AN UNDERGRADUATE/GRADUATE RESEARCH COLLABORATION BETWEEN UMASS AND UPRM

Abstract A direct collaboration between the University of Massachusetts – Amherst and UPR-Mayaguez in the area of Applied Electromagnetics has been steadily growing for the past five years. More than 12 UPRM students have participated in research activities sponsored by the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience Program (NSF-SPUR) at UMass and other UMass/UPRM funding sources. The students have specifically participated in research projects involving microwave and mm-wave radar system design, deployment, operation, and data analysis using the Microwave Remote Sensing Lab (MIRSL) facilities located in UMass-Amherst. MIRSL is one of the leading US research laboratories in the design and fabrication of microwave remote sensing instruments. The program has served to increase the interest of underrepresented students to continue graduate studies in a Research I Institutions by providing UPRM undergraduate students the opportunity to participate in summer research projects at UMass. As a result, four graduate students have participated in research activities through Summer Internships at UMass, and they are currently pursuing their MSEE with research projects under UPRM advisors and in collaboration with UMass. In addition, one full time PhD students and one full time MSEE student, both graduated from UPRM, are now pursuing their respective degrees at UMass. These are the first UPRM students in more than ten years to continue graduate studies in Electrical Engineering at UMass. In order to increase this collaboration at different levels, a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between both institutions. This MO