National Science Foundation and European Awards support students in Sweden and the USA – WSU Insider
Students from Washington State University and Sweden’s Linköping University will participate in a pioneering exchange and research program in engineering and scientific computing, with an emphasis on the computer-based design philosophy that supports the international development of Boeing and Saab’s new T-7A Red Hawk trainer aircraft.
The aircraft is a brand new advanced pilot training system designed for the US Air Force, which will train the next generation of pilots for decades to come. As Boeing and Swedish Saab have long-standing ties to WSU and LiU respectively, they will also support this program, which provides students with an unprecedented opportunity to learn how challenging designs are developed through international collaboration between multinational companies.
WSU was awarded $300,000 by the National Science Foundation to support WSU students in Sweden. The WSU-LiU team also received matching funding from the European Erasmus+ program and the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education to support the LiU students at WSU.
“One of the goals of this program is to graduate professional students who are internationally educated and ready for leadership in a globalized society,” said Joseph Iannelli, professor of mechanical engineering in WSU’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, who directs the program.
Jan Nordström, distinguished professor of computational mathematics, and Andrew Winters, WSU alumnus and assistant professor of computational mathematics, will supervise the students’ research projects at LiU.
“LiU’s multidisciplinary approach with Boeing and SAAB projects will expand students’ preparation for international high-tech environments,” said Nordström.
“This project will also prepare students for employment opportunities with companies that use scientific computing and operate in the United States and Sweden.” Iannelli said. Students will benefit from studying in Sweden and the USA while gaining familiarity with the cultures of both countries.
Boeing and Saab will enrich this program. They will advise on aerospace-related scientific computing projects and mentor students, who will be offered opportunities for company visits and internships. Students will also learn how computer-aided design lowers development costs, increases first-time quality of prototypes, and reduces time to market for complex systems, such as aircraft.
“Boeing is proud to support the education of future engineers through this unique exchange and research program,” said Craig Bomben, Boeing’s vice president of flight operations and corporate chief pilot. “This partnership will prepare students for the engineering field and help them fulfill their career aspirations.”
WSU and LiU have been developing their international partnership for several years, following Iannelli’s 2018 outreach to LiU. Subsequently, the two universities signed a memorandum of understanding and a mutual student exchange agreement.
LiU, which is a comprehensive internationally ranked peer university, emphasizes multidisciplinary research and leads Sweden’s National Supercomputing Center (NSC). “By merging their teams and financial resources, WSU and LiU can promote education and research at the international level more effectively,” Iannelli said.
The three-year project will involve 42 different students; 21 from WSU and 21 from LiU. Each of the participating WSU students will receive a $12,000 scholarship. The project synergistically integrates two study abroad programs with research experiences and matched student cohorts. At LiU, the WSU students will collaborate with as many LiU students who will then complete an exchange semester at WSU. At LiU, the Swedish students will help the WSU students with the local culture and vice versa at WSU.
In Sweden, the WSU and LiU students will learn how physical systems work through computer-based simulations based on mathematical algorithms. The WSU students will also take English-taught courses at LiU and transfer their academic credits toward their WSU degree requirements. The program is expected to start in January.