Ten graduate students from a French engineering school in Angouleme bid adieu to UALR last week, ending a summer of research and exchange with counterparts at the UALR Nanotechnology Center, the College of Engineering, and the College of Science and Mathematics.

The student exchange came about several years ago when Dr. Alex Biris, director and chief scientist at the Arkansas Nanotechnology Center at UALR, established a collaborative relationship with a professor from the French institution and brought five French students here last year.

“This year there were 10 and next year we hope for 15 students to come and study and work with the UALR students and faculty. They will be involved in various research projects with an emphasis on nanotechnology, materials, and energy,” Biris said.

Under the French system of education, the engineering students are already hired by French companies who assisted in paying for their required four months studying at another university or educational program.

The French students worked with faculty members from the Arkansas Nanotechnology Center at UALR, Dr. Abhijit Bhattacharyya, an associate professor of applied science, and Dr. Tito Viswanathan, a professor of chemistry.