University of Florida’s Center for Undergraduate Research teaches students about scholarship, studies and professionalism

Phong Truong’s research has already brought him from Florida to Maryland to Uganda and now Switzerland, where he is currently enrolled in a Master’s program at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva.

But it was early on, as an undergrad at the University of Florida (UF) that the young scholar’s interest in research was first sparked. Staff at UF’s Center for Undergraduate Research (CUR) encouraged Truong, then majoring in microbiology and cell science, to apply for a stipend for emerging scholars, which supported his work at a lab studying Alzheimer’s disease. Then he received an undergraduate research scholarship; then another UF award, to spend a summer in a lab in Uganda.

The Center showed how many opportunities there are for undergraduates, says Truong. His time in the Alzheimer’s lab gave him the opportunity to work alongside leading scientists and doctoral students, and taught him about rigor, peer review and reproducibility.

“It opened my mind,” he says. “The research skills, in terms of thinking clearly and writing well, have been tremendously helpful. In my studies and coursework, in class discussion, in everyday life—I get to apply those skills and continue to practice and challenge myself.”

How to fail, succeed—and thrive

For several decades, studies have shown that taking part in research as an undergrad correlates with positive outcomes for students in terms of both graduate school placement and employment. Administrators at UF have honed a particularly successful program, built on encouraging students’ autonomy and independence.

The Center offers an array of scholarships, travel awards and funding grants. It connects students with their peers and with faculty across humanities, social science and the natural and applied sciences—opportunities that are open both to students pursuing degrees in person and to those studying online. When participating in research projects, students can decide not to take credits, so that they can pursue their interests without accruing college fees, a policy that broadens the program’s appeal.

Anne Donnelly, who created CUR in 2010, said it was founded in part to capitalize on the University’s rising profile as a research institution. Students are not handed projects, but encouraged to pursue areas that interest them. “This is kind of my philosophy. I’m not here to match them,” she says. “Every faculty [member] on campus is doing research… We give the students the skills to identify who they might want to work with and teach them how to professionally make the initial contact.”

The program helps some students crystalize their wish to embark on a research career; it helps others figure out that their path lies in a different direction. All students who engage in the Center’s activities emerge with a richer set of skills that will help them with when graduate, Donnelly notes.

“They learn problem solving. They learn how to look at data and analyze it. They learn how to fail.  They learn how to persevere. So even if they’re going to be a doctor or a lawyer or an investment banker or a high school teacher— there are no skills there that won’t help them,” she explains.

Student-led

A key aspect of how the Center instills these skills is by giving responsibility to students. It has a highly active and self-directed advisory Board of Students, CURBS. And alongside regular activities, students help organize four landmark events during the year, which attract hundreds of participants: a fall undergraduate research expo; undergrad research symposia in spring and fall; and a statewide undergrad research leadership summit.

Donnelly, who manages the center with the support of two full-time staff and eight student assistants, says that student involvement is key. Her small team is supported by a band of student helpers, who donate about 2000 hours a year to the organization, connecting with other students and spreading the word about the group. “Students would rather hear from other students,” she says.

This also applies to broader decision making. “You not only have to follow students, but you have to give them real work and trust them and incorporate them into the management decisions of the organization,” Donnelly says.

Pravalika Manda, a senior majoring in microbiology and cell science, is Director of Special Projects for CURBS. Her communication skills and professionalism have greatly improved as a result of her role, she says—“because you’re talking with faculty, you’re talking with students on a daily basis.” Putting on events has compelled her to become better organized and to manage her time.  “It takes a lot to put on those events but—we’re also students, and we’re also doing research and we also have other things going on. So just trying to find the balance of how do I do all this in a timely manner, without overwhelming myself, but also making sure the event goes smoothly.”

Brendan Wernisch, a senior majoring in chemical engineering, is the current Executive Director of the student board. Wernisch, a first-generation student from a single-parent family, began research by doing what he describes as “silly little experiments” in high school. From an early age, he knew he wanted to do research, and CURBS gave shape to that wish. “I felt very inspired that people who were not much older than I was, were so mature and professional,” he says. “It was really the people on the leadership team that drew me to further involvement.”

