A research placement instead of the summer holidays: 16 students from the USA, Canada and the UK spent the summer months at the TU Bergakademie Freiberg as part of the RISE programme run by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). They assisted PhD students with experimental work and were able to contribute their ideas to the research.
During their stay, which lasted several weeks, the RISE interns worked at various institutes. They carried out research, analysed results and discussed their findings with the local researchers. For the students, the research placement offered the opportunity to put the specialist knowledge they had acquired during their studies into practice, whilst at the same time gaining an insight into new scientific perspectives.
Did you know? TUBAF students can also take part in a research placement through RISE at a university in the USA, Canada or the UK.
We are looking for Bachelor’s and Diplom students from the fields of natural sciences, engineering, computer science, medicine and related disciplines for a research placement lasting 10 to 12 weeks. The scholarship comprises a full DAAD grant, a lump-sum travel allowance and insurance cover.
Applications for Canada must be submitted by 16 September 2026
The call for applications for RISE projects outside Canada is expected to open in October, with the deadline for applications expected to be at the end of November.&
“I chose TUBAF because it has a long tradition as a mining university, and that tied in really well with the kind of research I had already been doing at my home university.”
Charlene Guo – Rutgers University, USA
“I really enjoyed exploring Freiberg and getting to know the town centre a bit. I also really like the fact that the town is so diverse and that there’s a really close-knit community here. So it seems as though everyone gets on well with one another and works together very well.”
Meridee Ann Ritzer – Clemson University, USA
I think TUBAF has the advantage of having its own mine. How many universities can actually claim to have their own mine? I think that’s really cool, and we were allowed to visit the mine during our work placement – it was an absolutely brilliant experience.
Tara Kasayapanand – University College London, UK
PhD students from the following institutes supervised the interns in the summer of 2026:
- Institute of Computer Science
- Institute of Geology
- Institute of Mechanical Process Engineering and Mineral Processing
About the programme
RISE stands for Research Internships in Science and Engineering. Through this programme, RISE Germany arranges two- to three-month research placements for North American, British and Irish undergraduate students at universities and non-university research institutions in Germany. RISE Germany is funded by the Federal Foreign Office and through partnerships. The DAAD supports participants with a scholarship.
