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- UROP Associate Director Catalina Ormsby Receives Distinguished Diversity Leaders Award
- UROP Welcomes New Director: Dr. Michelle Ferrez
- Thirty Years of UROP: Explore More
- 30th Anniversary of UROP Program
- A two-way street: UROP Peer Facilitators support first-year, second-year, and transfer students in their research and academics — and learn from them in the process
- UROP adapts to COVID crisis
- Corey J. Schiffman, MD
- Brent Frey, DDS
- Jane Brown, PhD Candidate
- Yaera Spraggins, Recently Published UROP Alumni
- Scott Koenigbauer, PhD Candidate
- Olivia Negris, Doctoral Candidate
- Michael DiDonato, UROP Alumni
- Vivian Kurtz UROP Alumni
- Geoffrey Jenkins, UROP Alumni
- Rhonda Fields, MSW - UROP Alumni
- Trey Thomas UROP Alumni
- Elizabeth Schill UROP Alumni
- Ryan Shami UROP Alumni
- Melissa Manley, PhD Candidate
- Tejash Patel, PhD
- Hayley Hoffman UROP Alumni
- GradeCraft helps UROP students become more curious and better researchers
- Lamira Ray, MPH
- Joshua Hurlburt, DDS
- Megan Wampler - UROP Alumni
- UROP Student Spotlight - Yasmeen Berry
- Celina Romano, JD, PhD Candidate
- Mikel Haggadone, PhD Candidate
- Colby Hanley, UROP Alumni
- Ian Waters, PhD
- Yannah Melle UROP Alumni
- Nida Ali, MPH
- Julia Wang, MD-PhD
- Ryan McWay, Research Area Specialist Associate
- Aracely Marroquin, CCSFP Researcher Awarded Grant
- Undergraduate student research spring symposium goes virtual
- Shannon Shaughnessy UROP Alumni
- Asa Smith, PhD, RN
- Lisa Barrett, PhD
- Kartik Bhatt, MPH
- Sari Grossman UROP Alumni
- Erin Ealba Bumann, DDS, PhD, MS
- Michael Marzano, UROP Alumni
- Connie Truong, MD
- Dan Hearsch, MBA
- Alexis Mulski, PhD Candidate
- Kristin Fischer, MPH
- Sujay Shetty, UROP Alumni
- Shao Wei Chia - UROP Alumni
- Courtney Whitcher, BS
- Arjune Dhanekula, MD
- Thomas Talhelm, PhD
- Gretchen Chidester, PhD
- Smita Bhattacharya, MS
- Sydney Foy - UROP Alumni
- Dr. Peter Scott - Alzheimer's Research
- Dr. Lawrence La Fountain-Stokes Research Project Feature
- Dr. Teresa Satterfield Research Project Feature
- Dr. Lindsay Bornheimer Research Project Feature
- Dr. Lisa Wexler Research Project Feature
- Dream of Detroit UROP Community Partner
- Rodrigo Ramirez Lescano, Masters Candidate
- Community Development Advocates of Detroit - UROP Community Partner
- Detroit Food Academy - UROP Community Partner
- Dr. Stephanie H. Cook Research Project Feature
- Josh Katzenstein - UROP Alumni
- Dr. Bethany Hughes Research Project Feature
- Dr. Lorenzo García-Amaya Research Project Feature
- Andrea Pesch, PhD Candidate
- Cindy A. Schipani, JD Research Project Feature
- UROP Research Project Feature: Human Rights and Indigenous Rights in Africa
- Nortown Community Development Corporation - UROP Community Partner
- Cyrus Najarian, MD/PhD Candidate
- UROP Featured Alumni Maggi Li
- Dr. Mehboob Hussain - Research Project Feature
- Research Project Feature: TrialNet Type 1 Diabetes: Pathway to Prevention
- Dr. Nikhil Parekh - Research Project Feature
- Vincent Pinti - Neubacher Award Winner
- UROP Alumni John Soukar, PhD Student
- UROP Alumni Hannah Levy
- UROP Alumni Collin Beavan
- UROP Alumni Julie Felberg
- UROP Featured Alumni Austin Basley
- Emily Guo - Community Health Fellow
- Harsh Jhaveri, BSE
- Dr. Kathryn Swanson, DDS
- UROP Featured Alumni Michael Falbo
- Allyson Eastman, JD
- UROP Alumni Aida Mandić
- UROP Alumni Accolades
- Brooke Bacigal, MSt Diplomatic Studies
- Research Mentor Feature: Dr. Alvaro Rojas-Peña
- Research Feature: Andre Monteiro Da Rocha, PhD
- Research Feature: Nancy Harmon R.D.H.
