Summer of Research 2017

Joy Nicholas ’19 got her first look at the research process this summer—and likes what she saw., participating in all aspects of a Medical Center study on how race and ethnicity impact infant feeding practices.

Chemical engineering major Tianhao Yu ’19 has a unique job this summer: testing organic light-emitting diodes that may help improve the screen displays of devices such as cell phones and televisions.

Brain research does not take a summer vacation, and neither does Magdalena Granados ’19. The McNair Scholar is working on “awake language mapping" research designed to help neurosurgeons operate with greater precision.

Chemistry major Austin Bailey ’18 (T5) has spent his summer developing a special polymer to attach other molecules to nanotubes, and his work could have significant applications for creating renewable energy sources.

A mechanical engineering student visiting from the University of Maryland, Ricardo Cardoza stretched himself—and the shape-memory polymers he worked with—in Mitchell Anthamatten's chemical engineering lab this summer.

Two undergraduates are spending their summer analyzing a recording that was first released nearly four decades before they were born.

Seventy high school students from the Rochester City School District took part in the annual Upward Bound academic summer showcase, presenting the results of their six-week research projects.

As part of the Take Five Scholars Program, Madison Carter ’18 is researching how public art—such as murals, sculptures, even performance art—influences social interactions in the city of Rochester. This summer, the English literature and environmental studies major is interning with Richard Margolis, a well-known area photographer who documents art, architecture, and landmarks, and then compiles them into searchable databases. Carter is contributing to the descriptions of each piece of public art, researching the stories associated with their creation, and contacting the artists themselves for their input. She is also identifying additional works of public art to include in the database. (University photo / J. Adam Fenster)

Why does racism play a part in motivating some students to go on to college, while it seems to deter others? Winston Scott '19 is spending his summer preparing a study into how children react when they begin to perceive racism.

Two undergraduates have joined a summer research project focused on building a machine-learning interface that generates musical scores from audio files.

Meghan Patrick '18 has spent her summer studying the use of liquid metal batteries on a scale large enough to power entire cities in conjunction with solar and wind power. Patrick is helping the lab figure out where to place ultrasound probes that can capture detailed measurements of how fluids flow in those batteries and how that affects their performance.

For the past 15 years, the University's Malawi Immersion Seminar has offered students a research experience in the remote village of Gowa, carrying out individual projects, and living and working among the community members.

From near-Earth objects to quantum computing, physics students come to Rochester to get an early start on their research careers this summer, working on federally funded and University sponsored projects.

In their labs, the 61 Kearns Center summer researchers work among one another, and in their dorms they live among one another, forming tight friendships that will be vital as they move on to graduate school and professional careers.

What’s true for many faculty members is also true for college students. There’s no better time than summer—away from coursework and distractions of the school year—to take a deep dive into research.