GT delegation met with BME professors at PKU

A delegation from Georgia Institute of Technology (GT) recently visited Peking University Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) to discuss cooperation issues. The GT delegates are Professor Rafael L. Bras, Provost & Executive Vice-President for Academic Affairs, Ms. Garcia Marta, Associate Vice President for International Development, and Mr. Michael Tay, Director for Development, Asian pacific region. They were warmly received by BME Chair Qiushi Ren and many faculty members.

Over the years, the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at GT has established extensive collaborations with BME at Peking University at both students and faculty levels. Student programs included the PKU-GT/Emory Joint Ph.D. Program in biomedical engineering (launched in 2009), the China Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) program (launched in 2010) and summer courses for PKU students at GT campus (starting from 2012). There are also many joint research projects between faculty members from both sides.

The PKU-GT/Emory Joint Ph.D. Program in biomedical engineering has been an unprecedented partnership between the three internationally renowned institutions, in which a single dissertation will satisfy the thesis requirements of all three institutions. It is offering a unique means for U.S. and Chinese students to learn and work in a global economy and in global health settings. The innovative program will have its first graduates next year.

The China Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) program provides opportunities for GT undergraduates to work on collaborative research projects between faculty in the BME Departments at GT/ Emory and PKU. For the time being, nine GT students are participating in CURE, carrying out research with Chinese professors. 

GT delegation talked with CURE students

Sarah Ortman is a senior student of the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at GT who participated in CURE. She spoke positively about the program, “I didn’t do lab work previously until I came here, and the facilities here are really good. I have a mentor and a local graduate student who provided great help. I think as we are going to work in a multinational environment, this kind of program is really good practice.”

After meeting with the CURE students and listening to their feedbacks, Bras commented, “It’s a very good program; students are fascinated about the program.”