Congrats to Our 2024 REU Expo Winners

Congratulations to Amaya Caudel and Maren Kagin, two of our Research Experences for Undergraduates (REU) place 1st and 2nd in their respective categories.

Amaya Caudel, 1st Place Winner in the Online Expo
Category: Physical and Applied Sciences
REU Mentor: Dr. Fei Xue
Amaya current attends Austin Peay State University
Major: Physics

Maren Kagin

Maren Kagin, 2nd Place Winner In-person Expo
Category: Physical and Applied Sciences
REU Mentor: Dr. Aaron Catledge
Maren Current attends Coe College
Major: Physics

Congratulations to our 2023 REUs

We have some milestones to announce for our 2023 Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Alumni. The following 2023 REUs received their undergraduate degrees this year. We know that they will be moving on to bigger and better things and we hope that we had some influence over their future in research as well as career choices.

Allen_Oscar

Oscar Allen graduated May 2024 from Middle Tennesee State University with a B.S. in Physics. UAB REU Mentor, Dr. Pengfei Wang

Taylor Brown

Taylor Brown graduated May 2024 from Savannah State University with a B.S. in Forensic Science. UAB REU Mentor, Dr. Eugenia Kharlampieva

Cornelius_Sophia2

Sophia Cornelius graduated from University of North Alabama with a degree in Engineering. She is currently a Masters candidate in Applied Manufacturing at University of North Alabama. UAB REU Mentor, Dr. Anna Sorace.

Isaac Mendez

Isaac Mendez graduated April 2024 from Brigham Young University with a B.S. in Physics. UAB REU Mentor, Dr. Wenli Bi

Parker_Jaydyn

Jadyn Parker graduated April 2024 with a B.S. Engineering Design. She is currently M.S. student in Mechanical & Materials Engineering at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is supported by the DOE Center for Additively Manufactured Complex Systems Under Extremes (CAMCSE). In addition, Jadyn is currently employed as Material Design R&D Engineer at TruSpin Nanomaterial Innovation which is housed at the Innovation Depot. UAB REU Mentor, Dr. Haibin Ning

Sutton_photo

Wesley Sutton graduated May 2024 with a B.S. in Physics from Georgia College and State University. He began Graduate School at Notre Dame, June 2024. UAB REU Mentor, Dr. Yogesh K. Vohra, REU Program Director

Congratulations again to our REU Class of 2023 and graduating class of 2024. We wish you much success.

UAB REU Goes to Lawson State Community College

Dr. Shawanda Thomas, STEM Director & Mathematics Instructor, at Lawson State Community College was kind enough to invite us to talk to the Lawson State STEM Scholars Program about our REU program.  In attendance from our program was Charita H. Cadenhead, REU Program Coordinator, Kayla Hardrick (Miles College 2022 REU), Jayden Parker (UAB 2023 REU), Kyla Smith (Lawson State Community College 2022 REU) and Isaiah Bastien (Lawson State Community College 2023 REU). Jaydyn Parker gave an a 3-minute poster presentation of her REU research project titled “Flammability Study of 3D Printed Continuous Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites for Space Application.”  Kayla Hardwick and Kyla Smith were on hand to answer any questions that the program had about their REU experiences.  Afterwards there were a number of excellent questions from the class about the program and we are hopeful that we will have several Lawson State Community College students applying to our program again this year.
Smith_Kyla
Kyla Smith, 2022 REU has been quite busy since taking part in our program. During the Emerging Researcher’s National Conference in STEM (February 9-11, 2023, Washington, DC), she placed 2nd in the Chemistry and Chemical Science Category for her REU research poster titled “Characterization of Poly- (D,L-lactic acid)/ Titania Nanocomposite Microparticles for Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Contaminants in Water.” Outside of her UAB REU Project, as a student representing Lawson State Community College, she received the 2022-23 American Heart Association’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Scholars Program Award. According to the 2023 STEMPOSIUM Magazine, Kyla took part in an academic-year research experience, engaged in virtual leadership workshops, and attended the AHA’s International Scientific Sessions, the largest cardiovascular disease conference in the world.
Dr. Elizabeth (Betsy) Dobbins (Samford STEM Scholars Director) and Ms. Velester Debro (STEM Grant Coordinator) from Samford University were also in attendance to make a presentation to the STEM Scholars Program. Many thanks also to Lawson State’s STEM Assistant, Jean Whitlow, for making sure that logistically, everything went smoothly (oh and of course for the pizza).
LSCC Visit
Shawanda Thomas, Ph.D. (Center)
STEM Director & Mathematics Instructor
Lawson State Community College
LSCC Visit
Jadyn Parker (2023 REU) Prepares to present her poster to LSCC STEM class.
LSCC Visit
Isiah Bastien (2023 REU) joins Jadyn Parker (REU 2023) on stage
LSCC Visit
STEM Class at Lawson State Community College
LSCC Visit
REU Alumni (l-r): Kyla Smith (2022), Kayla Hardrick (2022) Jadyn Parker (2023), Isiah Bastien (2023)

