Educational
Opportunities within the Emulsion Polymers Institute
Graduate students in the Institute undertake dissertation
research leading to the master of science (M.S.) or doctor of philosophy degree
(Ph.D.) in the Departments of Chemistry,
Chemical Engineering,
Materials Science and Engineering,
or Physics or in the
interdisciplinary program of
Polymer
Science and Engineering. Students majoring in the Polymer Science and Engineering
Program register in one of these departments.
Programs of study for individual students are designed to meet the
student's interests, the requirements of the appropriate academic department, and the
student's dissertation committee. Considerable flexibility is permitted in the selection
of courses and a research topic.
Faculty members of the Institute are involved in teaching normal
university courses and continuing education courses for industrial personnel. The annual
one-week short course, Advances in Emulsion Polymerization and Latex
Technology, typically attracts about 100 industrial participants. This course is an
important mechanism for developing meaningful interactions between Institute staff and
students and industrial scientists and engineers.
Educational and research opportunities exist for postdoctoral
fellows and visiting scientists as well as resident graduate students. In the past,
Emulsion Polymers Liaison Program Members have arranged 6-9 month
stays in the Institute for their research personnel.
Various funding sources are available to graduate students during
their tenure. Research assistantships sponsored by the Emulsion Polymers Institute are
available. A limited number of university fellowships are available. Periodically, there
are also industrial-sponsored fellowships available. Companies such as Atochem, Bayer, Dow
Chemical, B.F. Goodrich and ICI have underwritten such support in the past. Contract research with
governmental agencies also provides financial support.
The general cost of living in the Bethlehem area is moderate. Most
graduate students live in apartments or private housing usually within a mile or two of
the university. University-owned housing for married and graduate students is available,
although the number of units is limited. Assistance with locating housing may be obtained
through the residence operations office in Rathbone Hall, which maintains a list of
available housing in the area to assist incoming students.
To obtain more information about educational and
research opportunities within the Emulsion Polymers Institute or to
request graduate school application forms,
please click here to send an e-mail request for more
information.
