Aurora Excellence Fellowship program for visiting PhD and Master students 2023

AURORA EXCELLENCE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM 2023

RETROSPECTIVE

The Aurora Alliance is a partnership of 9 closely collaborating European universities that aims at driving societal change and contributing to the sustainable development goals. The Aurora excellence fellowship program between the Universität Innsbruck and the Universitá degli Studi di Napoli Federico II with focus on Quantum Science and Technology has been initiated in 2023. This program enables internships to enhance scientific collaboration and exchange for Bachelor, Master, and PhD students between the Universität Innsbruck and the Universitá degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, partners of the Aurora European Universities Alliance.

Altogether, 18 students visited the respective partner university in the summer of 2023 for a 3 to 5- week exchange. 11 students from the Universitá degli Studi di Napoli Federico II joined one of the following research groups at the Universität Innsbruck:

In addition, 7 students from the Universität Innsbruck joined one of the following research groups at the Universitá degli Studi di Napoli Federico II:

Young and talented students from both Aurora partner universities had the opportunity to join research groups according to their preference on Theoretical or Experimental Physics in the summer of 2023.

  • They experienced a structured knowledge exchange and sharing on Quantum Science and Technology.
  • The exchange enabled participants to gain valuable international experience while fostering cooperation and networking.
  • This program deepened the knowledge in selected aspects of Quantum Science and corresponding concepts.
  • Furthermore, it facilitated transferring knowledge and understanding advanced topics on Quantum Science and Technology.

Below, exchange students from the Universitá degli Studi di Napoli Federico II share their experience on their participation at the Aurora excellence fellowship program in Innsbruck:

I decided to apply for the Aurora exchange because I was curious about a new way of working with Quantum Computers. I strongly recommend this experience to anyone that want to learn more about physics and themselves. Paola Savarese – Universitá degli Studi di Napoli Federico II – Quantum Interfaces

It was a very good occasion to join a research group and I also know that the University of Innsbruck was renowned for the research of the Quantum networks. The project made me learn a lot of things about optical cavities and quantum networks. I have also acquired some program skills and Innsbruck was a very nice city. I had a lot of fun here. Nicolas Leto – Universitá degli Studi di Napoli Federico II – Quantum Interfaces

It was great to put my skills at the disposal of my team and I improved a lot in a very short time and for that I am grateful for Aurora. Antonio Pio Italiano – Universitá degli Studi di Napoli Federico II – Photonics

Here I also met a lot of nice people but also I have found a truly stimulating place to grow up and I have learned a lot of new skills. So, for sure, I advise you to join the same program. Alfonso Annarelli – Universitá degli Studi di Napoli Federico II – Dipolar Quantum Gases

My motivation to come to the University of Naples was to see something new and to have a little bit of an adventure in that sense. And something which I would otherwise not have the opportunity to experience. And also to understand how other research groups operate and conduct their research. And we could sort of develop in this weeks common ideas and potential projects for future collaborations. I would highly recommend this program to other people if they wanna see something new, something which is out of the usual research environment in their own university. In general I have to say that people in Naples were one of the most generous and friendly people I have ever experienced and I highly highly recommend it. Raphael Holzinger – Universität Innsbruck – 3-week short mobility – group “Material Electrodynamics and Quantum Technologies” 

The administrative team of the respective Aurora partner university is supporting exchange students before, during and after they stay. Moreover, financial support is provided to cover travel expenses and accommodation following the host institutions internal rules. The program for the summer of 2024 is currently planned. Stay tuned for the application for Bachelor, Master, and PhD students.