Analytical chemistry in Thailand: Opportunities for U.S. electrochemists and analytical scientists

ANYL 217

Gary D. Christian, christian@chem.washington.edu, Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Box 351700, Seattle, WA 98195-1700 and Kate Grudpan, kate@chiangmai.ac.th, Department of Chemistry, Chiang Mai University, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai 502000, Thailand, Thailand.
The Thai government has in recent years invested in and promoted the growth and advancement of research at universities through numerous programs, including the Thailand Research Fund (TRF), with the academic division sponsoring various schemes such as TRF Young Generation Researcher Grants, TRF Senior Research Scholar Grants, and the Royal Jubilee Ph.D. Program. Programs launched by the Commission on Higher Education (CHE) include the Post Graduate Education and Research Program in Chemistry (PERCH), and the recent initiative, the Strategic Frontier Research (SFR) Program. These, and other programs, provide support for collaborations between U.S. and Thai faculty, including faculty exchange visits and support for Thai students to visit U.S. universities. The Commission on Higher Education has created a new scholarship program for top students to be trained in overseas universities to receive Ph.D. degrees in the areas of nanoscience and nanoanalysis, neuoroscience and bioanalysis, bioinformatics, and environmental science and analysis, with living and tuition expenses awarded on a competitive basis. Students indicate preferences of universities or faculty for their training. This will provide U.S. analytical scientists, including electrochemists, opportunities to attract top Thai students to their laboratories for Ph.D. training and create collaborations. An NSF sponsored workshop on Interfaces of Analytical Sciences was held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, January 4-8, 2006, between selected U.S. and Thai analytical scientists to initiate contacts and possible collaborations. Results of the workshop and contact details for Thai agencies will be presented.