Every year, eight IMC students are given the opportunity to complete exciting research stays at renowned research institutions and universities in the USA. Elite universities such as Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, New York University and the University of Florida are particularly worthy of mention here.
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IMC students receive scholarship for cutting-edge research
‘Due to the increasing interest on the part of students and IMC Krems' stable, long-term relationships with high-ranking US research institutions and universities, there is great hope that the number of scholarships will possibly even be increased in the future. Since the 2008/09 academic year, 100 IMC students have already received funding from the Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation,’ says Iris Waringer, Head of International Relations at IMC Krems.
This semester's IMC scholarship holders will spend their research semester at the following institutions, for example, where they will spend six months researching, attending lectures, working on projects and networking with researchers as part of their final theses: Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts, Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania and University of Virgina in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Melanie Rappl, a student on the Chemistry bachelor degree programme at IMC Krems, has already completed her research semester in the USA and has fond memories of this time: ‘My research stay at the University of Miami in Florida was a great and eye-opening experience. With the support of the Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation, I gained valuable hands-on experience in advanced biomedical research, improved my technical and analytical skills, and learned more about real-world scientific challenges. Besides academics, adapting to a new environment helped me become more independent and resilient, contributing to my growth both professionally and personally.’
Presentation of the scholarships in St. Pölten and visit to IMC Krems
A delegation from the Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation visited Lower Austria on 20 and 21 March 2025. More than 15 IMC students who have already completed a research stay in the USA or will do so in the coming months and are funded by the Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation took part in the scholarship award ceremony in St. Pölten and in the afternoon in Krems together with the delegation. They were accompanied by Barbara Entler, Professor at the Institute of Biotechnology, and Uwe Rinner, Head of the Institute of Chemistry and Head of the Chemistry degree programme, who supported the students in preparing their research projects.
The visit to Lower Austria offered a great opportunity to gain insights into outstanding Lower Austrian companies and institutions in the field of research and innovation and to establish valuable contacts with decision-makers. In addition to a visit to IMC Krems, the exclusive event also included stops at ecoplus International, the provincial government of Lower Austria - Landesregierung Niederösterreich, the Umdasch Group, an exciting tour of Vienna International Airport and visits to Enpulsion and Enspace, pioneers of future technologies in space travel. All costs, including accommodation, transport and meals, were covered by the Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation.
A special highlight awaited the future scholarship holders on the first day of their visit: they were honoured in the provincial government of Lower Austria on behalf of Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner by Provincial Councillor Christiane Teschl-Hofmeister and the board members of the Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation, led by CEO Karin Emprechtinger. During a festive ceremony, the scholarship holders received their certificates, which recognise their exceptional achievements and research projects at high-ranking US research institutions/universities.
Presentation of the degree programmes and lab tour
During the visit to IMC Krems, Udo Brändle, Iris Waringer, Barbara Entler, Uwe Rinner, Christoph Metzner and Deepak Dhungana presented IMC Krems and the degree programmes in the field of Science & Technology in detail. After a tour of the laboratory with an explanation of current research projects, the Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation invited the guests to dinner at the 2Stein restaurant.
‘We are proud to be part of this outstanding programme and to enable the participants to visit our university. In addition, our scholarship holders clearly demonstrated that IMC Krems sends outstanding young researchers to top-class universities in the USA,’ says IMC CEO Udo Brändle.
About the Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation
The Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation is a renowned institution dedicated to the promotion of exchange programmes between the USA and Austria and specifically promotes the development of leaders and the support of scientific and entrepreneurial progress in an international context. It is named after the Marshall Plan, the historic US aid programme for Europe after the Second World War, and is committed to building sustainable partnerships and promoting innovation in the fields of business and science. The programme supports research stays by students in the technical field at US institutions.
