{"id":40324,"date":"2023-01-24T19:37:31","date_gmt":"2023-01-25T00:37:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/?p=40324"},"modified":"2023-02-03T10:57:58","modified_gmt":"2023-02-03T15:57:58","slug":"undergraduates-contribute-to-textile-research-in-sustainability-health-through-summer-reu-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2023\/01\/undergraduates-contribute-to-textile-research-in-sustainability-health-through-summer-reu-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Undergraduates Contribute to Textile Research in Sustainability, Health through Summer REU Program"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Sarah Stone<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Developing methods to remove dyes from wastewater, innovating portable sensors to speed up medical diagnoses, and testing battery life to improve efficiency and sustainability: it\u2019s all in a day\u2019s work for students involved in the Research Experience for Undergraduates<\/a> (REU) at the Wilson College of Textiles<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Wilson College\u2019s Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science<\/a> hosts the program every summer. 26 students from as far away as France participated this year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Apply to <\/span>REU <\/span> <\/svg> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

What is REU? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Undergraduate students interested in research must apply to the program first. Research Assistant Professor Amanda Mills<\/a> then takes a look at their experience and interests to line students up with the right lab for them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those students spend the next 10 weeks immersing themselves in the research lab environment. They work about 20 paid hours per week, doing everything from background research to assisting in lab work and conducting experiments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI got to run a couple of experiments, which is very exciting,\u201d Emma Myer-Medina, a junior majoring in polymer and color chemistry<\/a>, says. She worked with graduate student Meghan Lord in Assistant Professor Januka Budhathoki-Uprety<\/a>\u2019s lab this summer. \u201cI got to do a little bit of synthesis for polymers, which are really interesting because I’ve been learning about that in class for basically the last two years. It\u2019s really cool to see how that actually works in person.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Nigar
Sultana (left) and Fiorito (right). Fiorito assisted with the lab’s research developing carbon nanotube-based pH sensors.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Teresa Fiorito also gained experience in Budhathoki-Uprety\u2019s lab this summer. She says REU provided her with a great opportunity to build her resume early in her college career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wanted experience after my first year and I was a little bit intimidated by getting into an internship or a job of some sort,\u201d Fioritio, a sophomore majoring in textile engineering<\/a>, says. \u201cI heard about the REU my first semester through a friend, and they said that I would be guided through a mentor and a faculty member, so I thought it’d be a less intimidating way to get experience and to have guidance throughout the program.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Wilson College doctoral student is partnered up with each REU student to familiarize them with lab techniques and provide direction and support along the way. The experience benefits the doctoral students as well, giving them more time to conduct research for their dissertation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Teresa
Teresa Fiorito presented her research at a university-wide symposium for undergraduate research. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTeresa is a very quick learner. I found that she can absorb a lot of information in a short amount of time,\u201d Nigar Sultana, who mentored Fiorito, says. \u201cThat helped me a lot to progress in my research project and get some meaningful results.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sultana is building upon the research she conducted with Fiorito\u2019s help this summer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Career development inside and outside the lab<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

REU also helps prepare students for a career outside the lab. Participants have the opportunity to take part in a number of networking opportunities and career development seminars over the course of the summer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think the managing stress workshop was definitely my favorite. Just because stress can be a big part of any college experience,\u201d Myer-Medina says. \u201cSo it was really helpful learning just little tips and tricks to help myself not be so stressed by school or by research.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mengmeng
Assistant Professor Mengmeng Zhu hosted an undergraduate student to help with her batter research through the REU program. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mills says another key goal of the program is to demystify the idea of research. She also organized workshops about graduate school admissions and funding to help students realize an advanced degree is accessible to them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI’ve definitely learned that research isn’t just standing up in a lab 24\/7,\u201d Myer-Medina jokes. \u201cIt’s sitting at a computer for hours reading many, many articles. This experience has definitely confirmed that I like to do research, and I am considering doing graduate school because of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n