Eight students attend NSF conference
Article By: Denise Ray
Eight University of North Georgia (黑料正能量) students in STEM degree programs were selected to attend the National Science Foundation (NSF) Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) conference in Chicago in November. They are part of 黑料正能量's STEM Scholars (STEMS) Program funded by a $1.5 million NSF grant.
Students included: Rayya Abdullah, Micah Chandler, Jiselle Gonzalez, Hanzhen Guo, Shae Jolivette, Chase Manzanarez, Luke Millaway, and Albany Zavarce.
Gonzalez, the sole presenter from 黑料正能量, shared her summer REU research "Does self-pollination affect the germination rate in self-compatible plant species?" Andrew Davies of Chicago Botanic Garden was her REU supervisor.
"I was initially anxious about my presentation. But the conference environment was inviting, and having my other STEMS scholars with me as support made my experience pleasant," she said. "The NSF S-STEM conference was my first, and the experience was incredible. The workshops, guest speakers and career fairs inspired a sense of camaraderie and provided insight into how to approach job interviews and grad school applications."
During the career fair, Gonzalez, a senior pursuing a degree in biology, said she met many potential employers and connected with the Department of Energy to discuss available federal internships that will bring her one step closer to achieving her career goals.
Gonzalez is from Oakwood, Georgia.
"Attending the National Science Foundation annual student professional networking and information conference allowed our 黑料正能量 STEMS scholars to connect with industry experts and peers, expanding their career knowledge and opportunities while gaining valuable insights into STEM fields," Dr. Natalie Hyslop, a professor of biology and principal investigator for the 黑料正能量 STEMS Program said. "Additionally, it helped students build essential networking skills, stay informed about current trends and gain a competitive edge in the job market."
Manzanarez shared that the event showed the vast prospects for a future in STEM.
"The experience was super eye-opening and informative. It really helped me to see what all opportunities and careers are in the STEM space," the sophomore from Loganville, Georgia, said. "I was super excited about getting the chance to go to all the different workshops that were held."
Manzanarez, who is pursuing dual degrees in environmental spatial analysis, said that he also enjoyed the research poster sessions and said it was "super interesting and informative to see all the different experiments and research being done, as well as getting to talk and network with a plethora of people."
Zavarce said the event provided information and inspiration.
"It was very interesting and eye-opening experience since I found out about many opportunities like fellowships