Gained independence doing research and gained new real-world knowledge and experience.
What I wish was different
Onboarding process was a bit slow and disorganized.
Advice
Make sure you are well versed in the field of the REU program you are applying to before starting.
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Undergraduate Researcher
May - July 2023 • Miramar, FL
What I liked
I did a research program in the Tropical Fish Ecology Lab at Florida International University on the Biscayne Bay campus, which is waterfront. The location was great on Biscayne Bay, with many opportunities to explore the bay and nearby beaches and state parks. It brought the whole experience together being able to reside in the area our research was based on. I also really liked the different excursions the program planned for us to get a more comprehensive understanding of the ongoing coastal research projects the other labs were doing-- we went to the Everglades on an airboat tour and Key Largo for kayaking in the mangroves and snorkeling. Some workshops connected to graduate programs and opportunities, which was really helpful! The research I did on modeling great barracuda worked with global data sets and a geographic information system, GIS/ArcMap-- great experiences to have in the environmental fields!
What I wish was different
During my individual research project, I encountered limited guidance from my mentors due to their unfamiliarity with the GIS I was utilizing.
Advice
Feel free to explore your other interests beyond your individual research project. Numerous labs are open for mentorship and guidance, even if they weren't your initial assignment-- it's a great way to figure out what's available!
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NSF REU at the University of Louisville
May - July 2023 • Louisville, KY
What I liked
I really enjoyed the opportunity to do hands on research as an undergraduate student. I was hosted over the course of 10 weeks at the University of Louisville and assisted in a lab over the course of my stay there. I got to work on multiple projects in a wet lab, along with learning how to properly review and write research papers on the studies done during my time there. It was also a paid experience with housing provided, which was also nice considering that is not always the case for research opportunities. There were 7 others who participated in the program and had their own projects they were assigned too, so you got to spend the summer with others as well. The specific project that I worked on was Modeling Drug Transport and Efficacy in Living Tissues. This was a variety of projects that all studied drug release in multiple forms. One studied electrospun fibers, while another studied probiotics within a scaffold.
What I wish was different
The one thing I wish was different was having an actual project that I had ownership over. While I enjoyed being able to assist in multiple projects and learn about a variety of different diseases being studied, I feel that I could have been more involved by leading a project. This would allow for me to have seen what it would be like to work more with collaborators and direct a project where I wanted to explore. This was largely not possible due to the vast amount of projects currently underway, but in the future if I were to do this again, I would like to have my own project.
Advice
Without a doubt would be to apply yourself. If you have downtime on what you are working on, reach out to someone else in the lab to see if you can assist in their project to learn something new. There is always something going on in the lab, whether that is an experiment taking place, or writing a paper for publication, so you will never be bored. Lastly, if others are in the program with you, reach out and see what they are working on as well that way you can learn other techniques that you may be able to use yourself.
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Undergraduate Research Assistant
June - August 2022 • Marsabit, Marsabit
What I liked
I loved the opportunity to travel and conduct research abroad.
What I wish was different
I wish that I would have known more about how to appropriately pack and prepare for the experience.
Advice
The advice I would share is that growth comes from being uncomfortable!
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National Science Foundation Research Fellow
May - July 2022 • Mobile, AL
What I liked
I loved getting lab experience in the niche field of bioarchaeology, as well as the location. Our PIs were amazing and were 100% the reason the program was amazing.
What I wish was different
Advice
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Research Intern
May - August 2022 • Los Angeles, CA
What I liked
I enjoyed being apart of an introductory research experience that taught me what to expect from further research I might take part in and also grad school.
