Joon-Hyung Byun, who received his doctorate at UD in mechanical engineering in 1993 under Chou's supervision.

"The program, which will establish a global collaborative network between KIMS and UD-CCM, will enable us to advance the research in hybrid micro- and nano-composites for structural and functional applications," Chou said. "I am very excited about this opportunity for international collaboration and really pleased to be working with Dr. Byun and Dr. Thostenson on this program."

"International collaborations are highly valued here at UD as we strengthen our global presence," said Michael Chajes, interim dean of the College of Engineering, "and this program is an excellent example of the knowledge-based partnerships that President Harker is encouraging faculty to develop."

"Tsu-Wei has established some very high-impact international collaborations over the past three decades, and this latest program further expands his global visibility," said Jack Gillespie, CCM director. "This grant has added significance in that all of the funds are coming from MOST."

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by the University of Delaware

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