̨Íåswag

Nine students from the University of North Georgia (̨Íåswag) participated in National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU), Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) or similar programs this summer. ̨Íåswag's REU and SULI participants included:

Biology

• Robby Keenan — National Institute of Food and Agriculture Research & Extension Experience for Undergraduates (REEU) at University of Georgia (UGA)

Chemistry

• Zoe Byrne — Department of Energy SULI at Brookhaven National Laboratory

Mathematics

• Shae Jolivette — REU at East Texas A&M
• Micah Chandler — REU at Emory

Physics

• Jack Vogel — REU at Boulder Solar Alliance
• Piper Spraker — REU at East Texas A&M
• Shawn Park — REU at University of Alabama Birmingham
• David von Meyer — REU at East Texas A&M

Physics and mathematics

• Aysia Bittinger — SULI at Savannah River National Lab

Jolivette, a senior from Canton, Georgia, pursuing a degree in mathematics, worked on a project at East Texas A&M finding graph-based error-correcting codes for quantum computers. One of her goals is to pursue a Ph.D. in applied mathematics, and her REU allowed Jolivette to "dip my toes into research."

Faculty members Dr. Jeffrey Landgren and Dr. Karen Briggs wrote letters of recommendation for Jolivette, and she said other Department of Mathematics faculty have also supported her in pursuing growth opportunities.

A teacher during her junior year of high school helped her understand math in a new way, creating a passion that set her current trajectory.

"Homework doesn't even feel like homework. It's like a fun puzzle I get to solve," Jolivette said. "Being passionate about math, I would like to pursue it to the highest degree."

Byrne, a junior from Atlanta, Georgia, pursuing a degree in chemistry, studied protein crystallography through her SULI experience at Brookhaven National Laboratory's National Synchrotron Light Source II project. She appreciated the chance she had to help shape the direction of the research.

"It was a really amazing experience for me. It helped me develop a lot of confidence with research," Byrne said. "I found it to be really beneficial, particularly for lab work."

Byrne said her summer mentor's confidence in her allowed her to be willing to embrace the trial-and-error nature of research. She also pointed to the instrumental role of faculty members Dr. Neal Lin, Dr. Isaac Agyekum, Dr. Rosi Gunasinghe, and Dr. Andrew Thomas in helping shape her path. Byrne also noted the way the Nationally Competitive Scholarships office has assisted her.

"Being at ̨Íåswag has really impacted the trajectory of how I think about my future and my career. The faculty and staff are incredible, and I never would have had this type of experience at a larger school," Byrne said. "This SULI experience has prepared me even more. It simulates real-world situations where you're working in close quarters with others and need to communicate with them."

Vogel, a senior from Holly Springs, Georgia, pursuing a degree in physics with an astronomy concentration, worked with 10 other students on a solar research project. He felt especially prepared for the REU thanks to his Faculty Undergraduate Summer Engagement (FUSE) research with Dr. Gregory Feiden at ̨Íåswag in 2024. That experience instilled confidence in him while presenting during his REU.

"I had the experience of coming up with my own questions and testing my own experiments with the help of my adviser," Vogel said.

Vogel wants to attend graduate school and eventually work for NASA. His mentor this summer is a principal investigator on a grant from NASA. This summer helped him realize he is more interested in examining nebulas and galaxies than solar physics research.

"This REU was a good way of testing what I really wanted to do," Vogel said.

Keenan, a senior from Buford, Georgia, pursuing a degree in biology, took part in the UGA Crop Genetics and Genomics REEU and researched a fungus that affects rice. His work on two research teams at ̨Íåswag helped pave the way for his UGA experience:

• A project with Dr. Cathy Whiting, professor of biology, examining how nicotine vapes affect lung tissues in mice.
• A project with Dr. Tom Diggs, professor of biology, looking at the evolutionary relationships of Southeastern native flora.

"My previous experience made my REEU that much more valuable to me," Keenan said.

Keenan said Whiting helped him learn how to study in college, see his potential and set ambitious goals. He also said Diggs and Lin, assistant professor of biology, have been especially helpful in his ̨Íåswag journey.

While Keenan enjoyed his REEU, it also helped him see how he would prefer more of a hybrid of lab work and fieldwork. His goal is to become an agricultural extension agent.

"It made me realize how important human interaction and being outside were to me," Keenan said. "There's so many things I could have done this summer. I'm so glad I spent it at UGA figuring out what I want to do."