Congratulations to our Student Research Award Winners

Each semester ESS runs a Student Research Experience Program where they act as the conduit between our first- and second-year students and research positions with various SoE faculty. The goal of the program is to expose and engage our 1st and 2nd year students in engineering or computer science to keep them focused and motivated to stick around beyond their 2nd year. The literature suggests this is a critical component to retention.

This semester, they awarded $500 as a research award to two of the student researchers who were not otherwise financially compensated for their participation in the program this past Spring 2024 semester. Congratulations to AJ Sandoval (Chem E) and Kiana Tarter (CS)!

AJ is working with Dr. Robert Taylor and Dr. Justin Baca researching the pervasive distribution of microplastics (MPs) in marine ecosystems and the dire environmental challenge and potential ramifications for human health.

Kiana is working with Greg Willson of Sustainable Community Development Hub, a non-profit focused on a wide range of social, economic, and environmental factors with an aim to create communities that are resilient, equitable, and thriving.