Call for Graduate MIT Students: “Research and Learning Exchange in Guatemala”

Under the Project: Achieving Sustainable Partnerships for Innovation, Research, and Entrepreneurship (ASPIRE)

The Achieving Sustainable Partnerships for Innovation, Research and Entrepreneurship (ASPIRE) Project is a five-year project funded by USAID and implemented by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG), and the Guatemalan Exporters Association (AGEXPORT). The goal of the project is to create replicable models for how Latin American universities and their collaborators can respond to local and regional development needs. The project implements a collaborative and inclusive multistakeholder approach to research, teaching, innovation, entrepreneurship, and tech transfer, seeking to strengthen innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems at UVG, within Guatemala, and more broadly throughout Central America.

MIT Master and PhD students interested in topics related to innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainable development, innovative agricultural practices, and multidisciplinary research are invited to participate in a three-month research and learning exchange in Guatemala during summer (June, July, and August) 2024. One of the objectives of the joint project is to build capacity to conduct high-quality research and research driven innovation that is relevant to addressing local and regional challenges. To support this, MIT students will participate in ongoing research projects led by UVG’s researchers and students, visit UVG’s campus, and interact with community members.

Awarded students will receive a summer stipend (100% time). Additionally, students will receive funding for round trip flights from the US to Guatemala in economy class, accommodation in Guatemala City and field visits, and local transportation. Faculty and staff who mentor these students, can also receive funds to cover a small portion of their salary in exchange for their mentorship.

To express your interest in joining the ASPIRE research and exchange program in 2024, please fill out the application form in this link. Applications are open from January 23, 2024 to February 6, 2024.

Research Topics:
UVG and MIT are currently working on the following multidisciplinary research topics. Priority will be given to students who demonstrate interest or are currently working on one of the following areas:

1. Shrimp Production

Project Title: A Pilot for Technology Transfer: Bioremediation of heavy metals and emerging contaminants in water using magnetic chitosan molecules obtained from shrimp shells.

Principal Investigator: Allan Vásquez, MSc., Chemistry Department Instructor at UVG

Project partners: Center for Biotechnology Studies (UVG), Aquaculture and Fisheries Sector (AGEXPORT), ASPIRE Research Team.

Main Research Objective for the Project: To propose an upcycling solution for shrimp shell waste to remediate heavy metals and other contaminants in water.

Project Background: In the shrimp industry in Guatemala, the shrimp exoskeleton waste is a byproduct that is not currently being used. The global shrimp industry is confronting multifaceted challenges related to fostering sustainable production, both economically and ecologically. To address this, there is a growing imperative to explore novel avenues to generate supplementary income, while mitigating the environmental footprint of shrimp production. UVG has been actively engaged in research related to chitosan (a polymer that can be extracted from shrimp exoskeleton) and its different applications in bioremediation of heavy metals in water.

This initiative builds upon those past projects, and aims to synthesize magnetic nanoparticles capable of sequestering and releasing arsenic, a contaminant present in some water sources. Building upon Daniela Cuadra’s 2017 research, which successfully produced chitosan-derived nanoparticles capable of trapping heavy metals from wastewater, this project intends to replicate the methodology by magnetizing the nanoparticles derived from shrimp shells. Through this approach, the affinity of these nanoparticles for arsenic removal will be ascertained, and their molecular structure will be elucidated. Moreover, a parallel exploration through computational chemistry is proposed to evaluate the nanoparticles’ interactions with emerging contaminants (e.g. ibuprofen and acetaminophen). These insights will help identify the broader potential of these nanoparticles as chemical sequestering agents, paving the way for innovative water treatment facility designs.

Research Objective for the Student: The student objective in this project is two-fold: 1. Help the UVG research team conduct and assess its current lab tests related to the bioremediation capabilities of chitosan, and 2. Research and generate information to share with the UVG research team regarding other potential applications of chitosan and/or other uses of shrimp shells.

Proposed Student Activities: During your work on this project, you will have the opportunity to:

• Evaluate nanoparticle interactions with emerging contaminants in water in UVG labs.
• Research other applications for magnetized chitosan for agricultural or industrial uses, for example.
• Evaluate other ways to transform shrimp shells and convert this waste into a value-added product.

Main Area(s) of Student Expertise Requested: Biotechnology, biology, biochemistry, chemistry, chemical engineering, bioengineering, etc.

2. Vegetable Production I

Project Title: Addressing postharvest losses of snow peas and sweet peas in Chimaltenango and Sacatepequez

Principal Investigator: Ana Silvia Colmenares, Food Science and Technology Researcher

Project Partners: ASPIRE Research Team, AGEXPORT Peas and Vegetables Sector, local producers, Fundarveja.

Main Research Objective for the Project: The primary objective is to work with local farmers, researchers, and industry experts to test some of the solutions that address mechanical damage and export quality of snow peas in Patzún and Sacatepéquez, Guatemala.

Project Background: Snow peas and sweet peas are important export vegetables produced in Guatemala that contribute to the rural economy. Throughout the value chain, byproducts are generated (approximately 30%), representing financial losses for the producers.

