University of Florida National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates Project

   The University of Florida (UF) National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) is a 10-week summer program for undergraduate students planning to enroll in Ph.D. programs. The program provides the opportunity to work with a premier faculty adviser and a senior Ph.D. student mentor or Postdoc mentor. Students engage in research and spend in-depth time furthering their path to applying and enrolling in Ph.D. programs. I was participated in the program in the summer of 2021, and was paired with Dr. Paul Torrey, an assistant professor in the astronomy department. Through the program, I was able to development my research experience, practice presenting scientific papers and data, and prepare my Ph.D. application materials. I attribute a major portion of my successful acceptance to a graduate program to the lessons and teachings provided by Dr. Torrey, Dr. Ballard, Dr. Narayanan, and the rest of the UF faculty and staff.