Preparation for post-grad life

Presenting ideas to dozens, sometimes hundreds of people, organizing events, speaking with faculty and doing peer-to-peer outreach allows students to gain valuable experience. It enables them to polish their resumes and stand out in a crowded field. When Jamarcus Robertson, an alumnus of CURBS, was applying to grad school at the University of Chicago, he felt the interview panel was impressed by the depth of his leadership activities. Robertson had received scholarships as part of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Florida Georgia Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (FGLSAMP), the McNair Program for first-generation students, and as a first-generation student was selected for the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholar (MFOS). At CURBS he became Director of Special Projects, among other roles at the Center. At his interview, his work “really did set me apart,” he says.

The extensive peer-to-peer work informs Robertson’s approach to mentoring even now. At Chicago, he is pursuing a doctorate exploring what sea anemones can reveal about cell regeneration and wound healing. “Whenever I have a student that’s coming in, I usually help them in the lab in the context of how to do experiments and how to understand things. But,” he adds, “I also try my best to help them understand that there’s more out there that they can do to really take that next step.”

UF’s dedicated Center for Undergraduate Research has spurred hundreds of students to expand their horizons. For Phong Truong, it uncovered a world of problems and puzzles and the part he could play in solving them. During his three months in Uganda, where he helped to study biomarkers found in blood samples and cerebrospinal fluid to better understand how severe forms of malaria affect children, he deepened his understanding of health inequities. Truong now studies the intersections of science, politics and philosophy, and is doing a thesis on the politics of artificial intelligence ethics.
“It was very formative,” he says, “and showed me where individuals can contribute to resolving the difficult and wicked challenges in the world. There’s a lot of research that we still need to do to better understand these issues and tackle them.”

Keys for success

Obtain leadership buy-in.

The Center for Undergrad Research (CUR) is part of the office of the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Affairs. Not only does this ensure institutional and financial support, it also means the program is not identified with a particular department or college. “It makes it easy for us to serve students in all disciplines, all colleges, all departments,” Donnelly says.

Choose an easy-to-access, high-profile space.

CUR is located in a building in the middle of campus, accessible to students 24/7. “This makes all the difference in terms of students finding you,” she says.

Make it inclusive.

Some student research centers start out as honors programs, but CUR serves all students.

Be appropriately staffed.

In addition to its army of volunteers, CUR has three full-time staff and eight part-time student assistants. Having two or three people working full-time on the Center helped get it up and running, Donnelly notes. The fact that Donnelly holds a PhD facilitated the process by making conversations with faculty easier.

Involve students right away.

This is key—not only involving the young people but also trusting them, she stresses. At CUR, students are “totally intertwined with management decisions.”

Connect with colleagues.

Donnelly recommends having a more experienced colleague “on speed dial” to help with tricky questions. The National Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) is a good source of advice and support.

Written by: The University of Florida; used with permission. Find the original article here

The sound. The rhythm, The movement.

That’s what draws Mia Kennedy ‘24 musical theater, to tap and ignites her passion. When she puts on tap shoes, they transport her to a different place, one that inspires joy and motivates her to keep learning and to keep tapping.

Her love of tap motivated her to delve deep into the history of the dance style, which dates back to the early 19th century.

Kennedy, a Summer Scholar, spent the summer researching tap, absorbing its history and creating a textbook of sorts that lays out where it came from and what it looks like now. Kennedy has been working with Laura Lloyd, a professor of dance and musical theater, to bring her project to fruition.

“It’s like an encyclopedia of tap,” said Kennedy.

The resource will be used to help students who take tap classes. Kennedy’s guide lays out tap steps, important names associated with the style, and takes a deep dive into how tap has influenced Broadway through the years. Tap has been influenced by many styles over the decades. Two prominent schools of tap are Broadway and rhythm. Kennedy and Lloyd are focused on Broadway.

“I have taught for a long time,” Lloyd said. “A Broadway tap textbook doesn’t exist. You just don’t see one focused on Broadway-style tap.”

Broadway tap is the type of show dancing seen in live stage musicals and in Hollywood films. It typically incorporates more arm movements, artistic body movements, and movements across the dance floor than rhythm tap dancing. In the 1980s, tap saw a resurgence in popularity when Broadway shows, such as “42nd Street” and “The Tap Dance Kid,” introduced new audiences to the dance style.