The project will be implemented in association with the AGEXPORT’s snow pea committee, snow pea and sweet pea producers and researchers from Universidad del Valle de Guatemala with the help from FUNDARVEJA, with local producers based in Sacatepéquez and Patzún.

The project team has already completed research in collaboration with local farmers during the diagnostic phase to identify the causes of losses in snow pea production. The summer visit aims to build upon this foundation by integrating the expertise and fresh perspectives of students to implement and refine the solutions identified in collaboration with the community.

Research Objective for the Student: The primary objective is to work with local farmers, researchers, and industry experts to test and refine the solutions developed during a hackathon, particularly addressing challenges related to mechanical damage and export quality of snow peas.

Proposed Student Activities: During your experience, you will have the opportunity to:

• Implement innovative solutions: Translate ideas from the hackathon into actionable initiatives, working in a hands-on way to implement and test the proposed solutions in real-world agricultural settings.
• Field visits and stakeholder meetings: Engage in field visits to snow pea and sweet pea crop sites in Patzún and Sacatepéquez. Meet with local producers, industry representatives, and project partners to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and gather feedback on the solutions.
• Solution refinement: Collaborate with the project team to make iterative improvements to the solutions.
• Knowledge exchange: Share your academic expertise and experiences with local stakeholders, and, in turn, learn from their knowledge and practices. This exchange aims to foster mutual learning and collaboration.

Main area(s) of Student Expertise Requested: Biotechnology, mechanical engineering, agricultural engineering, industrial design, anthropology, sociology, etc.

3. Vegetable Production II

Project Title: Community-Centric Solution for Snow Pea Flour-Based Products

Principal Investigator: Ana Silvia Colmenares, Food Science and Technology Researcher

Project Partners: ASPIRE Research Team, AGEXPORT Peas and Vegetables Sector, local producers, Fundarveja.

Main Research Objective for the Project: This research project is an extension of Vegetable Production I described above, “Addressing postharvest losses of snow peas and sweet peas in Chimaltenango and Sacatepequez” and aims to foster collaborative co-design between researchers and local cooperative members in Patzún and Sacatepéquez.

Project Background: See the background in Vegetable Production I above.

Research Objective for the Student: The primary objective is for students to work closely with local farmers, researchers, and industry experts to co-create and develop a prototype of a snow pea flour-based product and explore market opportunities. The emphasis is on understanding community interests, analyzing capabilities in their environment, and fostering sustainable practices for the development of this specific product.

Proposed Student Activities: During your experience, you will have the opportunity to:
Conduct collaborative sessions to understand community interests, needs, and aspirations related to the targeted snow pea flour-based product.

• Facilitate workshops that encourage active participation from community members in the prototype development process.
• Work with local communities to transform ideas into a tangible prototype, ensuring it is low-cost, locally replicable, and aligns with community preferences.
• Investigate and analyze potential market opportunities specifically for the targeted snow pea flour-based product.
• Develop strategies for introducing the prototype to the market, including identifying target audiences, understanding consumer preferences, and exploring distribution channels.

Main Area(s) of Expertise Requested: Anthropology, sociology, business, or related fields, who are passionate about sustainable and community-focused initiatives.

4. Essential oils

Project Title: Mobile laboratory for the extraction of essential oils.

Principal Investigator: Andrés Viau, mechanical engineering.

Project partners: ASPIRE Research Team, AGEXPORT Essential oils sector, local producers: Ija’tz (women’s collective), Innoc Agropecuaria (men’s collective).

Main Research Objective for the Project: Experiment with a mobile laboratory developed by the ASPIRE research team by extracting essential oils from native plant varieties from Guatemalan highlands.

Project Background: The essential oils sector faces challenges in each link of the value chain (production, transportation, conversion to value-added products). There is a need for more efficient production, improved equipment, and a more innovative vision to create new markets. Some of the challenges of “the traditional extraction techniques such as steam distillation lie in the huge quantities of plant material required to extract essential oils on a commercial scale. For 1kg of lavender essential oil, approximately 200kg of fresh lavender flowers are required, for 1kg of rose oil between 2.5 and 5 metric tons of rose petals are needed, and for 1kg of lemon essential oil the raw material consists of approximately 3,000 lemons. Therefore, essential oils are very expensive” (Hielscher Ultrasonics, 2023). Also, in traditional extraction processes, parameters such as temperature are difficult to control, which causes some important elements of the essential oil to be lost, thus reducing its quality (Hielscher Ultrasonics, 2023).

New technologies, such as ultrasonic vibration, have emerged that can be incorporated into existing production lines. This is important as ultrasonic vibration doesn’t displace traditional extraction techniques. It increases efficiency, reduces extraction time, maintains yields at different production scales and process parameters such that temperature can be monitored and controlled. (Hielscher Ultrasonics, 2023) “The working principle of ultrasonic extraction is the bubble collapse and implosion generated by ultrasonic cavitation. Ultrasonic cavitation generates zones with extreme temperature, pressure, and liquid microjets, which destroy the lipid-containing glands in the plant tissue. Thereby, mass transfer between cell and solvent is improved and the essential oil is released” (Hielscher Ultrasonics, 2023).