- Research Feature: Mothering Justice
- UROP Research Feature: Kimberley Heinrich, Ph.D.
- Research Feature, Audrey G. Bennett MFA
- UROP Alumni Justin Gordon
- UROP Alumni Emily Yerington, MAT; MEd
- UROP Alumni Maya Millette
- UROP Alumni Jacob Blanksvard
- UROP Alumni Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig
- UROP Alumni Andrew Arche
- UROP Alumni Savannah Jelneck
- Congratulations Virgil Watkins
- Congratulations Emmanuel Orozco Castellanos
- Congratulations to Solomon Trice and his mentor Professor John Valadez.
- Congratulations to Associate Professor William A. Calvo-Quirós on receiving the Best First Book in the History of Religions for his book Undocumented Saints: The Politics of Migrating Devotions
- Empowering young academics: U-M program humanizes research
- UROP Students Succesfully Collaborated with Mentor Dr. Fadhl Alakwaa
- Tech Meets Wellness: A CS Student Innovates a U-M Mental Health App
- Archived News
- Lessons from virtual summer fellowship in Detroit linger for students
- All Events
What years did you participate in UROP?
2015-2016
What UROP Program(s) were you a part of?
UROP in Residence (MRC: Michigan Research Community)
What made you choose UROP?
I was eager to begin research as soon as I arrived at Michigan. I felt that research would be the best way to cultivate a nuanced understanding of physics while developing both analysis and hardware-related skills, including programming, data collection, and fabrication in the machine shop. Many of these skills can only be learned through hands-on experience, and I relished the opportunity to engage in physics outside of the classroom. UROP provided a streamlined process that connected me with numerous potential mentors in my field of interest. Additionally, I chose to participate in MRC (now MRADS) in order to be surrounded by like-minded and focused peers during my first year at Michigan. I was able to learn about a variety of research experiences from students in various disciplines. Even though our areas of interest varied, our passion for research remained constant!
What do you think you have learned from your UROP experience?
My UROP experience allowed me to immerse myself in research. I was able to gain an intimate understanding of how physics research is conducted while also developing my presentation skills. Learning how to articulate my ideas was one of the most valuable aspects of my research experience at Michigan. I quickly advanced from giving presentations in our small research group meetings to presenting my work in a talk at a 2017 American Physical Society conference. By my third year, I was given responsibility for testing new detector electronics for the ATLAS Experiment at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland. Above all, my participation in research (initiated through UROP) gave me the confidence to pursue research at the graduate level and beyond. Without the opportunity to participate in physics outside of the classroom, I would have never developed this confidence.
What is the extent to which you have kept in contact with your Research Mentor?
My undergraduate research mentor and I are practically family. I know I can always contact him for advice, research-related or otherwise. Future trips to Ann Arbor will not be complete without paying him a visit.
How did your UROP experience shape or inform the next steps you took in your academic and professional journey?
Research was the defining aspect of my undergraduate experience. As a result of my early and continued engagement in research, I developed the skills necessary to contribute meaningfully and extensively to future projects. My time in the lab allowed me to solidify my interest in experimental particle physics and develop strong relationships with faculty mentors. In addition to discussing physics, my research mentor was able to guide me through the graduate admissions process. His support—and the support of other faculty in the department—was of paramount importance in my decision to apply to graduate school.
Where are you in your professional journey?
I am currently a first-year PhD student in physics at Harvard University. I am also an on-site advisor for the University of Michigan CERN Summer REU, where students participate in an immersive high energy physics research experience while living in Switzerland. In 2019, I became an underground visit guide for the ATLAS Experiment. Given that the Large Hadron Collider is what drew me to high energy experiment, I cherish the opportunity to spread my enthusiasm for physics through tours of the ATLAS detector.
What advice would you give to a current UROP student?
Do not give up, even when you feel like an imposter (and learn how to address imposter syndrome—I'm still working on it). Never be afraid to ask a question or ask for help. Ensure that your ideas are heard and appreciated, especially among large groups of people. Find an advisor that makes you feel welcome. Most importantly, learn about what *you* think is interesting.
What are some recent publications or accomplishments that you are proud of?
I was recently awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship. I am always willing to share advice about research, applying to graduate school, and applying to the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program.