Evaluation - Research Exchange Program

INTERNATIONAL MATERIALS INSTITUTE FOR NEW FUNCTIONALITY IN GLASS Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA EVALUATOR’S REPORT Carla Conrad Johnson New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University Alfred, NY 14802 May, 2007 The first Evaluator’s Report in October, 2005 surveyed the attendees of the inaugural meeting of the IMI/NFG at Penn State in June, 2005 This second report summarizes the results of a Research Exchange survey Results of a third survey to determine the general level of awareness of and interest in the IMI/NFG among members of the international glass community will be summarized in a separate report The latter two surveys were conducted in the spring of 2007 METHODOLOGY: 1: The Research Exchange Survey was located at http://www.lehigh.edu/IMI/imievaluationRE.htm The questions were drafted by IMI/NFG Associate Director Dr William Heffner, modified by communication with the Evaluator after testing the survey on a temporary Web site hosted at Lehigh, and then further modified after several email exchanges The purpose of the “RE” survey was to get input from three categories of participants: (1) Recipients of Research Grants from IMI/NFG, (2) Hosting PI’s, and (3) Sending PI’s Lehigh University provided a spreadsheet with a total of 105 names and email addresses The Evaluator weeded out as many duplicates as possible, since an individual might have both an institutional email address and an alternate personal address; the respondents were promised confidentiality so that they would feel free to respond frankly The Evaluator kept track of all incoming responses which could be identified by name and/or email address in a separate file; if a respondent appeared to be genuinely unhappy with the results of an exchange, the Evaluator could make a follow-up contact by email or phone and the information could still be reported anonymously Individuals on this consolidated list were then emailed a short greeting from the Evaluator, with a Web link to the survey and instructions for submitting a response After this first contact a number of responses were returned as having invalid addresses, or were rejected by the recipient’s server as coming from an unknown sender, a setting which can be chosen in most email programs In the end 27 responses were received from 62 viable contacts for a response rate of almost 44%, which is considered excellent for a survey of this type A summary of highlights of the survey appears on page This summary section is followed by a complete listing of the responses themselves (text of question underlined) 15 respondents were from outside the US, and 12 were from within the US (Note: for many questions more than one reply was allowed so the total number of responses may be more than 27.) EVALUATOR’S SUMMARY: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE RESEARCH EXCHANGE SURVEY GENERAL PROGRAM OPERATIONS: • • • • The application process was rated “clear and easy to understand” by all 22 respondents who answered this question The IMI/NFG staff were praised as being “very” or “extremely” helpful and “available when I needed them.” The duration of exchange visits was generally judged to be adequate, although several responded that a longer exchange would be desirable and more could be accomplished One commented “I would have been glad to stay there more time.” The IMI process for financial support was regarded as “sufficiently clear” by a large majority of those responding to the question VISA APPROVAL PROCESS: This was a problem area for several visitors • For six of the non-US respondents, this was their first application for a US visa Several respondents indicated difficulties from slow visa processing One person said that the process took so long that an opportunity to meet with a particular scientist was missed altogether Another reported a – week delay in visa approval due to a long waiting list for an interview at the US embassy in Frankfurt Another commented that the visa approval process needed to be faster because these delays affect the ability to meet the goals of research projects on time IMPACT ON ENHANCING INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION: • • • • • IMI-NFG Research Exchange Grants have been very successful in this regard, with 12 respondents rating the impact as “Significant” and 15 as “Very Significant.” Another commented: “Without this RE support this research would take forever to accomplish.” The IMI grant was deemed “Essential” to participation in the research program by 19 respondents to this question Several respondents said a major benefit of the program was having access to equipment and facilities unavailable at their home institutions A number of respondents plan to continue