Each summer, the Albert Nerken School of Engineering offers a 6–8-week study abroad experience to students in their second or third year at Cooper. This summer, eleven students joined programs in Germany, Guatemala, Iceland, Singapore, and Spain.

The Albert Nerken School of Engineering is grateful to the Victor and Eleanor DiFranco Endowed Fund and the E. Durbin & J. Morris Innovation Fund for underwriting the Dean’s Office Summer Abroad Cultural Immersion Fellowships.

GERMANY

Four undergraduate engineering students studied abroad in Dresden and Karlsruhe, Germany.

Jaehyeon Park ME’26 and Sonam Okuda ME’25 participated in the study abroad program at Technische Universitat Dresden in Dresden, Germany. The university is home to a large variety of research centers and institutes, covering virtually every academic discipline. Research at TU Dresden includes Health Sciences, Biomedicine, and Bioengineering; Information Technologies and Microelectronics; Smart Materials and Structures; Culture and Knowledge; and Energy and Environment.

Jaehyeon worked on optimizing electromagnetic forming processes using AI-driven domain adaptation and Monte Carlo dropout for predictive modeling. By adjusting parameters like yield strength, capacitance, and voltage, they improved the accuracy of predicting form depth and current amplitude, which enhanced their skills in AI, machine learning, and advanced manufacturing techniques. Outside of research, Jaehyeon’s involvement with the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) allowed them to connect with students from diverse cultural backgrounds, enriching his global perspective and shaping their academic and professional aspirations.

Sonam worked with the Flight Mechanics and Control department at TU Dresden to design a controller for a quadcopter. This hands-on project allowed them to apply classroom knowledge to real-world applications, making it a valuable learning experience. During their time in Germany, Sonam traveled almost every weekend, exploring cities like Leipzig, Prague, Nuremberg, Berlin, and Karlsruhe, where other exchange students were studying. While they enjoyed visiting the German cities, Prague was their favorite.

In addition, Andrea Mejia ME'25 and Jade Lombardo ME'25 participated in the study abroad program at the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences in Karlsruhe, Germany.

GUATEMALA

General engineering junior, Otto Beer, completed a 6-week study abroad experience at the Barbara Ford Peacebuilding Center in Guatemala. Dean Lisa Shay accompanied Arav on their first week in Guatemala, as she helped develop the summer study abroad experience in Guatemala in cooperation with Sister Virginia Searing, President of the Board of Directors of the Barbara Ford Peacebuilding Center Association, and two of the Center’s senior staff members, Marta Leticia Garcia Ajucum, Executive Director, and Luciano Laynez Perez, Director of Finances and Administration.

With the staff from El Centro de Paz, Otto focused on designing affordable grey water filtration systems and researching the nutrient production of the gardens those filters could support. Their goal was to help alleviate iron deficiencies among local subsistence farmers. 

“If you want a chance to make a difference in people's lives and to work alongside other people who do as well I recommend considering applying to go to Guatemala. also while there was a bit of a language barrier and I would recommend knowing a bit of Spanish going in, everyone at the center is incredibly patient and friendly and always went out of their way to make me feel at home." – Otto Beer BSE'26

ICELAND
Senior mechanical engineering student, Isabella Flynn participated in our study abroad research program at Reykjavik University in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Isabella delved into the critical field of hydrogen production and its potential to contribute to a sustainable future for transportation. Throughout research, Isabella often reflected on their personal experiences in nature that resonated with their studies. Isabella recalled visits to geothermal energy plants, massive dams, and waterfalls, which enriched their understanding of the topic of study. This unique perspective allowed them to connect theoretical knowledge with real-world applications.

“My time in Iceland was truly ethereal; it was incredible to be met with the natural beauty of the world every day and to be able to immerse myself in it. Every time I went out, I was excited to discover just how incredible this country was and how awe inspiring the Earth is. Living here, and witnessing firsthand the interconnectedness of everything, allowed me to push myself to think about problems through a different lens– one in which I am eager to place the small contextual details into a “big picture” point of view.” – Isabella Flynn ME'25

SINGAPORE
Electrical engineering senior, Justin Koe participated the Summer Engineering Research Internship for U.S. Students (SERIUS) program at the National University of Singapore (NUS). During their 8-weeks at the NUS College of Design and Engineering lab, Justin delved into cutting-edge research with an innovative twist.

“My experience in Singapore had a great balance between academic research and cultural exploration. My research was guided by outstanding mentors which allowed me to learn a lot about the domain I was working in as well as develop my technical skills. Outside of the lab, it was fun to travel around Singapore to places like Little India, Chinatown, and the Merlion Park.” – Justin Koe EE'25

SPAIN
Four undergraduate engineering students studied abroad in Burgos and Madrid, Spain.

Sophia Klymchuck ME’26 and Yael Bialik CE’26 participated in the study abroad program at the Universidad de Burgos in Burgos, Spain.

Yael participated in sustainability research in northern Spain, where they focused on reusing and recycling wind turbine blades to maintain the eco-friendliness of green energy generation even after decommissioning. Over six weeks, they learned various testing techniques and followed the entire development process of creating concrete enhanced with shredded wind turbine blades. This hands-on experience deepened her appreciation for sustainability work and inspired Yael to apply the knowledge gained to their studies upon returning to the United States.

Isha Dave ChE’26 and Anya Lei CE’26 participated in the study abroad program at the Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid, Spain.

“My study abroad experience at Comillas Pontifical University in Madrid gave me the opportunity to truly enjoy another culture and have a change of pace from Cooper’s everyday life. I loved learning more about the city’s history and social traditions and I was also able to make lasting friendships with other students from different universities. As part of my academic experience, I worked on a research project focused on developing hip implants with reduced mass using topological optimization and finite element analysis. All the implants were developed using Solid Edge and were created using various 3D printing techniques. I am eager to apply what I learned inside and outside of the classroom during this study abroad experience in my future career path.” – Isha Dave ME'26

“Being abroad in Madrid was both fun and challenging for me. As I worked on topologically optimizing skateboard baseplates, I developed new skills in manufacturing and foundry. Outside the lab, I particularly enjoyed visiting various art museums. I made tons of great memories meeting new people, trying new foods, and visiting cultural landmarks." – Anya Lei CE'26