Lloyd and Kennedy had worked on an independent study focused on Broadway tap, and decided the subject was worth expanding into Summer Scholars.

The Summer Scholars program is a program unique to Christopher Newport where students and faculty work side by side on research projects. It is an eight-week, in-residence program that brings students and faculty together to work collaboratively to answer a research question. Scholars receive a housing allowance and stipend.

Kennedy, who knew she wanted to do research coming into college, took note of the void and decided to fill it by focusing on her Summer Scholars project on tap dancing. “I learned so much,” she said. “I have always loved doing research.”

To bring her study of tap to life, Kennedy and Lloyd traveled to New York City to see Broadway shows featuring tap and also took a Broadway tap class. It was a fantastic way to see the artform on some of the world’s most famous stages.

“It was fun going to see those shows,” Kennedy said. “It was great to notice that all the steps that we had talked about were used. So, we were like, ‘yes, we’re on the right path.’ I think we just missed one step. So we brought that back and added that into our list of steps.”

The resource that Kennedy and Lloyd are creating includes a written component and video piece in which Kennedy performs each step in a way in which they are indexed for reference. Students will be able to consult the guide for detailed direction on how to properly perform each tap step and learn its accompanying history. For tap students, the guide is likely to be most helpful as they work to advance the skills.

“There really isn’t an opportunity to go deeply into the history of tap, at least with any class offered here,” Kennedy said. “And so, being able to delve into a style that I really like is, I think, a unique opportunity that’s kind of tailored specifically to what is special to me.”

Being able to work one-on-one with Lloyd to become well-versed in something she loves, and to create something that will impart knowledge and expertise to other tap lovers, has been a dynamic and rewarding experience for Kennedy.

“Dance is my favorite part of musical theater, so having a wonderful relationship with one of my dance professors has been really great,” Kennedy said. “I think it’s setting me up for success here, and for potential connections in the future.”

Lloyd agreed, saying she has also learned a lot through the experience.

“It’s been a lovely relationship that isn’t just teacher to student, but one in which she’s teaching me as well,” Lloyd said. “It also has meant a lot to me to have a student who really wants to look at research, especially in musical theater.

“Most of it is performance based and so we go into class and it’s like, ‘learn the steps, let’s put them together into the dance and let’s perform it’” Lloyd said. “It’s been pretty special to dig a little deeper, to have somebody really interested in the history of the steps and why they are what they are, and then to be able to, you know, go experience tap in New York City one-on-one and really talk about it. It made it a little more special, a little more personal.”

Written by: Kelli Caplan for Christopher Newport University; used with permission. Find the original article here

Disabled Undergraduate Sustainability Researcher Helps Develop Microplastic Particle Characterization Library

Danielle Hoelle, a Florida International University senior studying Sustainability and the Environment, is living with rare disease, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and an autoimmune-neuromuscular disability, but she wanted hands-on experience in a research laboratory. While she had spent the Spring semester lobbying for Florida to adopt a single-use plastics regulation bill (HB 1145) and management bill (SB 1580), she found herself continually intrigued with the public health risk that microplastics pose on populations and the global environment.

Hoelle became one of ten motivated students selected worldwide for a National Science Foundation research apprenticeship program at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Her focus was on microplastic particle separation and characterization. Hoelle said this was a dream come true in more than one way. In her sustainability endeavors, she could finally help make a dent in microplastic research that she felt was lacking, and she soon realized that despite her physical disability, she could finally be the scientist she always knew she was capable of being.

“I got motivated when I realized that I would have the opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone and help advance research on microplastics,” said Hoelle.

Hoelle worked with Dr. Madiyar using a method of particle separation within a non-uniform electric field known as Dielectrophoresis (DEP). Their research showed that DEP successfully captured, separated, and identified diverse types of microplastics and that they could create a library of characterized microplastics for further research.

In 2021, microplastic particles were seen in the high orbit atmosphere from the Arctics to the Himalayan Mountain range. They arrived by oceanic uptake, evaporation, movement through rain and snow, making traveling across oceans and lands a breeze. Many of the origins of these particles are unknown. Microplastics are not only found in the air and water but are also now being found in the lungs and bloodstreams of humans and animals. Microplastic particles are the remains of plastic degradation and pose a sincere and long-term health risk to the planet and its inhabitants.

