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http://parasol.tamu.edu Undergraduate Research Nancy M. Amato and Chinwe Ekenna Senior Director of Engineering Honors Programs Unocal Professor, Parasol Lab, Dept. CSE Texas A&M University

Http://parasol.tamu.edu Undergraduate Research Nancy M. Amato and Chinwe Ekenna Senior Director of Engineering Honors Programs Unocal Professor, Parasol

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Page 1: Http://parasol.tamu.edu Undergraduate Research Nancy M. Amato and Chinwe Ekenna Senior Director of Engineering Honors Programs Unocal Professor, Parasol

http://parasol.tamu.edu

Undergraduate Research

Nancy M. Amato and Chinwe EkennaSenior Director of Engineering Honors Programs

Unocal Professor, Parasol Lab, Dept. CSE

Texas A&M University

Page 2: Http://parasol.tamu.edu Undergraduate Research Nancy M. Amato and Chinwe Ekenna Senior Director of Engineering Honors Programs Unocal Professor, Parasol

Nancy’s Experiences with Ugrad Researchers

100+ ugrads have worked with my group in last 18 years– About half in summer programs, half during academic year– More than half have published – Most have gone on to grad school, some at Texas A&M, others at

Berkeley, Stanford, CMU, UIUC, etc. recipients of grad fellowships such as NSF, DOE HPC, etc

They have been a great addition to the group – it’s more fun, the grad students get advising experience, etc.

Administration of REU Programs– co-Direct a national undergraduate research program (CRA-W/CDC

DREU program) for underrepresented groups (women, persons with disabilities, and ethnic minorities)

– co-PI on an REU Site Project in my Department

Page 3: Http://parasol.tamu.edu Undergraduate Research Nancy M. Amato and Chinwe Ekenna Senior Director of Engineering Honors Programs Unocal Professor, Parasol

Nancy’sStudents

I have a large & active research group– Graduated 14 PhDs (7 from underrepresented groups)

7 in Academia (WUSTL, Iowa State, GMU, UNM, Sewanee, ITAM, UNAM) 4 in research labs (IBM, Google, LLNL, NRL) 1 in gaming startup 2 postdocs

– 14 Current PhD students (7 from underrepresented groups)– MS advising (15 graduated, 3 current)– BS advising (100+ previous, 10+ current), 5 HS students (3 current)

Page 4: Http://parasol.tamu.edu Undergraduate Research Nancy M. Amato and Chinwe Ekenna Senior Director of Engineering Honors Programs Unocal Professor, Parasol

and recently, high school students Summer 2012, I had two high school

students for the first time – WOW!– Kensen Shi, rising senior at A&M Consolidated

High School Won 2012 Siemens Competition in Math,

Science & Technology, including $100K college scholarship,

authored paper published in IEEE ICRA 2013 (trip to Germany with minor!), and one accepted for ICRA 2014 (Hong Kong!).

Junior at Stanford.– Daniel Latypov, rising senior at the Woodlands

High School Now junior at TAMU working in my lab and

presented a paper at ICRA 2014 in Hong Kong

We had 7 high schoolers this summer– it’s fun, the ugrads get advising experience

Page 5: Http://parasol.tamu.edu Undergraduate Research Nancy M. Amato and Chinwe Ekenna Senior Director of Engineering Honors Programs Unocal Professor, Parasol

Outline

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• Undergraduate Research Basics• What is Undergraduate Research• Undergraduate Research vs. Classes • Why you should consider Research• Finding Research Opportunities• Logistics: Location, stipends, etc• Opportunities & Resources

Page 6: Http://parasol.tamu.edu Undergraduate Research Nancy M. Amato and Chinwe Ekenna Senior Director of Engineering Honors Programs Unocal Professor, Parasol

Undergraduate research is defined as the inquiry or investigation conducted by an undergraduate in collaboration with a faculty mentor that makes an original intellectual or creative contribution to the discipline.

…..The Council for Undergraduate Research

What is Undergrad Research?

Page 7: Http://parasol.tamu.edu Undergraduate Research Nancy M. Amato and Chinwe Ekenna Senior Director of Engineering Honors Programs Unocal Professor, Parasol

Undergrad Research vs Classes

How undergrad research is different from traditional classes Gathering and creating new knowledge Experience active vs. passive learning Exploring new ways of thinking and entering your field's

professional dialogue

How undergrad research is similar to traditional classes Teamwork Discipline/ diligence deadlines

Page 8: Http://parasol.tamu.edu Undergraduate Research Nancy M. Amato and Chinwe Ekenna Senior Director of Engineering Honors Programs Unocal Professor, Parasol

Why You Should Consider Research

Course Credit – use as technical elective $$ - yes, you can be paid to do research! See if you like it – grad school Resume adornment Get to know professor well (letters…..) Make new friends (grow your network) You can have an office! Travel to exotic places But most importantly….. It is FUN & EXCITING

Page 9: Http://parasol.tamu.edu Undergraduate Research Nancy M. Amato and Chinwe Ekenna Senior Director of Engineering Honors Programs Unocal Professor, Parasol

Questions to think about

Which subject areas most interest you?

Which topics in your classes interest you?

Do you have a specific project in mind or do you want toacquire a set of skills?

