Chemical Forums
Specialty Chemistry Forums => Chemical Education and Careers => Topic started by: nj_bartel on March 01, 2009, 04:46:34 PM
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http://www.daad.de/rise/en/
Most likely doing it in a little beyond a year, but I'd be interested in what anyone who has participated in it thinks of it.
Thanks :)
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Looks good. I did a summer REU as an undergraduate as well.
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I'm doing it this summer! I will let you know when I come back
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Thank you :) Hope you have a good time.
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I did the RISE program this past summer. Friday is the last day of my internship. It's a really cool way to get to experience Germany while at the same time working on a project that is extremely interesting to you (you will definitely find something--they have over 500 projects to choose from!). I will be getting published for my work this summer, but I've been told it's not the norm; however, it's still a distinct possibility. The RISE program itself is new (this year was its 5th year) but definitely getting up there in prestige--a lot of professors and students alike know about it and are definitely all for it, as international exchange programs are a hot thing nowadays.
The program itself is run by 5 people out of a small office in Bonn, Germany, so it can be quite disorganized at times, but this it understandable--after all, it's 5 people in charge of 350+ scholars! Keep in mind that the intent of the program is to get as many Americans, Canadians, and Britons to Germany as possible, in order to advertise Germany's scientific and cultural aspects to the English-speaking community worldwide. The intent of the program by the DAAD is to give a bunch of Americans a 2-3 month internship in Germany with hopes that you will want to return and do a PhD or a postdoc there after you graduate.
Assuming you are eligible, the American Chemical Society co-sponsors an NSF REU offered through the RISE program. I would definitely look into that (google: ACS NSF-IREU). You apply through RISE, and if you're good enough the ACS sends you an e-mail asking you to apply for their program. I was accepted to that this year, so in addition to the RISE experience, I've also gotten a few added benefits, the greatest being a free round-trip overseas flight (the one thing that DAAD RISE does not pay for with the scholarship, but ACS does) and the chance to present at the ACS national conference in DC two weeks from now. If you're thinking about doing RISE, this is a great opportunity to add on top of that.
Above all, it is a great way to network with other chemists, both American and German. I have met some other chemistry students who I hope that I will stay in close contact with upon returning to America, as I've developed some pretty lasting friendships with them this summer. And hey, who can say no to networking? Overall, if you're looking for an international chemistry experience, DAAD RISE is one of the best ways to do it--they select so many students that if you apply with decent credentials you will most likely get a grant, and despite their disorganization they are very welcoming, as they really do want to show of the best of Germany to you. They even give you a 5-day German rail pass with hopes that you'll use it on a free weekend to explore Germany and take back some of its rich culture with you.
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Thank you for all the wonderful information! You got me very excited! ;D ;D ;D
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Hi,
I have nothing to add to what mmavros said but telling you that even if you don't get the ACS scholarship .. your institute will still pay you 650 euroes a month.
This experience will be unforgettable.. You will learn a lot, make new friends in your field of study and get to have contacts in case you plan on doing your graduate studies in Germany... Universities there are free for everyone. I never thought I will love Germany as much as I do now after living there for 2 months. I would def. encourage you to apply.
Oh and if you are a graduate student.. then they have RISE-pro in which you work for companies.. check it out on their website.
Wish you the best of luck
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Wo awesome I found this. Congrats on getting accepted into the program, I think its only about a 25-30% acceptance rate based on # of applicants from last year. I applied last year but didn't get accepted (I sent it 2 days before the deadline and was missing some info) so I am trying again this year. I've been wanting to go to Germany for years, already went to Munich once and have taken German for 4 years. I want to move there someday and live there after I finish grad school here (or maybe there).
Did you apply for a project that interested you, or one you thought you could get into given that it wasn't from a big city.
Also, this year they said they don't need official transcripts, so I can see people making s#*$ up, and since you are ranked by your GPA that could be dangerous.
I'm also going to apply to the REU from the NSF just in case I don't get accepted to Germany. How many REU sites did you apply to? You apply directly to the colleges right?
to mmavros, I've never heard that ACS gives you any money for the RISE program? I only thought the ACS scholarship was for minorities.
