Students earn research experiences nationwide

Seventeen University of North Georgia (UNG) students secured the chance to participate in National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs) or similar opportunities this summer.

Lexi Atilano, a senior from Cartersville, Georgia, pursuing a degree in chemistry, is heading to Mississippi State University to research catalysts that can speed up the decline of toxicity in substances in the atmosphere. She is eager to get a taste of what graduate school might be like, and Atilano aims to one day work for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Atilano has conducted research with Dr. John Leyba, dean of UNG's College of Science & Mathematics, and said her classes with chemistry faculty members Dr. Ryan Meier and Dr. Levi Miller helped her prepare for the REU.

"I like chemistry because of the complexity of it. I find it crazy how one subatomic particle can change the outcome of everything," Atilano said. "It's like a big puzzle sometimes."

She is hopeful this summer will help set the course for her future.

"I really want to use this opportunity as a gauge of what I like and help me pick the perfect location and type of project I want to do in the future," Atilano said.

Sebastian Chu, a sophomore from Lawrenceville, Georgia, pursuing a degree in chemistry with a minor in mathematics, will take part in an REU at Syracuse University. His project will focus on monitoring blood inside the human body to determine if internal bleeding has occurred.

Chu's research inspiration was his grandfather who earned a graduate degree from Texas A&M University. The REU will assist Chu in following in those footsteps.

"I want to see myself become part of the world that answers the whys and hows of our seemingly unanswerable questions," Chu said. "I want to be the ignition of a spark in a curious mind who will ask questions, take risks, create ideas, and grow their thirst for knowledge like I did when I was little."

Dominique Cunningham, a junior from Buford, Georgia, pursuing a degree in biology, will participate in an REU at the University of Washington's Center of Neurotechnology. It was her pick after being accepted to two REUs. She will be researching neural plasticity in rodents to see if it can improve recovery from strokes and how those results can be applied to humans. Her mentor, Dr. Neal Lin, lecturer of biology, encouraged her to apply for the opportunity.  

"Being a teaching assistant taught me I really love being around the equipment, using it and helping students with it," Cunningham said. "Now I get to work a 9-to-5 in my field for two and a half months."

Other UNG students who were selected for REUs or similar programs this summer include:

• Aysia Bittinger, who is pursuing degrees in mathematics and physics, accepted an REU at the University of Notre Dame.
• Casey Burdett, who is pursuing a degree in physics, accepted an offer from the ASCENDS program at UMass Amherst.
• Georgia Burkhalter, who is pursuing a degree in mathematics, accepted an REU at Georgia Tech.
• Ashleigh Carroll, who is pursuing a degree in chemistry, accepted an REU at Clemson University.
• Ryan Coyle, who is pursuing a degree in chemistry, accepted a summer research internship at Emory University.
• Dessie Durham, who is pursuing a degree in physics, accepted an REU at Georgia Tech.
• Laura Huynh, who earned a degree in mathematics in May 2023, accepted a bio statistics and cancer research opportunity with the Facilitated Graduate Applications Process program through the Math Alliance.
• Eric Lopez, who is pursuing degrees in physics and engineering, accepted an REU at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville's Institute for a Secure & Sustainable Environment.
• Haley Menees, who is pursuing degrees in biology and chemistry, won but turned down an Amgen Scholars award from the National Institutes of Health.
• James Pearce, who is pursuing a degree in chemistry, has accepted an REU at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
• Ramiro Ferreyra Salgado, who earned degrees in physics and cybersecurity in May 2023, accepted an offer to participate in the S. Department of Energy Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships program at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, New York.
• Hannah Bobo, Angela Suliana Perez Juarez and Elizabeth Colley, each pursuing degrees in psychology, were accepted to the Summer Undergraduate Research Education Program at the University of Georgia. 

For more information on applying for REUs, students can reach out to the Nationally Competitive Scholarships office at ncs@ung.edu.