SCUPI

From July 17 to August 10, 2024, the “Da Chuan Vision” student study tour program at Rutgers University, hosted by Sichuan University and organized by the Sichuan University-Pittsburgh Institute (SCUPI), concluded successfully.

Academic Sharing at the University of Pittsburgh 

The first stop of the SCUPI summer camp began at the University of Pittsburgh on July 19. Here, students participated in an academic lecture titled “Developments in Biostatistics and Computational & Systems Biology”.

During this lecture, Prof. George C. Tseng (Vice Chair for Research at the School of Public Health) vividly explained three core principles of statistics through real-life examples of new drug development in pharmaceutical companies. Prof. Ying Ding (Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Affairs) introduced students to popular concepts in STEM, such as deep learning and artificial intelligence. Dr. Mert Gur and Dr. Keisuke Ishihara elaborated on fundamental concepts and trends in computational biology. 

This session gave students insights into the latest developments in biostatistics, expanded their knowledge of cutting-edge technologies, and provided valuable inspiration for their academic and career planning. 

Immersive Learning at Rutgers University  

Rutgers University offered a two-week immersive learning program featuring high-quality lectures and seminars led by experts in the field of engineering. Courses were taught by Prof. Zhang and Prof. Zou from the School of Engineering, divided into two main sections: a theoretical course on machine learning and a hands-on robotics lab. 

The courses began with an introduction to the Linux environment and Python programming, then delved into the fundamentals of machine learning. In the robotics lab, students not only learned the theoretical aspects of robotics but also applied their knowledge through practical projects. 

This comprehensive learning experience allowed students to deepen both their theoretical understanding and practical skills, laying a solid foundation for future academic research and career development. 

Laboratory Tours 

A major highlight of the summer program at Rutgers University is the laboratory tours, where students visited four labs in different fields: Intelligent Robotics Lab, Industrial Engineering Lab, Digital Twin Lab, and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Lab. 

In the AI Lab, Prof. Jingjin Yu demonstrated a robot using active pose estimation for dynamic hand-eye coordination. In the Digital Twin Lab, Prof. Gong Jie and his team presented the development process of a flood detection system, emphasizing the critical role of cross-disciplinary knowledge in the birth of the system. In the Industrial Engineering Lab, Prof. Zhimin Xi introduced reliability design and its applications in autonomous vehicles, robotics, lithium-ion batteries, and additive manufacturing. In the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Lab, Marcelo M. Ferrer, assistant director of Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, and two PhD students explained major pharmaceutical research projects, particularly the differences between batch production and continuous production and their respective advantages.

During these tours, students not only asked questions to the professors actively, but also had in-depth conversations with the graduate students and PhDs in the labs, gaining a deeper understanding of lab work and the core competencies required for scientific research.

Tour of Top Universities 

In addition to academic activities, the study program also included a special tour of famous schools for the students. The students first visited the Swanson School of Engineering, then climbed to the top of the University of Pittsburgh’s famous Cathedral of Learning for a breathtaking view of the entire city. This was followed by a tour of Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Computer Science and its laboratories and Cornell University.

Each institution showcased its unique academic atmosphere. This trip to the prestigious schools not only opened up the students’ horizons, but also planted the seeds of academic pursuits in their hearts, inspiring them to continue to explore and move forward on their future academic paths.

Closing Ceremony and Farewell Banquet 

As the two-week immersive program came to an end, Rutgers University hosted a grand closing ceremony and farewell banquet to conclude the program. 

Rutgers University Vice President Rick Garfunkel delivered a heartfelt speech, congratulating the students and thanking SCUPI and the students for their trust and support. He expressed optimism for further collaboration between Rutgers University and SCUPI.

Prof. Minking Chyu, Dean of SCUPI, also gave a speech, thanking the team responsible for the Summer Program at Rutgers University and exchanging gifts with the Rutgers University program directors as a symbol of the commitment to deepening academic cooperation and nurturing talented individuals together. 

Following the ceremony, students enjoyed a delightful farewell banquet filled with food and laughter. The banquet provided not only a relaxing opportunity for networking, but also a warm ending to the challenging and rewarding learning journey.

The “Da Chuan Vision” student study tour program at Rutgers University, hosted by Sichuan University and organized by SCUPI, has come to a successful end. SCUPI will continue to support students as they explore prestigious universities and cultural landscapes, paving the way for future study abroad opportunities!