May 6, 2010

(MIDLAND, MICH.) - One of Midland’s most prominent polymer scientists recently spent a month in Japan exchanging research findings in the area of photonics. Dr. Abhijit Sarkar, a research scientist at Michigan Molecular Institute, was invited to lecture, write and exchange ideas as part of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciences’ Bridge Fellowship program.

His trip, intended to foster continued interaction between Japanese and U.S. researchers, included multiple speaking engagements, research visits to several well-known Japanese campuses and opportunities to collaborate with many of the world’s foremost photonics experts.

Stops on his itinerary included Tohoku University in Sendai; Yamagata University in Yonezawa; Science City in Tsukuba; Tokyo University; and the Nanotube Research Center in Tsukuba.

Considering that only two of the JSPS’ 20 fellowships given worldwide were awarded to scientists in the U.S. this year, Sarkar felt particularly honored to receive it.

“My fellowship allowed me opportunities to discuss MMI’s hyperbranched polymer technology with several leading researchers in the field of nonlinear optical materials,” Sarkar said. “I gave four lectures and was able to interact with students one-on-one, and I also co-wrote a paper. It was a very successful trip in that I made many new connections with several experts in the field, and re-established connections with others.”