HR: 0800h
AN: ED31A-1199    [Abstracts]
TI: Full Circle in The National Science Foundation's Research Experiences for Undergraduates at California State University, Los Angeles
AU: * Wardlaw, K D
EM: kknitwhat@aol.com
AF: California State University, Los Angeles, Department of Chemistry 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032 United States
AU: Nickolaisen, S L
EM: snickol@calstatela.edu
AF: California State University, Los Angeles, Department of Chemistry 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032 United States
AB: I was a participant in the National Science Foundation's Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF-REU) program in the summer of 2001 at California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA). My experience working in Dr. Scot Nickolaisen's lab measuring urban pollutants on a fine spatial scale prompted me to transfer from my community college. I received my Bachelors of Science in Biology magna cum laude from CSULA in June 2005. I am currently taking a year off from studying so that I may work on the design and implementation of an environmental monitoring project, something that I am very passionate about. I plan on entering into a graduate program in 2006. Ironically, I had three summer NSF-REU students to help me in the initial stages of setting up the experiment, particularly working out the protocols for heavy metal analysis of sediments in the Ballona Creek Watershed. Their eagerness and excitement at being involved in a research project that had obvious value to both the scientific and local communities was thrilling to see. I have come full circle in my dealings with the NSF-REU program; first as an undergraduate hoping for experience and direction and, lastly, as a mentor hoping to pass on my experience and provide direction to the next generation of research professionals.
DE: 0810 Post-secondary education
DE: 0840 Evaluation and assessment
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005