Meet student researchers solving health and sustainability issues

What made you want to get involved in FURI? 

I chose to get involved in FURI because it provides valuable research experience that can be applied to industry, fostering innovation, independent thinking and problem-solving skills essential for my future research and development career.

Why did you choose the project you’re working on?

This project on biomaterials for diabetic tissue repair aligns with my passion for developing solutions to complex injuries, which remain a significant health care challenge despite millions of cases and substantial costs. Through high-level research, I also aim to open doors for further opportunities.

How will your research project impact the world?

My project aims to provide a novel solution for improving wound care, especially for patients with chronic wounds. By developing biomaterial-based treatments that expedite the healing process, we can reduce the strain on health care systems, improve patient quality of life and lower the risk of complications from chronic wounds. The potential impact on clinical practice and patient outcomes is significant, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the standard of care and addressing a critical unmet need in health care.

How do you see this experience helping with your career or advanced degree goals?

This experience has helped me realize that I want to pursue graduate school and a career in research. It has significantly enhanced my technical skills and critical thinking capabilities, which are essential for advancing in the field of engineering. By building a strong foundation in research, this experience is directly supporting my pursuit of an advanced degree and preparing me for future opportunities in research and development.

What is the best advice you’ve gotten from your faculty mentor?

The best advice my mentor gave me was to always try. This taught me the value of taking initiative and reminded me that even negative results are meaningful. There’s always something to learn, even when things don’t go as planned, and this mindset has been crucial in helping me grow as a researcher.

Why should other students get involved in FURI?

Other students should get involved in this program because it offers a valuable opportunity to gain hands-on research experience and build skills that are highly attractive to employers. It’s a great way to meet fellow researchers, showcase your own work and add a unique project to your resume, which can set you apart from others. While class projects provide valuable experience, this program allows you to explore research in ways you normally wouldn’t, helping you better understand how research works. Having a funded project is a great advantage, whether or not you plan to pursue a graduate degree.

Learn more about Solenne Norvor-Davis’ fall 2024 FURI project.

What made you want to get involved in FURI, and why did you choose the project you’re working on?

I chose FURI because I wanted to gain hands-on experience in the technical application of the material I learned about in my classes.

I chose the project I’m working on because I am passionate about both space and sustainability. As sustainable space flight becomes more and more of a reality, my project sheds light on another possible pathway toward realizing this innovation.

How will your research project impact the world?

My research is centered around the idea of energy conservation. I believe research in this sector is particularly meaningful given the environmental state of the world and has the potential to introduce more sustainable solutions in many different areas.

My project specifically focuses on passive radiative cooling, which provides a more environmentally friendly method of cooling and heating for many different applications. Since this is a passive process, the power consumption is near to zero, thus conserving energy.

While I am studying these variable emittance coatings in the context of spacecraft applications, there are similar applications that could be implemented on Earth as well. For instance, passive radiative cooling could improve the efficiency of cooling systems, such as refrigeration and air conditioning, as well as enable new methods for energy and water harvesting.

What has been your most memorable experience as a student researcher?

My most memorable experience has been spending my first day working independently in the lab. It was very fulfilling at the end of the day to go over my data and results and know that my hard work was coming to fruition. It is one thing to learn about how the world works in an engineering class, but it is another to see it firsthand, which has been an experience that I value greatly.

How do you see this experience helping with your career or advanced degree goals?

This experience has deepened my understanding of concepts I’ve previously studied and fostered my curiosity about new topics. I greatly value the technical skills I’ve gained, such as laboratory procedures, technical writing and more. I believe the skills and knowledge I’ve gained through my experiences with FURI are directly helping me become a better engineer.

Why should other students get involved in this program?

Other students should get involved with FURI so they can see firsthand applications of their studies and gain meaningful experience that will no doubt help them in their careers. Aside from the technical skills and knowledge one will no doubt gain, it is also simply a fun experience. As engineers, most of us love getting to work with our hands, take things apart, put them back together and figure out how they work. Doing research is both a fulfilling and enjoyable experience that I’d highly recommend.

Learn more about Chloe Stoops’ fall 2024 FURI project.

What made you want to get involved in the GCSP research stipend program? 

I wanted to get involved in the program to gain experience in research projects, and I chose the GCSP research stipend specifically because it allowed me to choose a research mentor who was not part of the Fulton Schools. I appreciate that I can involve myself in research that is not limited to engineering, and I can instead apply my engineering knowledge to different interdisciplinary fields.

Why did you choose the project you’re working on?

I chose my current project because I was interested in sustainability and math. While I was researching background knowledge for my project, I learned that previous endangered species reintroduction efforts had mixed results due to the environmental factors the species were reintroduced to, whether they be food, predators or other factors. I saw this as an opportunity to try to solve real-world problems in sustainability with computer science and math.

How will your research project impact the world?

I hope that my project will impact the world by making species reintroduction efforts more efficient and effective. The more successful reintroduction efforts are, the stronger our biodiversity becomes, ultimately making our ecosystem more sustainable. I hope first that my research project can make an impact on our local community. By working on cases for species that are native to Arizona, we can see the results of the project directly and determine what needs to be changed. However, species reintroduction is a practice for ecosystems all over the world, so I aspire to eventually apply the results of my research project to different areas.

What has been your most memorable experience as a student researcher in this program?

My most memorable experience was being able to talk to people in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. I was able to get in contact with them by first reaching out to Dr. Leah Gerber from the ASU Center for Biodiversity Outcomes, who redirected me to them. It was great to have the chance to work with a department outside of ASU with experts in this field who are just as enthusiastic and passionate as I am about the project. Having this opportunity made me feel that my research project could actually have a tangible impact on our local community and ecosystem.

How do you see this experience helping with your career or advanced degree goals?

My experience with the GCSP research stipend has helped my goals by developing my programming skills, utilizing them in real-world applications and working with experts in diverse fields. These are all traits that I believe will be important later in my career. It has also given me the opportunity to explore interests that I would like to pursue in the future. This project has sparked my interest in the intersection between computer science, ecology and biology, and now I hope to continue exploring this intersection, either in industry or through research.

Why should other students get involved in this program?

Other students should get involved in this program if they want to gain research experience, fulfill their GCSP competencies and build connections with students and faculty alike. I believe it is a great program for anyone looking for their first research experience; students do not necessarily need prior research experience to apply for the program — I did not have any prior experience. The program fosters greater commitment to and involvement in a student’s projects through tasks such as writing your own abstract and presenting at the Fulton Forge Student Research Expo, which is an opportunity not always given to students conducting research outside of the program.

Learn more about Sofia Vargas’ fall 2024 GCSP research stipend project.