Advice for REU students: Come with an open mind, be willing to work hard; but don't forget to have fun, hang out with people, enjoy yourself while you're here.
The project I worked on incorporated computer science, math, physics and chemistry. I loved my project: it was new and unusual, it was challenging, and it was deeply satisfying to see the final results.
Sarah Hobbs
Truman State University
Biology and Business Administration
Junior
Seminars and company visits really opened my eyes to the variety of innovative research in industry. It's inspiring to meet people who are doing what they love and making a successful business out of it.
Holly Johnsen
Harvey Mudd College
Mathematical Biology
Sophomore
Don't be afraid to try out research in a new area. I'd only had one semester of Java prior to this summer...I didn't think I could learn to write in two new languages, but I ended up catching on fairly quickly...now I'm really glad, because it's opened up this whole new field for me.
Anita Kalra
Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering
Bioengineering
Sophomore
As an electrical engineer, I found it very exciting to be able to do research in biotechnology, knowing that my research would play a small part in helping fabricate a device that could in the future allow doctors to bring high quality medical instrumentation to remote sites in third-world countries. This is an optimal research experience which fosters and cares genuinely for the progress of its REU students.
I liked the ethics seminars a lot. The presenter was very energizing and got us to think about lots of issues involved in biotech industries. These things do not usually occur to a student researcher, so it was enlightening to discuss them with our peers.
Allison Kwong
Brown University
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Freshman
I truly did not enjoy preparing for the initial and final presentations, but they were ultimately useful experiences...after working on my project for 8 weeks, I was much more confident in presenting and will be so in the future.
Everything from the knowledge I gained about my research, to the general lab skills I picked up, to the presentation skills, to the career counseling--it was all so helpful and really helped to develop my career goals and future plans. Advice: be prepared to learn a lot and to really push yourself so that you can get the most out of this experience.
Kevin Loh
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Biomedical Engineering
Junior
The research I conducted at KGI this summer was groundbreaking and tantalizing. The facilities are state-of-the-art, the faculty is top-notch, and the program was the best in the country.
KGI was my first intensive research experience and I learned so much just from spending a lot of time investigating a very specific project. The faculty was so open, allowing us students to work right beside them in the lab; part of the reason I felt comfortable in my research is because the faculty is very confident in the REU students.
It's a lot better than I had expected - I'm very happy. It's very well organized. The research experience and adapting to the 8-hour workday were the most valuable parts of this program.
Adam Thomas
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Computer Science
Junior
I had a great advisor, and I enjoyed the research so much that I'm continuing it as my senior thesis. Also, being the REU social coordinator and dorm rep, I had a blast.
Shan Zhao
University of Rochester
Computer Science/Physics
Sophomore
The seminars give you a feel of what researchers go through, and the presentations give you a taste of how to give seminars...absolutely the best people and environment for productive research.