2022 REU Kayla Hardrick: Recipient of Strada HBCU Scholarship

The Strada Education Network initiated the Strada HBCU Initiative in 2022 to focus on the next generation of leaders.  This is a highly selective program that provides an academic scholarship, leadership development, academic support and critical social engagement resulting in positive secondary learning opportunities that lead to a meaningful career pathway for Strada Scholar. 

Hardrick_Kayla

The first cohort of Scholars was selected at Miles College in the fall of 2023.  Under the leadership of three advisors (Dr. Esther Suswam, Mr. Keith McKendall and Dr. Steven E. Hairston) each of the students will undertake and participate in mentoring, career coaching and other work-based learning experiences. 

The three inaugural Strada Scholars and their program area of study are Dariya Jones (Chemistry), Kayla Hardrick (Biology) and Abigail Boudreaux (Biology).  In addition to academic scholarship support and programming, each scholar has access to a stipend to assist them with career or graduates school preparation

The Miles College Strada Scholars are committed to initiating a community service project in the spring of 2024 to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the Founding of Miles College.  

Details provided by Kayla Hardrick

Congratulations to 2022 REU Kayla Hardrick. Kayla’s REU mentor was Dr. Pengfei Wang, Professor of Chemistry.

2023 Summer Expo Winners

Congratulations to our Physics REU Expo Winners: Lea Hebert, Chandni Bhat, Oscar Allen and Karim Haddad

Lea Hebert

Lea Hebert
Grambling State University
2nd Place Engineering
Mentors: Dr. Vinoy Thomas & Grad Student Renjith Pillai

Chandni Bhat

Chandni Bhat
University of Alabama

2nd Place Engineering
Mentor Dr. Jonathan Burns

Allen_Oscar

Oscar Allen
Middle Tennessee State University

3rd Place Works in Progress
Mentor: Dr. Pengfei Wang

Karim Haddad

FTPP/RIPP REU Karim Haddad
University of Alabama at Birmingham

3rd Place (Tie) Physical and Applied Science
Mentor Dr. Renato Camata

2023 REU Has Come and Gone

Meet our 2023 Summer REU participants: (front l-r): Oscar Allen, Taylor Brown, Edwina Brown, Maurissa Higgins, Jadyn Parker, Jada Paige, Karim Haddad

(Back row l-r): David Heson, Lea Hebert, Sophia Cornelius, Isaiah Bastien, Victor Cordero, Isaac Mendez, Mikhail Guchkov, Wesley Sutton, Jonathan Perkins

Another successful Summer REU program has come and gone. It was our pleasure to host this exceptional group of students from across the country.

You can check out the slideshow of the REUs in action in their research labs.

We look forward to next year’s program. Application for Summer 2024 will be available online December 1, 2023.