the collaboration by applying for another IMI Research Exchange grant, applying for alternate funding, or by some other means Comment: “My decision [to pursue another IMI collaboration] comes from my experience about the great effectiveness of work of IMI, the straight forward service that IMI offers, the great opportunities that IMI presents for discussion and communication between the scientists in the field of glasses and the favorable conditions which IMI gives to the researchers from different countries to establish international collaboration.” TECHNICAL SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM: • • The IMI/NFG program already appears to have been remarkably successful in enabling new aspects of existing research programs and facilitating new functionality of glasses Numerous detailed examples appear in the responses on the following pages Even with only 27 respondents, the report lists approximately 13 talks, 15 papers (in preparation, in press, or published), patents/patent applications, and posters presented • Comment: “Overall, I can give the highest estimate to the work of the Center, both in terms of organizing exchange visits and in supporting important scientific projects.” SUMMARY OF RESPONSES TO THE RESEARCH EXCHANGE SURVEY: What was your role in the Research Exchange? • Traveling Researcher - 14; Sending PI – 10; Hosting PI - How did you originally learn about the IMI? • Learned from colleagues – 15; through emails from IMI – 7; from Hosting PIs – 5; from meetings or conferences – 4; from other Traveling Researchers – 3; from a Web search – 1; from “my research supervisor” – 1; through a project between the respondent’s lab and the IMI – 1; contacted by the IMI co-PIs – 1; met with a co-PI (Dr Jain) – One additional respondent was on the IMI Advisory Board Which of the six thrust areas does or did your project impact? • Optical Functionality - 12; Biofunctional Glasses - 11; Metamaterials, novel glasses, and nanocomposites - 8; Ionic Functionality - 5; Functional Coatings - What was your role in preparing the IMI application for RE support? • Primary author – 13; Contributing author – 10; No significant participation – Was the application process clear and easy to understand? • There were 22 responses to this question; all of these respondents checked “yes.” Questions for Exchange Visitors: Was the program helpful to you in meeting your objectives? • Hosting PI’s: one “yes.” Sending PI’s: one “yes,” one comment: “I think it was very good for the Graduate Student.” Traveling Researchers From US: • The program was very helpful for me since it gave me a chance to make face to face establishing the collaboration goals and collecting information about our partner and the possibilities for research work that could be done in collaboration with him • The program was extremely helpful in supporting students which are performing joint Ph.D research between France and Arizona This was a very positive interaction and resulted in joint publications Traveling Researchers, Non-US: • The program was significantly helpful especially in working with great scientist and up to date facilities • Yes, it was helpful in understanding various aspects of glass making and characterisation techniques • I had the necessary facilities, know-how and financial support available, in order to accomplish my objectives that consisted in developing a new bioactive porous glass for bone regeneration • The meeting was really helpful for enhancing my culture and to improve the collaboration with my host • The program was very helpful to me in meeting my objectives The scientific results were quite interesting and open up a new line of research In fact, we were able to prepare two papers which are about to be published • • • • Yes, the program is very helpful and meeting my objectives about fabrication of nano-macro porous bioactive glass by melt-quench-heat-etch method The program was very helpful Thanks to IMI NFG I could work in Professor Kozicki’s group at Arizona State University where I learned a lot about the fabrication of thin chalcogenide glass layers for application in memory devices The program was extremely helpful in supporting students which are performing joint PhD research between France and Arizona This was a very positive interaction and resulted in joint publications It was very helpful Was the duration of the visit adequate to accomplish your objectives? • Yes, definitely so • I think it was adequate, it just takes sometime at first to be oriented • The time was enough The collaborator knew in advance about my visit and what I was interested to know about his group so that he has prepped everything In this manner my visit worked straight forward and I fulfilled all my goals in the time foreseen • The duration was