Undergrads get a taste of research through I-MRSEC’s REU program

I-MRSEC REU Dr. C.Q. Chen shows REU participants one of the MRL’s transmission electron microscopes.
Dr. C.Q. Chen, a Materials Research Lab staff scientist, shows (left to right) REU participants Ross Lee, Sophie Roberts (in background), and Diana Hernandez one of the MRL’s transmission electron microscopes during a tour of the lab in July 2021.

This summer, Sophie Roberts took a leap forward on her career path to becoming a professor at a research university. Roberts, now a senior physics major at the University of Northern Iowa, was one of 10 undergraduates from across the US who participated in the Illinois Materials Research Science and Engineering Center’s (I-MRSEC) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. “I wanted to learn more about materials science,” she said of her interest in participating in the program. “My background is condensed matter physics, which is related to materials science. So, I hoped to explore the field to determine which graduate programs to apply to – physics, materials science, or both.”

Now in its fourth year at the University of Illinois, the 10-week summer research program offers incoming college juniors and seniors studying engineering, physics, chemistry, materials science, or a related field the opportunity to work closely with faculty members to participate in some of the ongoing, interdisciplinary research programs on campus. Funded by a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, the program also provides training to help the students in their professional development as scientists and engineers with particular emphasis on the skills related to communicating their scientific discoveries to help broaden its reach and make science more accessible.

Sophie Roberts, MRSEC REU participant
Sophie Roberts, MRSEC REU participant

Roberts and fellow REU participant Armando Hernandez, now a junior majoring in mechanical engineering at Illinois, said the program--held virtually for the most part from June 1 through August 6—provided them with a rare opportunity to be a part of a scientific research group and not only see how research is conducted but also participate. Roberts’ research project was Corrective Optics for Quantum Diamond Microscope (QDM), and she presented her findings during I-MRSEC’s Undergraduate Symposium in August. She said her research could be used to design a physical system of lenses that could be introduced into the QDM to help minimize the aberrations in the system. “The QDM could then be used to investigate the magnetic properties of two-dimensional samples,” she said. “At other institutions, the QDM has even been used to characterize geological samples to understand how the earth’s magnetic field has changed over time.” Roberts was mentored by David Cahill, professor and Grainer Distinguished Chair in Engineering, the Donald B. Willett Professor of Engineering, and the leader of one of MRSEC’s interdisciplinary research groups; and Dr. Myoung-Woo Yoo, a postdoctoral researcher with the Hoffmann, Lorenz, and Cahill Research Groups at the Materials Research Lab on campus. “I had daily meetings with Dr. Yoo where we would talk about research progress and figure out what was our next step. I also had weekly meetings with both Professor Cahill and Dr. Yoo. They were both incredibly helpful and gave me a lot of great advice over the course of the project.”


Roberts got to visit campus during the last four weeks of the program; meet her mentor, others in the MatSE department, and other REU participants; and got a tour of the Materials Research Lab from Cahill. “This was really interesting because I got to see the facilities being used for projects similar to mine,” Roberts said, adding the program put Illinois “and the Materials Science program on my radar for graduate school, and I would consider continuing that work if I go there. Ultimately, my work gave me insight into a novel technique I had no experience with. This experience will be valuable in any future research endeavors.”


Armando Hernandez, MRSEC REU participant
Armando Hernandez, MRSEC REU participant

During the program, Hernandez and fellow REU participant Diana Hernandez (no relation) worked on a project called “Raman Spectrum: Graphene.” Their mentors were: Elif Ertekin, an associate professor, MRSEC faculty member, and investigator in a MRSEC interdisciplinary research group, Anderson Faculty Scholar, Director of the Mechanics Programs (MechSE), and director of the Nanomanufacturing Node(NanoMFG); Sameh Tawfick, associate professor of MechSE, who is also involved in the NanoMFG; Aagam Shah, a doctoral student in the MatSE program; Isiah Ramos, an undergraduate research assistant and a 2020 MRSEC REU alumnus; Mitisha Surana, a doctoral student in the MatSE program; and Darren Adams, a senior research programmer at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, who is also involved in the NanoMFG.

Pena Martin said a few years ago, Ertekin asked if the NanoMFG could partner with MRSEC to support a few students in the program. This year, the center’s grant supported Armando and Diana Hernandez’s participation.

“Basically, what I was tasked to do with my colleague (Diana), was to develop a coding for laser wavelength, signal to noise ratio, background subtraction, and strain and doping,” said Armando Hernandez, who was matched to the research based on his interest in nanotechnology.

Hernandez, who transferred to Illinois from Wilbur Wright College in Chicago this fall, learned about the REU program from his transfer coordinator a couple of weeks before the program application was due. He jumped at the chance to work with professors he might interact with through his major, and “I wanted to experience (conducting) research and figure out if I wanted to continue with that … in graduate school.”

