International Lab Exchanges: Building Global Networks and Advancing Research
MONET's International Lab Exchanges Initiative represents a cornerstone of our Signature Professional Development Experiences, providing trainees with transformative opportunities to expand their research capabilities, forge international collaborations, and gain perspectives that fundamentally reshape their scientific careers. Through partnerships across Switzerland, Germany, and Australia, our trainees have participated in immersive experiences that bridge academic research and real-world applications in materials science and sustainability.
The impact of these exchanges extends far beyond technical skill development. When Ana Paula Kitos Vasconcelos participated in the Research University Alliance (RUA) Program, she spent a week visiting leading Swiss institutions, including ETH Zurich, EPFL, EMPA, and the Adolphe Merkle Institute. Her goal was clear: identify research groups aligned with her future career aspirations and discover pathways to postdoctoral opportunities. The connections she made opened doors to fellowship opportunities and potential postdoctoral projects, demonstrating how international exchanges catalyze long-term career trajectories. As Ana Paula reflected, the experience allowed her to "identify avenues of potential research opportunities" while receiving "direction and support for applying to fellowships."
Similarly, Alex Foret's 10-week research experience in Dresden, Germany, exemplifies how international exchanges provide access to specialized expertise and techniques. Working under Professor Christian Roßner at the Leibniz Institute for Polymer Research, Alex gained hands-on experience in synthesis and characterization techniques previously outside their research scope. The program, which brought together seven participants and culminated in a joint symposium between German and US labs, expanded Alex's professional network across continents while developing proficiency in methods that will prove invaluable throughout their materials science career.
Juan Antonio Cintrón Cruz's two-week collaboration at Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg demonstrates how MONET leverages connections with senior investigators to facilitate cutting-edge research opportunities. Through relationships between MONET PIs Steve Craig and Jeremiah Johnson and NMR expert Professor Kay Saalwächter, Juan gained access to advanced NMR characterization techniques to study polymer network structures. This collaboration not only enhanced Juan's analytical capabilities but also aims to implement these techniques at MIT, thereby expanding the characterization tools available across the entire center. The ongoing partnership is expected to yield a joint publication that showcases how these exchanges generate lasting scientific contributions.
Perhaps most distinctive is the PELICANS program (Plastic in the Environment, Leaders in Collaboration from Australia, New Zealand, and the United States), which took Ana Paula and Herbert Wakefield IV to Australia for an intensive two-week exploration of the plastic industry's sustainability challenges. Through partnerships with the NSF Center for Sustainable Polymers, CSIRO, UNSW, Monash University, and the Australian Packaging Covenant Organization, they examined packaging, recycling, policy, education, and pollution from an industry perspective. The trainees created educational materials on plastic food packaging and recycling challenges and contributed to a podcast series on plastic waste. This experience bridged the gap between academic research and industry needs, helping them "examine their research in the context of potential innovations that could be developed and applied to make a genuine difference in the plastic industry."
Collectively, these International Lab Exchanges embody MONET's commitment to developing scientists who can navigate the global research landscape, communicate across disciplinary and cultural boundaries, and translate their work into societal impact. By providing access to specialized facilities, fostering international collaborations, and exposing trainees to diverse research cultures and industry perspectives, these exchanges prepare them not only to advance materials science but also to lead the next generation of sustainable innovation.