adequate but more could have been accomplished if the stay had been longer • The duration of my visit was enough to reach my objectives Moreover, I felt that the duration of my visit could be extended • The duration of my visit was of three months, which allowed us to accomplish most of our objectives However, probably one or two more months would have been more adequate • The duration (3 months) was adequate even though I would be glad to stay there more time • It was a bit too brief • Each period duration is adequate We're planning to reapply for additional periods • Yes A little longer would have been better, but the duration was limited by my other commitments • I think it was a bit too brief to be able to achieve too much but I think from a cultural exchange viewpoint it was very successful • Three responses of “Yes.” Was this your first application for a US visa? (for non-US participants) • It was long time ago, 1974-1976 • Six “Yes” responses, two “No.” Did you have any difficulties with the US visa approval process? • It just took too long to get it that I was not able to arrive on the date I suppose I go on and I missed working with another scientist who I had to learn from her something regarding our research • Two “Yes” responses, seven “No’s” • I think that issuing the visa should be faster when the research is involved in a project because there is a duration for the project and work have to be done in a specific time to be able to reach its goals and present our reports in time How long did it take to get your visa approved once you received the DS2019 form? • They took month to reply to me by the approval and issuing the visa, and this year I applied for a new visa for a new visit and it had been months until now and they didn’t reply to me Again I am going to miss meeting the other scientist and participating in conference that it was planned to participate in with a poster presentation • Around days • • • • • • • • About one month weeks 10-15 days Few weeks Same day 2.5 months after visiting of US embassy (clearance in US) 7-8 weeks due to a long waiting list for an interview at the US embassy in Frankfurt, Germany Once I went to the US embassy it took only days to receive my visa Was the IMI-NFG staff helpful during your exchange? • I am very thankful to the IMI-NFG staff, and especially to Floe Fusin-Wischusen, who always helped me out whenever another letter was lost by FedEx or the apartment complex administration • My main interaction was with Bill Heffner, who was very helpful • They are very helpful • All the staff were very helpful and available when I needed them • All the IMI-NFG staff were extremely helpful during my exchange • Five additional “Yes” responses Was your hosting institution helpful with your visit? • So far yes but I am at the beginning of my exchange Was the IMI process for financial support (per diem and reimbursement for housing) sufficiently clear? • In my case (sabbatical in 04/05), yes In the case of two collaborators of mine who visited Lehigh university in 2005 and 2006, respectively, it was not very clear in the beginning I believe it has improved in the meantime • There were 11 additional responses of “Yes” and one “No.” Did a previous collaboration exist between the US and international groups of your exchange? • The IMI grant acted as a catalyst to initiate the joint research • But not very formal we are both on the same TC in the ICG • The groups at Juelich and ASU had discussed joint work but no formal program existed prior to the exchange • My Ph.D advisor, Dr Leon Glebov, began the collaboration with the Bordeaux group about years ago by spending a month in France working on research • There was not a previous collaboration in place and my goal was to check what the available opportunities exist in the partner’s institution and establish the program, goals and outcome of the collaboration I would have no other option to make a visit to the partner’s institution and so I would be not able to establish the collaborative work • I had met Prof Hirao of Kyoto University at a Conference, but we had no opportunity to discuss potential collaboration My visit to his laboratory was the first step for initiating the collaboration between our groups • For about 10 years exchanges of researcher and joint PhD between us (University of Rennes) and the Arizona Material Laboratory in Tucson (AZ) Moreover a CNRS-NSF grant had been obtained years ago (2005-2007) If “yes,” how long prior to the exchange did this collaboration exist? • Several months • 1/2 year • • • • About years before my exchange months ~ a year My Ph.D advisor, Dr Leon Glebov, began the collaboration with the Bordeaux group about years ago by spending a month in France working on research How essential was the IMI grant to your