Physics grads invited to apply for international interdisciplinary ATUMS program

The ATUMS program offers students opportunities to work collaboratively and internationally.

Suzette Chan - 07 March 2016

The University of Alberta and Technische Universität München in Germany have teamed up to create the Alberta/Technical University of Munich International Graduate School for Hybrid Functional Materials (ATUMS) program. The first ATUMS students met at the University of Alberta last fall.

"ATUMS is a program geared to students who want a broad-based, interdisciplinary, and international component to their graduate work," says Professor Al Meldrum, one of two physics professors who are members of ATUMS.

Meldrum and Professor Frank Hegmann can both act as supervisors for grad students who wish to base their theses on an ATUMS project. Other ATUMS professors are at based in the U of A Department of Chemistry and at Technische Universität München.

"Students in the program get to do things that students don't normally do, like work in different types of labs with different collaborators, potentially at TUM in Germany," says Meldrum. ATUMS also provides students with career development training and the opportunity to apply for travel to work in German labs and participate in industry events.

To participate in the ATUMS program, Physics students are advised to contact Professor Meldrum or Professor Hegmann, then apply to the Physics graduate program through the regular admission process.