Wabash College student Prasun Panthi ’27 has earned a DAAD RISE summer STEM research internship in Germany.
Panthi earned his scholarship to study in Kaiserslautern, Germany, for this international experience. It marks the second consecutive year in which a Wabash student has earned this research opportunity.
Given by the German Academic Exchange Service, the DAAD RISE summer internships are awarded in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to undergraduate students from North America, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. Students are carefully matched with doctoral students and researchers from universities of applied sciences, whom they assist and who serve as their mentors.
“Earning this internship is a validation of my potential as a researcher, not just within Wabash, but through a
respected international lens,” said Panthi, a native of Kathmandu, Nepal. “Being selected to lead original theoretical work in a field that genuinely excites me is an incredible opportunity for growth. Ever since arriving at Wabash, my short-term goal has been to earn a place in a strong physics Ph.D. program in the United States. I believe this experience will strengthen that path.”
Panthi’s research focus this summer will be in developing a theoretical framework for the Bose-Einstein Condensate to Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) crossover in curved space, a new problem that sits at the intersection of condensed matter physics and non-Euclidean geometry. Although the program officially begins May 19, Panthi and his research mentor have decided to get started early to maximize the chances of producing publishable results.
“Based on conversations with my research mentor, this is a new idea, and I will be leading the theoretical derivations and calculations,” Panthi said. “This work aligns closely with what I hope to pursue in graduate school.”
A physics major with a minor in mathematics, Panthi serves as a physics tutor at the Quantitative Skills Center, sings tenor in the glee club, and is a member of the International Student Association, the Indoor Soccer Club, and the Society of Physics Students. Previously, he has traveled abroad on a Wabash immersion learning experience to Liverpool, England, with a History of the Beatles course.
RISE Germany offers approximately 300 summer research internships in Germany and Interns receive a monthly stipend to cover everyday costs. RISE Germany is supported by the Federal Foreign Office and by many partners. The program’s objective is to promote student exchange to Germany in the fields of natural science, engineering, and life sciences, and to motivate undergraduate students to learn more about Germany’s research landscape and study opportunities.
“Prasun impressed me with his level of engagement with the RISE application process,” said Susan Albrecht, Wabash College Fellowship Advisor. “The program setup isn’t particularly easy to navigate, yet Prasun arrived in my office having already earmarked suitable internship opportunities and with solid letters of motivation already drafted. He struck me as a go-getter who has a substantial skillset to offer. I anticipate a highly successful summer for Prasun in Germany.”
Panthi joins the list of Wabash men who have earned highly competitive fellowships since 2014, including the Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Obama Voyager, Yenching, Goldwater, and Point Foundation Flagship Scholarships. Additionally, Wabash students have earned the Center for the Study of Presidency and Congress’ Presidential Fellowship, U.K. Fulbright Summer Institute placement, Critical Language Scholarship, and NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships, to go with 34 Fulbrights and 34 Gilman Scholarships.