OK NSF EPSCoR Summer 2021 REU Award Recipients Announced

Five Oklahoma undergraduate students have been selected to participate in the Oklahoma NSF EPSCoR Summer 2021 Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. Award recipients, under the guidance of faculty mentors, will perform research at the University of Oklahoma in Norman and Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. The research will be in the OK NSF EPSCoR RII-theme areas of weather, water, carbon, infrastructure, and energy, including social dynamics elements of these topics.

The Oklahoma NSF EPSCoR REU program strengthens and encourages undergraduate students' early participation in the university and scientific communities by providing one-on-one mentorship and unparalleled research opportunities at the state's research-intensive campuses.

Summer 2021 REU Recipients:

  • Student Researcher
    Melani D. Anguiano, University of Oklahoma
    Research Project Title
    An Experimental Study and Prediction of Drill String Vibration in Drilling Systems Using Machine Learning Techniques
    Faculty Mentor & Lab Site
    Dr. Catalin Teodoriu, University of Oklahoma
    Award Amount: $4,968
  • Student Researcher
    Jason Aquino, Oklahoma State University
    Research Project Title
    Electrical Power Resilience Against Ice-Storms
    Faculty Mentor & Lab Site
    Dr. Hamidreza Nazaripouya, Oklahoma State University
    Award Amount: $5,000

  • Student Researcher
    Emily Bedea, Southwestern Oklahoma State University
    Research Project Title
    Elucidating the Structure and Biochemical Properties of Carbonic Anhydrases from Photobacterium profundum and Streptococcus sanguinis
    Faculty Mentor(s) & Lab Site(s)
    Dr. Rakhi Rajan, University of Oklahoma (primary research site)
    Dr. Vijay Somalinga, Southwestern Oklahoma State University (supplementary research site)
    Award Amount: $5,000
  • Student Researcher
    George Levi Captain, Oklahoma State University
    Research Project Title
    Soil Monitoring Through UAV-Assisted LoRa Underground Sensors
    Faculty Mentor & Lab Site
    Dr. John O'Hara, Oklahoma State University
    Award Amount: $5,000

  • Student Researcher
    Megan DeSpain, Oklahoma State University
    Research Project Title
    Energetically Feasible Carbon Capture: An Application of Contra-thermodynamic Photocatalysis
    Faculty Mentor & Lab Site
    Dr. Jimmie Weaver, Oklahoma State University
    Award Amount: $5,000

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