UNDERGRADUATE TESTIMONIALS

Joshua Kollat – BRIE Undergraduate Fellow, Summer 2001 and 2002
“Working among post-doctoral students and professors on large-scale research projects as an undergraduate is a valuable experience for any undergraduate wishing to continue their education. The experience I gained from this summer program will probably be one of the best assets I have when it comes to applying for grad school.”

Grisselle Ortiz-Astacio – BRIE Undergraduate Fellow, Summer 2002
“My experience was so amazing. Every time that I am working in a new research experience I feel that I am growing up not just in my field, but also as a human being. I find myself more prepared to achieve any goals that I have in mind and really BRIE is one of the routes that make this transition possible.”

Amy Kuhn – BRIE Undergraduate Fellow, Summer 2002
“As a whole, the BRIE summer program was a good experience for me. It enabled me to discover many different research topics in environmental engineering. Now I can begin to think about the type of research I would like to participate in when I am a grad student.”

Kathleen Reedy – BRIE Undergraduate Fellow, Summer 2002
“It’s a great experience. It’s a good way to learn things about a field that you may not have had much contact with. It doesn’t require prior knowledge about the area you’ll be working in or even about science in general…they’ll teach you everything as you go.”

Janna Rauzin – BRIE Undergraduate Fellow, Summer 2001
“I decided to participate in the summer BRIE program because I felt that I needed to get real-life experience in the field of scientific research before making a decision about my career. BRIE gave me the opportunity to work in a microbial geobiology lab. My project involved working on carbon isotopic fractionation by methanogens and archaea. Even though I had not had previous skills in working with bacteria, the support and guidance I received from my supervising professor made it a valuable and fascinating experience. Because BRIE is a interdisciplinary program, it opened up the horizons to other possible careers in scientific research, outside of my major. Overall, the experience at Penn State this summer was truly irreplaceable!"

We are looking for undergraduates with interests in science and engineering to work in faculty laboratories at the Penn State University Park Campus for Summer 2003. Students will work in the laboratories of internationally renowned scientists and engineers (click here for a list of BRIE faculty), and will participate in several NSF-sponsored programs on campus. Undergraduate students will work for the summer in a laboratory in one of five departments (Geosciences, Crop and Soil Sciences, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Material Science and Engineering). We have identified significant biogeochemical questions that could be uniquely addressed using our expertise to guide students in pioneering work. Students can choose either a research team, or a specific research advisor. Students will receive a stipend for the summer, however travel expenses and insurance, which is required for all students, are the responsibility of the student. Undergraduates can email Denise Kowalski for more information.

Penn State students are encouraged to explore the Center for Environmental Chemistry and Geochemistry's (CECG) summer fellowship program first before applying to the BRIE program. Students from under-represented groups are especially encouraged to apply.

Sample Research Summary