participation in this research collaboration? Essential – would not have happened without the grant – 19 responses Certainly helped – to initiate this collaborative exchange – responses Nice – but we would have arranged a collaboration anyway – reponses Additional comments: • It was an essential contribution which allowed me to send my Ph.D student to work at Alfred University • The visit of a student researcher from Japan, who worked with a US student researcher, in my laboratory enabled the restart of research in this area • The exchange was too brief in this case to get real new functionality • We were determined to have a collaboration but the duration of my visit would have been shorter without the IMI support I’ve learnt that it takes some time to adjust to a foreign work environment and so I am very thankful that I have six months to work on my experiments What new aspect(s) of your research program(s) is enabled by this exchange? • The collaboration opened new horizons in my research work since the partners institution has some experience in the field enriching mine In addition a student from this institution came to work at Arizona State University where I used to work and contributed with her work in understanding lot of details about the ion functionality of glasses • The work on new functionality of glass has been initiated thanks to the IMI program (photo fluidity, coating, new composition of infrared glasses) • Nanoporous IR glass-ceramics Far IR transmitting Te glass Functionalized tapered IR fiber • The study of femtosecond beam propagation through volume Bragg gratings in PTR glass • A new technique for writing single-crystal lines on glass was explored • Possible future collaboration between Okayama U and Alfred U • We have found a new material that can be applied in memory devices and have come a step closer to explaining the switching mechanism in Programmable Metallization Cells • Primary mission of the project did not work Secondary studies have resulted in a paper to be presented at the GOMD meeting in May, 2007 I hope to have future collaboration with the people in Dortmund regarding NMR studies of glasses • We are exploring for the first time how volume Bragg gratings in a photo-thermo refractive glass perform under irradiation by femtosecond laser pulses We want to characterize the linear and nonlinear optical properties of these glass elements • I was introduced to novel effects such as creation of silicon structures in oxide glass matrix glass by fs laser irradiation This is a fascinating discovery made by Hirao's group for making photonic crystals and other photonic applications Additional comment: Our group has pioneered some of the techniques for characterizing the effect of light on glass Therefore, a collaboration between our group is ideal, complementing our respective expertise • More basic optical studies were made possible • Better understanding of crystallization process and optical characteristics of glasses • Work on Programmable Metallization Cells (PMC) based on Cu-Si-O solid electrolytes • • • • • • • • The shift in research subject, from photonic materials to biomaterials, but still using the same preparation technique in which I had developed expertise; the use of essential facilities absent in my home institution I was able to use, thanks to this exchange, equipments for the materials characterization essential for the project, which are not available in my home institution Implementation of new routines in molecular dynamics codes for studying diffusion and fracture I not know details about the outcome of the exchanging program because I left the Arizona State University shortly after an exchange visitor from Germany came to work there In general I could tell that she opened a new page in understanding the ionic functionality in glasses working on Ion focused beam equipment which could help in developing a failure mechanism for the memory devices based on these materials The present work provides a novel and simple method for the preparation of interconnected nano-macro porous glass, such as the bioactive soda-lime phosphosilicate glass It incorporates the advantages of traditional glass making by the melt-quench-heat-etch method, and at the same time produces stronger samples than those prepared by the competing sol-gel process The resulting glassy materials consist of interconnected pores of both 10 s micrometers and several to 10 s of nanometers in size My non-US counter-parts have essential experience in Monte-Carlo modeling of dynamic systems This allowed me to develop modules which will be used together with the software codes written at Lehigh We have found a new material that can be applied in memory devices and have come a step closer to explaining the switching mechanism in