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.

2023 REU Maurissa Higgins Shares Her Experience at the March 2024 APS Conference

Written by Maurissa Higgins

Maurissa Higgins at APS Conference

University of Alabama at Birmingham’s 2023 NSF Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program allowed me the opportunity to grow my research skills and interpersonal connections. Over the ten weeks, I worked closely with Dr. Yogesh Vohra and Matthew Clay under the Department of Physics. During this time, I learned a great deal about condensed matter research and the common techniques used in modern research. I then applied what I learned in several ways throughout the summer, including analyzing X-Ray Diffraction data taken at the Argonne National Laboratory and taking Neutron Diffraction data at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

After the summer concluded, I expressed interest to Dr. Vohra and Matthew in presenting our results at a national conference, which led me to the APS March 2024 conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota where I participated in a poster expo. During the expo, I had the opportunity to talk about our work with other undergraduate students, graduate students, post-docs, and career professionals. Attendees possessed a range of understanding in condensed matter research, giving me the opportunity to practice presenting the research to a diverse audience.

In addition to presenting my own work, I also had the opportunity to hear about other ongoing projects and to discuss modern problems in physics. One of the most memorable discussions I participated in was “Addressing Misinformation about Science: Moving from Correction to Connection,” where I discussed strategies in communicating about misinformation with both people working inside and outside of science fields. One unique project I had the opportunity to hear about and which I would be interested in pursuing in the future was research being conducted on clouds and hazes and molecules in exoplanet atmospheres with a focus of applications to understanding the development of our own atmosphere.

In the past few months, I’ve learned about my own interests and strengths and have grown my research and interpersonal skills thanks to the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Summer REU. I can’t wait to see how these experiences will change and impact my future in physics.

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 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.

2022 Summer Expo Winners

Join us in congratulating our 2022 Research Experiences for Undergraduates Summer Expo winners.

Hugh Graham

2nd Place – Engineering
Hugh is a student at the University of the South

Aniket Pant

1st Place – Physical and Applied Sciences
Aniket attends Georgia Tech

Carolina Amezaga

2nd Place – Physical and Applied Science
Carolina is a student at Auburn University

Claurissa Desilma

Claurissa Desilma

3rd Place – Works in Progress
Claurissa attends Florida Memorial University