The University of Minnesota (UMN), College of Science and Engineering (CSE) has been selected as the site of the 2015 IEEE Magnetics Summer School, scheduled for June 14-19.  As one of the largest academic centers for magnetics research in North America, the University will offer more than 100 student participants learning and networking opportunities with world-renowned, local educators. Previous IEEE Magnetics Summer Schools have been in Brazil (2014), Italy (2013), and India (2012).

The summer school is designed for graduate students who are members of the IEEE Magnetics Society and studying magnetism and related areas.  It consists of lectures by international experts who cover fundamentals and advanced topics in magnetism and includes poster presentations by participating graduate students.

Graduate student attendees must go through a selection process including being recommended by their advisors and by IEEE Magnetics members. Awardees are provided with free room and board and are reimbursed for most of the cost of transportation to/from the school. Students from all parts of the world are accepted.

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Profs. Beth Stadler, chair, and Randall Victora co-chair, will lead this education event.

“We are happy to host these lecturers and students from around the world. Having taught the Nanomagnetics lecture in India and Italy, I appreciate the networking that can result from this summer school. Our team won the bid over steep competition, including sites in California. It is great to have these attendees experience Minnesota at its summer best.”

Annually, CSE programs win approximately $4 Million in grants for research in magnetics. CSE faculty with their primary research in magnetics include Prof. Randall Victora ECE, Prof. Jian-Ping Wang (ECE), Prof. Bethanie Stadler (ECE), Prof. Paul Crowell (Physics and Astronomy), Prof. Dan Dahlberg (Physics and Astronomy), Prof. Chris Leighton (Chemical Engineering and Materials Science), Renata Wentzcovitch, John Bichoff, Prof. Dick James (Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics), Prof. Josh Feinberg (Earth Science and Institute for Rock Magnetism) and in the Medical School (eg: the Center for Magnetics Resonance Research). Addition local organizers include Prof. Bruce Bolon (Hamline University, Physics), Brittany Nelson-Cheeseman (University of St. Thomas, Engineering) and Mark Kief, (Seagate).

These faculty conduct individual and collaborative research in spintronics, nanomagnetics, micromagnetics, magnetic recording, magnetic resonance imaging, magneto-optics, rock magnetism, and magnetic carriers. Large-scale research collaborations include 30 years with the Micromagnetics and Information Technologies (MINT) industrial center, 15 years with the NSF MRSEC (Materials Research Science and Engineering Center) program, and most recently, the Center for Spintronic Materials, Interfaces, and Novel Architectures (C-SPIN).

MINT has hosted The Magnetic Recording Conference (TMRC) in 2001, 2007, and 2011, as well as several times in the 1990’s. Each time, MINT attracted hundreds of attendees. MINT is also hosting its 30th Annual Review this year, which typically attracts about 100 attendees.