Programmable Metallization Cells Ion migration is not only in thin chalcogenide glass layers, such as Ag-Ge-Se or Ag-Ge-S, but probably also in porous Cu-doped SiO2 films responsible for resistive switching Initial plan was to enhance measurements of interfacial properties in multilayer films in glasses Overall, how would you rate the importance of the IMI-NFG Research Exchange Grants to enhancing international collaboration: • Very significant impact – 15 responses; Significant impact – 12 reponses (There were no responses of “Little to no impact, Some impact, or Moderate impact.) Additional comment: • It was very helpful because without this RE support this research would take forever to accomplish Direct interaction with the exchange visitor greatly facilitated understanding the underwater stones For the following questions, several respondents chose the option of entering “Exchange in Progress” if the visit was not yet complete Specific comments are noted below List any and all new functionality resulting from this exchange to date (or anticipated in the near future): • A simple method is being developed systematically for fabricating photonic crystals It may also lead to the fabrication of 3D semiconducting network within insulating glass • Ion migration is not only in thin chalcogenide glass layers, such as Ag-Ge-Se or Ag-Ge-S, but probably also in porous Cu-doped SiO2 films responsible for resistive switching • Glass can be used in a specific composition as a scaffold for bone engineering and as a drug delivery • Biofunctionality: bioactive glasses, with controlled porosity, optimized for bone regeneration purposes • Initial plan was to enhance measurements of interfacial properties in multilayer films in glasses • • • • We see third harmonic diffraction of high intensity femtosecond laser pulses by a PTR glass grating at wavelengths in the range 1.2 to 1.5 micron Previously it was only seen at 0.8 micron Furthermore we see third harmonic diffraction at more than one grating angle Before only one angle of grating inclination resulted in 3rd harmonic With Fourier spectral interferometry we are making measurements of phase distortion of diffracted femtosecond pulses by a PTR glass gratings We see that using two PTR glass gratings as a pair will prevent the diffracted femtosecond pulses from diverging beyond the diffraction limit Our group has pioneered some of the techniques for characterizing the effect of light on glass Therefore, a collaboration between our group is ideal, complementing our respective expertise New, simple solid electrolytes for PMC memory devices Unusual glassy phase of the water around the nanoscale constrictions and objects is in the focus of theoretical and experimental studies for about a decade We are working to develop a new model and explain the screening properties of the nanoscale water The non-bulk, non-classical behavior of the glassy water may be critical for a range of applications, including biological sensors List talks, papers, patents, or other technical outputs from the exchange (either completed or in preparation): • 1) Hassan Moawad, H Jain, “Preparation of mesoporous glass bone-scaffolds via meltquenching technique.” COT, Lehigh University, 2006 2) Patent application - Fabrication of nano-macro porous soda-lime phosphosilicate bioactive glass by the melt-quench-heat-etch (mqhetch) method., USA, 2007 3) H M M Moawad and H Jain, "Creation of nano-macro interconnected porosity in bioactive glass-ceramic by the melt-quench-heat-etch method," J Am Ceram Soc., in press (2007) 4) H M M Moawad and H Jain, "Fabrication of nano-macro porous soda-lime phosphosilicate bioactive glass by the melt-quench method," J Am Ceram Soc., in press (2007) 5) H M M Moawad and H Jain, "Fabrication of nano-macro porous soda-lime phosphosilicate bioactive glass by the melt-quench method," 6) Poster - 31st International Conference on Advanced Ceramics and Composites, Florida, 21-26 January 2007 7) Gregory Brentrup, Hassan Moawad, H Jain, Reduction of Cracking in Nano-Macro Porous Bioactive Glass, International Conference on Glass (ICG) 2007, 1- July, Strasbourg, France 8) A Marquez, H Moawad, M Ammar, J Chen, J Wang, R Almeida, W Soboyejo, M Marei, and H Jain, Nano-macro porous bioactive glass as bone scaffold, Africa, January 2007 • 1) 8th ESG Conference on Glass Science and Technology, Development of nano-macroporous bone scaffolds by sol-gel processing, Sunderland, UK, 10-14 September 2006 2) Ana C Marques, Himanshu Jain, Rui M Almeida, "Nano/macroporous monolithic scaffolds prepared by the sol-gel method" (submitted to Materials Science Forum) 3) Poster: COT Open House & BioPhotonics Workshop, Nano-macroporous glass bone scaffolds by sol-gel processing, Lehigh University, PA, USA, May 18 & 19, 2006 4) Ana C