The INBT no longer hosts the International Research Experience for Students (IRES) Program

We offer undergraduate and graduate students advanced research training in a multicultural setting in the International Research Experience for Students (IRES) program. IRES fellows perform research on  mutual interest bioengineering projects at imec in Leuven, Belgium. International cooperation shows students the importance of collaborations in addressing global challenges in science and technology.

Imec is a government research institute working with universities, industry, and governments labs. They specialize in microelectronics and have world-class laboratories and manufacturing capabilities. The program is funded by the National Science Foundation and supports 3-5 Johns Hopkins students to work at imec where they will learn how to design, fabricate, and test a wide range of biomedical devices. The internships last 10 weeks and includes travel expenses, accommodation, and a stipend.

During the program students are required to stay in regular contact with the Director of Corporate Partnerships, as well as their Hopkins faculty contact. They are also required to write and submit 5-6 blogs about their experience in the work place, as well as outside the lab. Upon completion of the program, students are expected to give a presentation about their experience and report on their work.

Application Requirements
The IRES program is open to full-time Johns Hopkins undergraduate and graduate students ONLY. Students must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or U.S. nationals Candidates must have a major in the science or engineering fields.

Please submit the following application materials:

  • Industry-style resume
  • Research statement
  • One professional letter of recommendation

Send all application materials and inquires to our Director of Academic Programs. Students from under-represented racial/minority groups and women in science and engineering are encouraged to apply. Applications will be reviewed by an INBT committee and selected students will be interviewed. Final acceptance will be a joint decision between INBT and the imec program manager.

Past Projects

  • Boosting the motor imagery performance of brain computer interfaces when using 4 channel dry electrode electroencephalography headset in a clinical environment.
  • IMEC has developed a new microelectrode array chip with nano-engineered surfaces. This project characterized the growth of primary rat ventricular cardiomyocytes and hIPSC-derived cardiomyocytes grown on nanogrooves in support of the development of a “heart on a chip” for diagnostic purposes.
  • IMEC is a renowned center of excellence in the field of nano-electronics. This opens up opportunities when combining nano- with life science technologies, more specifically in the field of point-of-care (PoC) diagnostics. This internship focused on development of fast nucleic acid detection assays using droplet based microfluidic techniques.
  • High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) shows potential to treatment several medical disorders (neurological, oncological, urological, etc.). This project involved modeling, design and measurement of a focused ultrasound transducer with tunable acoustic lens including 3D printing and finite element analysis.
  • Using microfluidic droplet technology incorporating yeast cultures that will rapidly identify superior strains for production applications. 

Want to learn more?

Read our student blogs from current and past IRES interns about their experiences.
Summer in Belgium features summer 2018 intern Rayyan Gorashi and her research experience.
A Summer of Science Abroad features the people that have made this mutually beneficial program a success.