Remember: You need to be very excited about working on a research project, don't do it just to build your resume or earn academic credit.

Page 10: Http://parasol.tamu.edu Undergraduate Research Nancy M. Amato and Chinwe Ekenna Senior Director of Engineering Honors Programs Unocal Professor, Parasol

Finding Research Opportunities

• Ask your professors, advisor for opportunities

• Visit research groups in your department

• Continue a project that you start in a class

• Department Summer/Research Programs

• Government and Public Sector• National Labs, Office of Naval

Research, Department of Energy, IBM, Microsoft, etc.

• Organizations• NSF, CDC, CRA-W, Universities

• Use the web!• Google: “Undergraduate

Research Engine”

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Page 11: Http://parasol.tamu.edu Undergraduate Research Nancy M. Amato and Chinwe Ekenna Senior Director of Engineering Honors Programs Unocal Professor, Parasol

Logistics: location, stipends, etc.

• Summer research• Stipends often range from $350 to $700 per week• Housing and meals

• Often included, but expect the stipend to be a bit lower• Sometimes not included, but then expect the stipend to be a bit

higher• Transportation subsidy

• Sometimes provided if you need to temporarily relocate

• Academic year research opportunities• Might provide a stipend (typically an hourly amount)• Often provide academic credit

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Page 12: Http://parasol.tamu.edu Undergraduate Research Nancy M. Amato and Chinwe Ekenna Senior Director of Engineering Honors Programs Unocal Professor, Parasol

Summer Research Programs

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NSF REU Sites (located at Universites throughout the US)http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.jsp

College USRG (undergraduate summer research grant)http://engineering.tamu.edu/graduate/undergraduate-bridges

Time Usually 10 weeks in the summer; timing varies by program

June 2 – August 7, 2015 (10 weeks)

Stipend per student Varies, but usually around $7000 for the summer (stipend and housing/meal allowance combined)

$5,000 stipend, housing or housing allowance, and actual travel expenses up to $400

deadline Varies, but usually Feb/Mar for the next summer

February 18, 2015

Application Varies with departments Students apply online at http://apply2.tamu.edu/reu/usrg

Page 13: Http://parasol.tamu.edu Undergraduate Research Nancy M. Amato and Chinwe Ekenna Senior Director of Engineering Honors Programs Unocal Professor, Parasol

Resources

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CRA-E Conquer Site: • This site provides resources for undergraduate students,

interested in research, graduate school, and research careers in computer science. 

• http://conquer.cra.org/

NSF REU Site Listing• http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.jsp

College Information about undergraduate research http://engineering.tamu.edu/graduate/undergraduate-

bridges

Page 14: Http://parasol.tamu.edu Undergraduate Research Nancy M. Amato and Chinwe Ekenna Senior Director of Engineering Honors Programs Unocal Professor, Parasol

University programs

Undergraduate Research Scholars Program

http://hur.tamu.edu/Undergraduate-Research/Undergraduate-Research-Scholars

College programs - fall/spring

Engineering Honors Program

http://engineering.tamu.edu/academics/certificates/eh

AggiE-Challenge

http://engineering.tamu.edu/easa/areas/enrichment/aggie-challenge

Resources

Page 15: Http://parasol.tamu.edu Undergraduate Research Nancy M. Amato and Chinwe Ekenna Senior Director of Engineering Honors Programs Unocal Professor, Parasol

Title/Research Program Majors Contact Information

Multifunctional materials systems Aerospace Engineering Dr. Jacques [email protected]

AERO-U: Aero-propulsion/fluid physics

All engineering majors (including computer science), math, physics and other physical sciences

Dr. Jacques [email protected]

Texas Center for Undergraduate Research in Energy and Combustion

Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering

Dr. Eric [email protected]

Interdisciplinary Research Experiences in Mechatronics, Robotics and Automated System Design

Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Technology

Dr. Sheng-Jen "Tony"Hsieh [email protected]

CSCE [at] TAMU REU Summer Program

Computer Science, Computer Engineering

Theresa [email protected]

Resources

Page 16: Http://parasol.tamu.edu Undergraduate Research Nancy M. Amato and Chinwe Ekenna Senior Director of Engineering Honors Programs Unocal Professor, Parasol

Title/Research Program Majors Contact Information

Smart Energy and Smart Systems: Enabling the Future through Electrical & Computer Engineering

Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering

Dr. Robert [email protected]. Karen [email protected]

Undergraduate Summer Research Grant (USRG) Program

All engineering majors (including computer science) and related math/sciences (e.g. physics, biology)

Matthew [email protected]

Transportation Scholars Program Civil Engineering Dr. Gene [email protected]

Computing for Disasters Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or closely related field

Theresa [email protected] 

Texas Transportation Institute - Advancing Transportation Leadership and Safety Center (ATLAS) Summer Internship Program

All majors are welcome Laura [email protected]  

Texas Transportation Institute - Center for Railway Research Program

- Amy [email protected]

Resources

Page 17: Http://parasol.tamu.edu Undergraduate Research Nancy M. Amato and Chinwe Ekenna Senior Director of Engineering Honors Programs Unocal Professor, Parasol

Thanks again to you and my students!

The best thing about this job is my students!