NSF REU

National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates Site Program:

Program In Climate and Space Science Observation (PICASSO)

2018 PICASSO Scholars (left to right): Me, Jenna Robinson (Arizona State University), Parker Trombley (University of Michigan), Chaveli Miles (Colgate University), Kristin Brady (Whitman College), Timothy Keebler (Millersville University), Steven Reybould (Illinois Wesleyan University), Sydni Voakes (Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College), and Sam Laveson (College of William and Mary).

I have the great fortune of being the Program Director for a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates Program within the University of Michigan's Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering Department. We welcomed our first cohort of students into the Program in Climate and Space Science Observation (PICASSO) during the summer of 2018. This amazing group of PICASSO Scholars spent ten weeks on our campus performing a wide range of climate and space science research. In addition to their research, these students participated in a series of professional development workshops regarding topics such as ethical research conduct, technical communications, Python programming, imposter syndrome/stereotype threat, among many other topics. Additionally, our students were able to participate in summer festivals within the city, and then gave back to community through their volunteer service activity at the Food Gatherers in Ann Arbor. This gifted group of students has set a high standard for future cohorts of PICASSO Scholars.