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Yes.
Hard to describe the level of amazing.
The group I joined for PhD studies was the one I met via DAAD RISE.
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Where are you from? You said you ended up going to do your phD with the same group you did your RISE summer with?
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From: Canada
Moving to Germany in only a handful of days.
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ahhh so lucky!! You are living my dream. I just sent an email to the DAAD Rise. This year its all online application, and you don't need an official transcript. But since you are ranked by GPA, i can see people just making things up and changing their grades.
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That is pretty dumb. (re: no more official transcripts)
But if I remember correctly, my application package was rather large. They likely wanted to cut down on the amount of paperwork.
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Congrats on getting accepted into the program
Just in case this was at me, I haven't been accepted. I'm choosing programs primarily (and unfortunately) based on duration, as my family is attempting to have one last big get together while my grandparents are still around this summer (who live across the country from me). Other than that, my PI at my home university is also a professor at two German universities, which I also need to factor in to my selections. Waiting to hear back from him currently, before actually submitting an application.
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Applying to 3 students in the same group in Heidelberg this Friday! Wish me luck!
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Good luck! What type of project?
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Thanks! All gold catalysis stuff, slight variances by group - e.g. enantioselective catalysis in one, cyclization catalysis in another
What city were you in, may I ask? Were you able to travel at all? Would really like to make a trip to Dachau while there (assuming I'm accepted obviously).
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Oh, one more q - how long did it take your app to get confirmed and submitted to the actual groups you were applying to?
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Since we are ranked by GPA, it will probably be easy to asses my chances of getting in, provided those of you who had taken part tell me what grades you had. If I'm certain my chances are slim I will try elsewhere... Those of you who were accepted, what grades did you have?
I'm at a UK university with GPA 76%, probably 3.7 US equivalent? I'm a physics student, do you think GPAs of chemical and physics students vary greatly?
Thanks for any info ;D
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I don't think the grade would vary between physics and chemistry thou. But it would make a difference if your grading system is 4.3 instead of 4 :)
By the way, I am an applicant too. Nice to see you guys! ;D
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Good luck to you! Unless you're applying to my groups, then die.
...
;D
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lol I bet not. All of my projects are in biochemical field. Anyways, thanks a lot! Good luck to you too!
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Good luck to you! Unless you're applying to my groups, then die.
hahaha that had me laughing. I heard back about a week ago that I was not accepted. I applied to 2 phD students in the same Lab of Dr. Thomas Bein at Ludwigs Maximillian university in Munich, and another guy in Mainz germany. I wanted to study semiconductor stuff...materials science. I have about a 3.9 Chemistry GPA, but only a 3.4 overalll...and they do rank you by that. I talked to a girl who also applied (on the Facebook DAAD 2010 group) and she said she was ranked 246th with a GPA of 3.96. So needless to say, I wasn't anywhere close to the top 400-500 that MIGHT get funded. Sucks. Makes you want to work that much harder, but also makes you depressed...because I can never apply to that program again, you can only do it when you are a sophmore or junior undergrad....
oh well, life goes on
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My condolences. I applied to 3 students within the same group at University of Heidelberg and was rejected to all. My PI at my home institution is looking into an alternative group for me, so we'll see how that plays out, but I'm not going to get my hopes up.
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Well we can share in our sorrows. "They're loss!" as my professor would say...or said. Where there is a will, there is a way. I won't be giving up on going to Germany that easily...would have just been nice to have it all payed for. What's your deal? You an undergrad somewhere? You want to be in Germany too? Thanks for telling me about 408 I might PM him.
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You sound like the exact applicant they're looking to attract, they're missing out indeed. PM might be necessary, not sure he can post. I'm a junior in undergrad applying to med school this year, but will hopefully be taking a year off to teach high school chem. Was going to use this summer as a last exploration of interest in MD/PhD combined degree. Needless to say, I'm not the exact applicant they're looking to attract. Oh well, c'est la vie
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I am still aware of this thread, and can post from work when not doing chemistry. I just cannot post from home. PM is best so I can reply on my own time.