Hernandez enjoyed working with his student mentors, whom he met with nearly every day, and professor mentors, whom he met with on Fridays and “were super friendly and supportive in everything we did.
However, “I realized that research was not for me,” said Hernandez, who currently envisions a different path for himself.
“The reason I have pursued mechanical engineering is (that) … I’m focused on making current objects more efficient and environmentally friendly, especially in this time when we see all these crazy weather disasters and drastic changes happening,” said Hernandez, who hopes to work as a mechanical engineer with a company like John Deere or Chevron, later pursue an MBA, and eventually start his own eco-friendly company.
“Of course, in life, I learned never say never because you really never know. I could say I don’t want to do research as of now, but I can change my mind along the line later on,” he continued, adding either way, the program was a priceless experience.

I-MRSEC REU Dr. C.Q. Chen shows REU participants one of the MRL’s transmission electron microscopes.
REU participants and faculty and student mentors enjoy a final lunch on campus in August 2021. Pictured (counterclockwise from furthest right) are: Participants Sarah Longworth, Ashlie Hamilton, Ross Lee, Kamila Thompson, MRSEC students Andrea Perry and Azel Murzabekova, MRSEC postdoc and REU mentor Dr. Myoung-Woo Yoo, MRSEC student and REU mentor Edmund Han, and participant Sophie Roberts.

Besides their research experience, Roberts and Hernandez said they gained other valuable skills through the REU program, including how to apply to graduate school and for fellowships, how to write scientific papers, how to code.
“These are all useful skills that will help me both as a student and in my career,” Roberts said, who is applying to graduate school and for fellowships this fall.
“They had a lot of workshops for (writing) resumes and (applying to) graduate school that were very helpful in figuring out what we want to do and how to improve professionally in terms of what they were looking for,” Hernandez added.
So, what advice would Roberts and Hernandez give to other students who are considering applying to the MRSEC REU program?
“Sometimes it can feel a little isolating while doing online research,” Roberts said, “so it is important to develop a good relationship with you mentors and maintain open lines of communication with them. It is also important to communicate with your mentors the goals for your project early but be okay if something does not go as planned, and you need to change your goals. Research is a process. Appreciate the learning that happens along the way. The program is a lot of fun, so I’d highly recommend it.” Hernandez agreed.
“It is really great in terms of structure and the information they provide to you,” he said. “They also want to make sure you talk to other research students and connect with them to make friendships.”
At the close of the Undergraduate Symposium, Pamela Pena Martin, I-MRSEC’s outreach coordinator and coordinator of the REU program, congratulated all of the participants on their presentations and their time in the program.
“They’ve just done a really amazing job,” Pena Martin said, adding she was grateful to all of the mentors for their support, “which is critical to the program.”
"Hopefully, you all made connections and learned some skills … in the program,” said Pinshane Huang, a former REU participant who is now an associate professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MatSE). During this year’s program, Huang mentored REU participant Ashlie Hamilton.I still use those skills today.”

Story by: Noelle Laghmam
Photos by Pamela Pena Martin





SOLIDarity EXperiences (SOLIDEX) through the Eyes of Children

What do children aged 11-13 in two countries think about solidarity?
Full Story

Students launch ASL STEM Vocabulary App Company

Students launch ASL STEM Vocabulary App Company
Full Story

Innovation, Inspiration on display at the Undergraduate Research Symposium

Undergraduate Research Week took place April 23-29, 2023, and culminated Thursday, April 27, 2023
Full Story

What would you like to see – 3D printers? Magnets? Solar-powered racing cars? Robobrawl?

March 28, 2023
EOH occurs Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 1, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
Full Story

Tour of Illinois’ Materials Research Lab through I-MRSEC sparks Franklin students’ interest in Materials Science

March 1, 2023
Students from the Champaign middle school had a tour of the Material Research Laboratory (MRL) in early February.
Full Story

Nobel Project’s End-of-Year Zoom Bash Recaps Learning

February 1, 2022
The STEM Illinois Nobel Project held a special, end-of-the-year Zoom event celebrating its participating students’ achievements.
Full Story

It’s not magic, it’s physics

January 26, 2022
In Franklin STEAM Academy, Musical Magnetism program makes STEM fun, approachable.
Full Story

Program prepares STEM educators to teach all students

November 30, 2021
This summer, a group of educators gathered to learn about engaging STEM activities they can do with their students.
Full Story

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program

November 11, 2021
Undergrads get a taste of research through I-MRSEC’s REU program.
Full Story

Goldstein’s Renaissance Engineering Summer Camp

November 1, 2021
Goldstein’s Renaissance Engineering Summer Camp Incorporates Art, Design, Mechatronics, and Mentoring
Full Story

TechTogether Chicago to Redefine the Hacker Stereotype

July 10, 2021
New workshops that can help inspire students to pursue careers in technology..
Full Story

Aerospace Engineering Launches Virtual Summer Camps to Pique Students’ Interest in Aero.