“Finally, we will not only be able to identify the types of microplastics out there, but also their chemical composition, and that will ultimately lead us to understand just how far these particles are traveling to reach these secluded destinations,” said Hoelle about her research.

As the 10-week program went forward, Hoelle developed new skill sets and irreplaceable relationships with her mentor, colleagues, staff, and faculty members that she did not expect would lead her to a new career so quickly. By the time she left the program and using the exceptional skills that she learned through her research; she became Assistant Director of the Honors Program at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and will now help recruit the world’s best aerospace and aviation students into research that fits their areas of interest.

 “This program took me to new heights that I would never have imagined I was capable of until I tested my strengths. I am more than grateful for this opportunity and will recommend it for years to come!”, said Hoelle.

Submitted by: Danielle Hoelle, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University; used with permission.

Abi Sloniker remembers well the competing feelings of exhilaration and confusion when she stepped onto campus as a freshman.

As a first-generation student, the experience was at times overwhelming. Her family was supportive, but as the first to go to college, Sloniker was navigating uncharted territory.

With the guidance of faculty, she eventually found her way and solid footing, but it took time, patience, and a lot of searching for the right resources.

Now more comfortable with all things college, she has immersed herself in a project that she hopes will keep other students from feeling the way she did when she arrived at Christopher Newport.

Sloniker has launched First-generation Captains, a club focused on fostering community, acceptance and knowledge. She wants first-generation students to feel welcomed and grounded from day one of their college journey. She has involved faculty members and University offices to provide input and ideas to bolster the club’s reach and effectiveness.

“I want to pull together as many different resources as I can to support first-generation students,” said Sloniker, ‘26 Sociology.

The response so far has been extremely positive, with both faculty and students energized about getting the club off the ground. Already, the club has attracted members. Approximately 20 percent of students at CNU are first-generation.

“It’s so exciting to me,” she said. “All of these people want to do this. It’s great.”

Sloniker lived the first-generation experience, but she began to realize she was not alone when she was offered a chance to do research on the topic as a Summer Scholar. She conducted the research under the direction of Dr. Linda Waldron, Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for Education Research and Policy (CERP). Her assignment was analyzing data provided by first-generation students at Christopher Newport. The research looked for similarities in first-generation stories and ways a college could apply the findings to make positive changes.

Undergraduate research, along with internships, study abroad and service, is one of the four pillars of a Christopher Newport education. Summer Scholars is a program that encourages students to embrace research projects. It is an eight-week, in-residence program that brings students and faculty together to work collaboratively to answer a research question.

As Sloniker embarked on the Summer Scholars research, the narratives she read from other first-generation students hit home, describing feelings and thoughts that were very familiar to her.

“I started to notice a lot of patterns as I went through them,” said Sloniker, who is from Chesapeake. Va., and the oldest of four sisters. “After listening to them, I went back to my dorm and asked my suitemate about it. We decided that we had the same type of problems here and some of them need to be fixed.”

As Sloniker worked to bring improvement, she built self-confidence and developed a passion that paved the way for her to make the campus a more welcoming and engaging place for those who are the first in their family to forge the path of college.

“I love what she’s doing,” said Waldron, Sloniker’s core advisor. “Abi has completely initiated this.”

Waldron, who also was a first-generation student when she began college, believes the club has the potential to have a huge impact on student success.

“Student organizations help create a sense of belonging, and play a role in helping retain students and having them graduate on time,” Waldron said.

First-generation Captains is a club that Sloniker and Waldron would like to see grow and prosper for years to come.

“There’s a benefit to having students with a range of experiences,” Sloniker said. “I am hopeful this club is really going to enhance the community and just provide a space where students can go and feel free to ask questions, even if they feel like they’re stupid questions.”

As Sloniker’s mentor and friend, Waldron has been critical in providing her with guidance and support.

“I didn’t come to college expecting a core advisor,” Sloniker said. “I figured I would just be thrown into the deep end of the pool and I thought, ‘OK, I’ll just learn how to swim.’ But when I got here, I was told I needed to meet with Dr. Waldron. She was so approachable, and always has been. Sometimes I would just drop by, and if her door was open, I’d be like, ‘Hey, I might need some help.’ She is always helpful and it’s just really nice.”

