December 2024 – Presenting research at a regional or national conference is a unique and invaluable experience that many undergraduate researchers at Mines strive for. By sharing their work at such professional events, students not only gain the opportunity to communicate their findings with experts in their field but also expand their network within the research community and develop essential professional skills. The Office of Undergraduate Research Scholar’s Travel Grant program helps alleviate the financial barriers to participating in these transformative opportunities. In Fall 2024, the Office supported six students through this grant. Below, three of these students share their experiences:
Ethan Arends, a QBE student, presented his research at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists in Pittsburgh, PA. According to Ethan, “This conference has been one of my best undergraduate experiences. I have been sure that I have wanted to pursue a dual-degree (MD/PhD) and focus my research on diseases associated with aging ever since the end of second year at Mines, but was really unsure about all the specific requirements I would have to meet in order to achieve this goal. This conference not only introduced me to peers who are on similar paths to me, but also showed me the number of opportunities that I have when pursuing my path. From the institutions I met with that offered dual-degrees, I was able to refine my list of interested schools and learned about programs that I had never heard about.
Kagan Killough, a Chemical Engineering student, traveled to the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) 2024 Annual Meeting in San Diego to present his research, “Nanoscale Engineering of Ceramic Supports for High Permeance Membranes in Hydrogen Reforming.” According to Kagan, “This October, I had the great experience of attending the AIChE annual conference in San Diego, where I presented research I had been working on for the past year and a half. This conference provided ample opportunities to meet others and network. I exchanged ideas with other researchers on similar projects, many of whom had experienced similar problems and results but tackled them differently, or began working on tangential issues. I received advice about pursuing a Master’s or Ph.D from current and past students, many of them international, which is something that I hope to pursue in my future.
Rewa Raizada, a junior in the QBE program, presented her research at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Fall 2024 Conference in Denver, CO. According to Rewa, “Attending the ACS Fall 2024 conference was an incredibly fulfilling experience that allowed me to collaborate with chemists and researchers from around the globe. As a member of the Trewyn Research Group, where I have been working for the past two years, this conference presented the ideal venue to showcase our work on fabricating mesoporous silica nanoparticles with an iron core for transporting organometallic catalysts and exogenous enzymes.This experience expanded my understanding of current global research in chemistry and inspired new perspectives on how we can further our work. It reaffirmed the importance of such gatherings in fostering meaningful collaborations and advancing the field of chemistry. The ACS conference, without a doubt, was a crucial step in my professional development and deepened my appreciation for the vast, interconnected nature of the scientific community.”
The Office of Undergraduate Research Scholars awards Travel Grants of up to $400 to encourage undergraduate researchers to present their scholarly work at regional, national, or international conferences. In academic year 2023-2024, the Office provided 17 student grantees with a total of over $10,000 in awards.