July 2, 2021
Design an aircraft then watch it soar after launching it with a huge rubber band. Build a Mars lander to safely transport a real egg, then test the contraption by dropping it from a second story window.
Full Story

Undergrads Experience Materials Science Research Courtesy of the I-MRSEC REU

June 16, 2021
Ten undergraduate students are spending the summer of 2021 discovering what research is like.
Full Story

MatSE Afterschool Academy

MatSE Afterschool Academy

June 14, 2021
MatSE Afterschool Academy to Introduce Students to Materials Science and Beyond.
Full Story

Taylor Tucker Embraces Multidisciplinary Interest

Taylor Tucker Embraces Multidisciplinary Interest

June 14, 2021
Taylor Tucker Embraces Multidisciplinary Interest While Researching Task Collaboration.
Full Story

Exposes Franklin Middle Schoolers to Science, CS

What Studying Engineering at Illinois is Like?

May 25, 2021
NSBE’s Michaela Horn Exposes Franklin Middle Schoolers to Science, CS, and What Studying Engineering at Illinois is Like.
Full Story

Jenny Saves a Convertible.

Children’s-Book-Writing Duo/

May 19, 2021
Convertibles and Thunderstorms—Children’s-Book-Writing Duo on Their Way Thanks to Illinois Training and Encouragement from Mentors.
Full Story

Improve Learning in Engineering

Improve Learning in Engineering

May 17, 2021
Liebenberg Espouses Mini-Projects to Engage Students Emotionally, Improve Learning in Engineering.
Full Story

Joshua Whitely makes an adjustment to the 3D Bioprinter during the demo.

BIOE435 Capstone Projects

May 12, 2021
BIOE435 Capstone Projects - BIOE Seniors Use Knowledge/Skills to Problem Solve.
Full Story

Elani and Gonzalo shine a UV light on a rose that has absorbed a solution that has made it fluorescent.

Illinois Scientists Shine a (UV) Light on Fluorescence

May 7, 2021
What is fluorescence? What causes it?
Full Story

Joshua Whitely makes an adjustment to the 3D Bioprinter during the demo.

HackIllinois 2021 “Rekindled Connections” With The Tech Community

May 5, 2021
Annual student hackathon HackIllinois with the aim of developing projects on current problems facing society.
Full Story

A Shane Mayer-Gawlik image of the Bridger Aurora, part of his Night Skies photography collection exhibited at the Art-Science Festival.

The Art-Science Festival

April 26, 2021
Illinois Art-Science Festival: Illuminating the Universe...from the Quantum World to the Cosmos.
Full Story

Joshua Whitely makes an adjustment to the 3D Bioprinter during the demo.

Illinois Engineering Seniors Prepared to Change the World

April 22, 2021
Ready. Set. Go! Illinois Engineering Seniors Prepared to Change the World.
Full Story

HML 2021 Virtual Health

HML 2021 Virtual Health

April 19, 2021
Make-a-Thon Gives Citizen Scientists a Shot at Making Their Health-Related Innovations a Reality.
Full Story

I-MRSEC’s Music Video

I-MRSEC’s Music Video

April 7, 2021
I-MRSEC’s Music Video for EOH ’21 Plugs Graphene, 2D Materials
Full Story

Health Make-a-Thon Orientation

HML 2021 Health Orientation

March 30, 2021
HML 2021 Health Make-a-Thon Orientation Prepares Finalists for Competition.
Full Story

Andrea Perry shows Franklin students how to take apart the magnetic drawing board they received in their kit

Musical Magnetism

March 25, 2021
Musical Magnetism: Encouraging Franklin Middle Schoolers to Express Science Via the Arts.
Full Story

Carmen Paquette street performing.

Love of Science

March 9, 2021
Paquette Conveys Her Love of Science, Dance to Franklin STEAM Students Via Musical Magnetism.
Full Stroy

An Engineering Exploration participant exhibits the tower they built as part of the engineering challenge related to Civil Engineering

Engineering Exploration

March 2, 2021
SWE’s Engineering Exploration Outreach Lives Up to Its Name.

ChiS&E’s Family STEM Day

ChiS&E’s Family STEM Day

February 23, 2021
Helps Chicago Youngsters Progress Along the STEM Pipeline Toward Engineering.

Kathny Walsh

Kathy Walsh

February 17, 2021
On Her First Foray into STEAM, Kathy Walsh Acquaints Franklin Students with Microscopy, Haiku.

ChiS&E student

ChiS&E CPS Students

January 19, 2021
Illinois Undergrads Encourage ChiS&E CPS Students Toward Possible Careers in Engineering.

I-MRSEC’s Music Video

CISTEME365 Provides Year-Round PD/Community

January 4, 2021
to Illinois Teachers in Support of Informal STEM Education Efforts to Underserved Students.