Together, using research and their common bond of being first-generation students as their foundation, they are working toward establishing more visibility for first-generation students. Sloniker envisions the club becoming part of the fabric of campus life.

“As a sociologist, what is really important is that it be institutionalized as opposed to just doing an event here or there. And we really needed a student to take the lead,” Waldron said. “I think students are really surprised that one in five students here are first generation. For me, it’s kind of like allowing students to kind of have a language to better understand their experience, but also to get the right resources that they need.”

Sloniker is hoping the First-generation Captains Club takes hold and develops into her legacy.

“I want it to have a stable foundation so that it stays here long after I leave,” Sloniker said. “For that to happen, there’s going to be a lot of work that needs to go into it. But it’s worth it because it’s for the betterment of the community on campus. I want to create something that is going to outlast me.”

Written by: Kelli Caplan for Christopher Newport University; used with permission. Find the original article here.

While pursuing baccalaureate degrees in the disciplines of chemistry, physics and engineering, three Cameron University students have also ventured into the realm of outer space by conducting undergraduate research projects that have them casting their critical thinking and analytical skills beyond the classroom. Under the mentorship of Dr. Susmita Hazra, Dalton Chase, Jennifer Lane and SheKayla Love are participating in research projects related to space weather and observational astronomy.

Chase, a physics major from Lawton who earned an Associate in Applied Science degree in engineering in May 2023, is utilizing data from SOHO, ACE and GOES satellites to understand how the sun varies across different solar cycles and the impact caused by the variability on space weather. This work will be helpful in building a framework for an empirical model for future solar activity prediction. Chase has presented his research at the National Council of Undergraduate Research and is assisting Hazra in publishing the results in a peer-reviewed journal.

“I learned and gained experience in professional settings,” Chase says of his research project. “I never knew the vast opportunities undergraduate research could provide me, and I am extremely grateful to Cameron and my research advisor Dr. Susmita Hazra for allowing me to have these experiences.”

Lane, a physics and engineering major from Fletcher, has been analyzing the light curve of exoplanets, which are planets in other solar systems. She is part of an exoplanet watch program via NASA’s partnership with the MicroObservatory Robotic Telescope Network at the Center for Astrophysics/Harvard & Smithsonian and Las Cumbres Observatory, a network of 25 telescopes at seven sites around the world. She also has access to telescopes at NASA’s Propulsion Laboratory. Exoplanet research gives scientists crucial hints for determining whether and where life might exist elsewhere in our solar system, as well as teaching us about how exoplanets were formed and evolved.

Lane has been analyzing light curves on these planets to find distance, size, composition and mass. She has presented her research at Oklahoma Research Day and plans to present at the National Council of Undergraduate Research at California State University Long Beach in Spring 2024. She is also writing her results to publish in a peer-reviewed journal.

“Conducting undergraduate research has been helpful for me by making me get out of my comfort zone,” Lane says. “It has challenged my critical thinking skills as well as presentation skills. Doing research over a topic I found very interesting is an enjoyable experience and boosted my confidence.”

Love, a senior chemistry major from Lawton, has analyzed data from four robotic telescopes on variable stars, which are located millions of light years away. Starlight is the only data available from that distance, so analyzing those lights can provide information about distance, mass, size, and composition. This research is significant as it gives information about stars, their life cycle and perhaps about our universe.

She has also been working on another space weather project using ionosonde data from around the world. Ionosondes are like ultrasounds; they send signals to the sky, and the returning signal gives information about the electron composition and irregularities. These parameters vary with the activity of the sun and Earth’s magnetic fields. Understanding the ionosphere is extremely important for satellite communication, a technology that is omnipresent in daily life.

“One of my biggest academic accomplishments is publishing my research work in a peer-reviewed journal,” Love says, who has presented her research at more than 10 conferences and has been published in a peer-reviewed journal. “I am very thankful to Dr. Hazra, Cameron University and the Department of Chemistry, Physics, and Engineering for giving me this opportunity.”

Written by: Cameron University; used with permission. Find the original article here.