Every summer, 91社区 (USF) undergraduates travel to institutions
around the United States to conduct research. This year, students will study topics
from resilience against extreme weather to the creation of biomaterials.
The USF Office of National Scholars (ONS) works with students on their applications
for REUs to help them build on their academics and on-campus research while preparing
for future opportunities such as fellowships, graduate school, and careers.
Primarily funded by the National Science Foundation, Research Experiences for Undergraduates
(REU) provide research funding and stipends for participants. Students typically work
under the guidance of a research mentor and present a poster on their work at the
end of summer.
ONS STUDENTS ATTENDING 2025 REU Programs
- Abdul-Malik Zekri - Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Caleb Fernandes - James Madison University, Mathematics and Statistics
- Claire Messerschmidt 鈥� University of Pennsylvania, Singh Center for Nanotechnology
- Diya Upadhaya - North Carolina State, Directed Research for Undergraduates in Mathematics and Statistics
- Josephine Combs - Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center
- Nolan Worley - 91社区 State University, Resilience Against Extreme Weather Events
BUILDING A BODY OF WORK
While valuable in their own right, research experiences are vital for undergraduate students seeking to build a strong foundation for academic success. Malik Zekri, a recently selected Goldwater Scholar, will travel to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in Long Island, New York this summer for his REU while concurrently working on applications for prestigious graduate awards, including the Churchill Scholarship to study for a master鈥檚 degree at the University of Cambridge.
Zekri currently studies computer engineering and computational biology with the goal of working in computational neuroscience. At USF, Zekri conducts research on computer engineering, neuroscience, and mathematics, including work on 鈥淒NA origami,鈥� a specific way of folding DNA with implications for health practices like drug delivery. He looks forward to working with research mentor Dr. Anthony Zador, , over the summer.
About the selection of his REU, Zekri said, "I heard Dr. Zador speak at the BRAIN Initiative conference last summer, and his talk about how circuit structure could shape behavior and learning in ways artificial intelligence still struggles with really stayed with me. At the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, I can explore my questions in Dr. Zador鈥檚 lab while contributing to research that connects spatial gene expression to circuit properties.鈥�
LASTING IMPACT
Nolan Worley at his 2023 REU at Oregon State University
This summer will be Nolan Worley鈥檚 second time completing an REU. His first was in 2023 at Oregon State University, where he developed high-performance concrete for highway infrastructure. This summer, he will again examine how we can improve infrastructure 鈥� this time exploring how to prepare for extreme weather at 91社区 State University.
Worley is a student in USF鈥檚 Industrial and Management Systems Engineering program, with plans to pursue graduate studies in materials science and engineering. His future work aims to prepare communities to adapt in the face of environmental challenges.
Josie Combs, a student at the USF St. Petersburg Campus, will also travel to Oregan State University for a different REU. She will work in the Hatfield Marine Science Center, an institution recognized for its oceanographic research and education programs. Combs will contribute to efforts to protect natural resources and support the health of coastal communities.
Claire Messerschmitt working in USF's Center for Global Hearing and Speech Research
On the opposite side of the country, Claire Messerschmidt will work on the engineering of biomaterials for clinical use at the University of Pennsylvania Singh Center for Nanotechnology. Messerschmitt is eager to participate in hands-on research with practical results, working on fabrications with potential applications including medical devices, implants, drug delivery, and regenerative medicine.
鈥淚 am excited to work on innovative medical technologies for cancer research. I will learn the necessary skills to pursue further biomedical engineering research in my future career,鈥� said Messerschmitt.
Each of these students will not only contribute to major research initiatives but also build the skills and networks to produce groundbreaking work in their future careers. The connections they make with mentors and peers across the country have the potential to launch meaningful collaborations and lead to lasting impact long beyond the summer.
Students can visit the USF Office of National Scholars website for more information about Research Experiences for Undergraduates.