Marques, Himanshu Jain and Rui M Almeida, Preparation method of nano/macroporous bone tissue scaffolds for regenerative medicine, US Provisional Patent filed on August 31, 2006, Lehigh University case 051306-01 • 1) Ana C Marques, Himanshu Jain, Rui M Almeida, Sol-gel derived nano/macroporous monolithic scaffolds, European Journal of Glass Science & Technology Part B (Physics and Chemistry of Glasses) (accepted for publication in Jan 2007); (2) Rui M Almeida, Luis F Santos, Amanda Simens, Ashtosh Ganjoo and Himanshu Jain, Structural heterogeneity in chalcogenide glass films prepared by thermal evaporation, J Non-Crystalline Solids (in press) • 1) GOMD-S1-016-2007, Study of the Structure of B2O3 - SiO2 Glasses by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ; R Kuchler, J Lambert, Otmar Kanert*, R Bohmer, University of Dortmund, Germany; J Shelby, Alfred University, USA (to be presented at GOMD, Rochester, NY, May, 2007 • • • • • • • • • • • 1) Alexey A Tsukanov, Eugene A Grachev, and Slava V Rotkin, Modeling of the SWNT-DNA complexes in the water solution, 2007 APS March Meeting, March 5-9, 2007; Denver, CO 2) Slava V Rotkin, Stacy E Snyder, Alexey Tsukanov, Vadim I Puller, Eugene A Grachev, Doping without dopants : Symmetry breaking and band structure engineering in nanotube-DNA hybrids, 12th Advanced Heterostructure Workshop, Dec 3-8, 2006, Big Island, HW 1) Nanoporous glass ceramics for IR sensing, GOMD 2006 Development of far IR transmitting Te glass, Photonics West 2007 2) Development of far IR transmitting Te glass, Advanced Materials submitted Two papers in press: Journal of Applied Physics and Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology One talk: ICG2007 Congress, July 2007, Strasbourg (France) During my visit for establishing of collaboration I gave a talk: Programmable Metallization Cell Technologies - Materials Research and Engineering; May be there are articles or other results from the work of the German visitor at ASU for which I am not aware of Paper and a patent (Note: could we request a specification of the tentative titles from this and the next three respondents - this could follow later but would be nice to have for completeness.) Two papers in press A manuscript is under preparation Our group working in the project had submitted a paper and poster presentation Papers are being prepared Presentation at International Glass Congress in Strasbourg Paper submitted to IEEE Transactions on Electronic Devices: "Bipolar and Unipolar Resistive Switching in Cu-doped SiO2." C Schindler, S.C Puthen, R.Thermadam Waser, M Kozicki Are there plans to continue the collaboration into the future? • The student researcher from Japan expects to apply for an exchange grant for a visit in Spring 2008 • Two students are currently involved in joint research projects • I believe there are plans for continuing the collaboration but not know details since I left Arizona State University Are you or someone else in the group likely to apply for another IMI Research Exchange grant in the future? • Yes, I would like to continue work within IMI I consider my experience to be very positive and I found IMI staff to be very supportive Overall, I can give the highest estimate to the work of the Center, both in terms of organizing exchange visits and in supporting important scientific projects • I moved to Boise State University where I am developing my individual program for research now I will definitely apply for a collaboration sponsored by IMI for which this time I will be the only responsible party from American side My decision to so comes from my experience about the great effectiveness of work of IMI, the straight forward service that IMI offers, the great opportunities that IMI presents for discussion and communication between the scientists in the field of glasses and the favorable conditions which IMI gives to the researchers from different countries to establish international collaboration • I applied already but waiting since months for the visa • Most likely more than once if possible • Yes - besides that, I will receive a grant from my home country, which will allow me to continue this collaboration into the future ... organizing exchange visits and in supporting important scientific projects.” SUMMARY OF RESPONSES TO THE RESEARCH EXCHANGE SURVEY: What was your role in the Research Exchange? • Traveling Researcher -. .. published • • • • Yes, the program is very helpful and meeting my objectives about fabrication of nano-macro porous bioactive glass by melt-quench-heat-etch method The program was very helpful... switching mechanism in Programmable Metallization Cells Ion migration is not only in thin chalcogenide glass layers, such as Ag-Ge-Se or Ag-Ge-S, but probably also in porous Cu-doped SiO2 films responsible