IRES is the Institute’s unique, international research and educational program for students interested in flood resilience.
International Research Experiences for Students (IRES)
The overarching objective of the proposed IRES project is to provide transformative multi-disciplinary international research training and education to the next generation of leaders facing the societal challenge of increasing flood hazard.
International Research Experiences for Students (IRES)
SPONSOR:
National Science Foundation
PROGRAM DIRECTOR:
PI:
CO-PI:
Jens Figlus
Yoonjeong Lee
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The National Science Foundation (NSF) funded International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) Flood Resilience Program (FRP) between the U.S. and the Netherlands provides students with international research experiences under the guidance of faculty and researchers from multiple disciplines in both countries. Each year of the program, U.S. students engage in an immersive, six-week problem-and place-based research experience in the Netherlands, a world leader in flood risk mitigation and management. The primary goal of the program is to prepare the next generation of engineers and scientists that will have to tackle the societal problem of widespread flooding in an innovative fashion.
PROGRAM TIMELINE
September 2022 - August 2025
Participation in the program lasts for a year, including pre- and post-research trip activities. The research trip to the Netherlands takes place from mid-May to the end of June every year.
IRES Flood Resilience Program
APPLICATION
Application is currently closed, but will be re-opened in the Fall of 2024.
Overview
Coastal floods are the most costly, disruptive, and life-threatening hazard worldwide. The negative impacts of these storm events are increasing in the United States (U.S.) and abroad. In response to this growing problem, this project will establish a research and education program on coastal Flood Risk Reduction (FRRP) between the U.S. and the Netherlands. This international collaboration will support excellence in research and learning across the engineering and management sciences, leading to new knowledge that will transform the way floods are dealt with in the U.S and around the world. Recognizing that now, more than ever, scientific innovation is needed to better understand the causes and consequences of coastal flooding, this project will bring together the world’s top researchers to generate new solutions that will help local decision makers reduce loss of both property and human lives in the future.
Student Testimonials
“As a member of the first cohort of the International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) in the Netherlands, I was most surprised by the suggestion to meet with experts on our research projects, and the willingness that the experts had to meet with us. Most often, we only encounter experts related to our research within our university, or partnerships established by our advisors; however, we were not limited to experts within the network of our mentors from IDRT, nor the companies with which we met during field trips. This recommendation led to me experiencing my first international conference outside of the United States, which took place in France a few weeks after our IRES program ended.”
AMBER SPEARS
PhD student, Jackson State University
“The IRES program was transformative in my research experience and professional development! The field trips and group activities within the Netherlands allowed me to understand problems and solutions at the local and national scales and how to transfer this knowledge back in the U.S.
The mentorship throughout the program by IDRT and Dutch experts was invaluable and I hope future students take advantage of this opportunity.”
NICK DIAZ
PhD student, Texas A&M University Galveston
“Participating in IRES was an incredible experience and I am especially grateful to my cohort, our mentors, and the experts who took the time to share their knowledge with us. Visiting the Delta Works gave me a true appreciation for the scale and innovation of the Dutch engineering solutions, and I am hoping to draw from these ideas in my future work. My favorite part of the program was meeting experts with knowledge on my specific case study area; I felt like I was meeting celebrities and thoroughly enjoyed brainstorming with them. Additionally, I had the opportunity to present my IRES findings at the Young Coastal Scientists and Engineers Conference – Americas (YCSECA) this summer.”
DELANEY DORAN
PhD student, Texas A&M University
“The experiences provided by the IRES program were unique and very important for my professional development as a scientist. The program gave me an international perspective for problem solving and understanding flood risk reduction and management. I am grateful for this opportunity and the network of colleagues that I meet. My IRES research work will be presented at the Geological Society of America 2023 Meeting in October.”
ANGEL ACOSTA COLON
PhD student, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
CONTACT US:
Have specific questions about IRES? Please email Dr. Yoonjeoing Lee.
