The University of North Georgia hosted its seventh Faculty-Undergraduate Student Engagement program this summer, hosting nine student research projects showcasing the growth of the university’s Center of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities.
The FUSE program is a collaborative research project and two-month mentorship over the summer. There are four workshops for students and faculty to work together on their research projects and four group meetings with all FUSE members present. At the end of the summer, all FUSE projects are presented.
CURCA Assistant Director Diogo Penheiro says the “main goal of FUSE is to get students involved in research…there is something for everyone.” This summer, students majoring in mathematics, physics, physiology and English presented.
Student Researcher Alex Reyes, a senior in psychology, heard about FUSE from a professor and says, “I would highly recommend this program to other students.”
Reyes says, “I loved hearing about the important research my peers are doing; the BPA concentration in birds done by [Dawn] Drumtra, [Allison] Simpson, and [Taerin Jeong] was one of my favorites.”
When a faculty member applies to CURCA for a FUSE grant, they have to prove that their research will benefit the students working with them. UNG is uniquely student-focused in its FUSE program. Penheiro explains some colleges base acceptance on the competitiveness of a student’s resume, but UNG’s FUSE wants students who are invested, not just on the honor roll.
Alyssa Simpson, who worked on the BPA concentration in birds states, “Undergraduate research has taught me not only discipline when it comes to time management skills, but also the ability to read, understand and apply scientific literature to my everyday life, which is a skill I can never see myself living without now. It has made me such a better student, person and employee to learn how to craft a project and see it through, troubleshoot and present findings throughout the scientific community.”
One common misconception around student research at UNG is that you must know exactly what you are doing. UNG has a list of faculty who want to mentor students.
Penheiro encourages students to apply for FUSE. He says, not only are these programs something to add to your resume, but “you learn how to communicate to the community that you want to be a part of.” Penheiro says he is always willing to talk to students about their research ideas or questions.