New market tendencies and customer preferences for natural ingredients, offer opportunities for the essential oil sector in Guatemala, as there are plant varieties that have never been tested with potential uses in medicines, cosmetics, etc.

Research Objective for the Student: The student objectives for this project is to assist the UVG research team with the following: 1. Engage local producers to understand the production processes of native plants for essential oils, and 2. Support the activities of the essential oil mobile extraction lab by extracting essential oils and identifying applications for the oils.

Proposed Student Activities: During your experience, you will have the opportunity to:

• Field visits: travel around the Guatemalan highlands visiting small producers working with thyme, rosemary, chamomile and native plants to understand the production process of the raw material of essential oils.
• Exchange knowledge with small producers and learn about the uses they have for the plants, especially for medical treatments.
• Select a native plant and work with the UVAL Herbarium (Universidad del Valle de Guatemala – Herbario UVAL) to classify and or identify the plant selected.
• Experiment and validate: use the mobile laboratory and the ultrasonic vibration technology it incorporates to extract essential oils from the native plant and validate the use of the lab.
• Study the properties of the essential oil extracted using the mobile lab to explore its possible applications, for example for medicinal or food use

Proposed Student Activities: Activities will include visits to the crop sites, meetings with stakeholders and local producers, participation in meetings with researchers and producers, and experiments with the ultrasonic vibration to validate the extraction process for the mobile lab.

Main Area(s) of Expertise Requested: Biotechnology, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, chemistry, industrial design, biochemistry, biomedical engineering, etc.

5. Public Health

Project Title: Identification of innovative solutions to health-related problems in rural communities in Guatemala

Principal Investigator: Renata Mendizabal, Biochemistry
Centro de Estudios en Salud de la Universidad del Valle de Guatemala

Project Partners: ASPIRE Research Team, local rural communities in Alta Verapaz, Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance

Main Research Objective for the Project: Identification of health challenges and development of a model that can provide innovative solutions to health-related problems in rural communities in Guatemala.

Project Background: Access to public, affordable, and quality health services and treatments in Guatemala, particularly in rural areas, where there is little to no access to public services, is one of the main development challenges that rural and indigenous communities face. UVG has worked on different health-related projects for several years, including the development of vaccines, identification of tropical diseases, access to healthcare facilities, among others.

As part of the ASPIRE project initiatives, researchers have identified potential opportunities to address Leishmaniasis. The model to address Leishmaniasis is intended to include education to prevent the disease, an evaluation on how the diagnosis could be more efficient and accurate, and identification of which technologies or other solutions could address the illness most effectively.The project is still under development and will be co-created and co-designed with different stakeholders, but it is expected that by the summer, the project will be ready and underway.

Research Objective for the Student: The student objectives for this project are to: 1. Participate in and support the assessment (diagnostic) of challenges in selected communities related to health problems, 2. Assist the research team to prioritize the identified challenges, and 3. Help generate draft proposals to develop the care model for Leishmaniasis (Neglected tropical disease in Guatemala).

Proposed Student Activities: Activities include designing, implementing and analyzing information obtained in interviews, surveys and focus groups that will be used by different actors to co-develop a care model and participation in planning and evaluation meetings.

Main Area(s) of Expertise Requested: Anthropology, sociology, medicine , epidemiology, public health.

Research Exchange Program:

The three-month program will be tentatively structured as follows:

• Visit to UVG Guatemala City campus and laboratories, sessions with the multidisciplinary research teams and exchanges with students and researchers. Meeting with relevant ASPIRE stakeholders (June, July and August).
• Time allocated to conduct research as part of the multidisciplinary research teams. Depending on the research topic, this might include traveling to the field, conducting research at the UVG laboratories, conducting data collection or analysis, etc. (June, July and August).
• Visit to UVG campuses in the highlands (June) and the Southern coast (July) for exchange with students and researchers. Time for any additional data collection or analysis.

Eligibility criteria:

1. Students enrolled at any MIT graduate (master’s or PhD) program for the Spring and Fall 2024 semester.
2. Master’s or PhD students interested in or currently conducting research related to innovation, technology, entrepreneurship or sustainable development in Guatemala.
3. Innovative and feasible research proposals will be prioritized.
4. Knowledge of Spanish is not required but it is desirable (intermediate level).

Application Process

• Fill out the application form
• In the application form, you will need to upload your CV, a motivation letter indicating your research experience and interest in topics relevant to the prioritized research themes, as well as a short research proposal.
• You will also be required to upload a letter of recommendation from your academic department.

Selection Process

Based on an initial evaluation, pre-selected candidates will be invited to a round of interviews in February 2024. The final selection will be announced in February 2024.

For more information about the exchange, please contact Ana Lucía Solano, Research Director at alsolano@uvg.edu.gt.

Reference:
Ultrasonic hydrodistillation of essential oils. (2023). Hielscher Ultrasonics GmbH.
https://www.hielscher.com/ultrasonic-hydrodistillation-of-essential-oils.htm