Contact: Robbie Ward
STARKVILLE, Miss.-- Charnia Hall's big plans to help make a difference in the world came closer to reality this summer.
A junior chemistry major at Jackson State University, Hall said she plans to look into a career as a dual physician and researcher, seeing herself not only as a medical doctor but also as a problem solver.
"I like the idea of having a double-edged sword to help the world," Hall said.
This summer she has explored the reproductive biology of bulls at Mississippi State University. Insight into the fertility of bulls can have a financial impact on farmers and lead to fertility solutions for people, since genomes between humans and bulls are very similar.
"It could help people have families they may otherwise not have," she said.
The Brandon native is one of about two dozen undergraduate students from Mississippi and other states who have spent their summer at MSU gaining valuable research experience, helping them advance toward their dreams of becoming scientists, physician-researchers, computer engineers, and other professionals.
"It broadens your mind and gives you a lot more to think about," Hall said of her research experience.
Three National Science Foundation programs at the research university have worked to encourage undergraduate students to pursue graduate studies.
Research Experiences for Undergraduates, a 10-week program, involves students working in laboratories with university faculty mentors. This summer, two REU programs in different research areas at MSU--the Center for Computational Sciences and the department of mathematics and statistics, along with computational biology through the department of computer science and engineering--have fostered research opportunities for undergraduates. Among study areas are image processing, population dynamics, computational mathematical biology, stratified modeling in biostatistics, artificial intelligence, genome analysis, and functional genomics.
"We expose students to research and help them become more independent researchers," said Andy Perkins, assistant professor in MSU's department of computer science and engineering and director of the REU program in computational biology.
John Corring of Saucier, a senior double major in mathematics and computer science at the University of Southern Mississippi, has spent his summer advancing his research skills with assistant professor of mathematics Hyeona Lim. The opportunity has reinforced Corring's interest in finding private or public sector work after he completes a graduate program. He has studied image processing, using math and computer science to create methods for the most accurate images for MRIs, ultrasound images, and other medical applications.
"We want to help expose students to what research means and how it can solve real issues affecting people throughout the world," said Lim, director of the REU program with the CSS and the department of mathematics and statistics.
The third program, Undergraduate Research and Mentoring, provides research and mentoring to students in functional genomics for underrepresented minorities. This program includes partnering with Mississippi's three historically black colleges and universities--Alcorn State University, JSU and Tougaloo College. It also allows students to research at their own universities during the academic year and at MSU during the summer.
The NSF undergraduate research programs at MSU this summer involve about $1 million in funding, providing stipends and living expenses and helping students focus on research and academics instead of costs.
"As a leading research-intensive university, MSU empowers this next generation of scientists in fields that have a real impact on science and society that these students can see," said Erdogan Memili, an associate professor in MSU's department of animal and dairy sciences and director of the URM program.
For more information, contact Dr. Perkins at perkins@cse.msstate.edu or 662-325-0004, Dr. Memili at em149@ads.msstate.edu or 662-325-2937 or Dr. Lim at reu@math.msstate.edu or 662-325-7142.