Fly Drones Initiative for Campus Tree Conservation Undergraduate Research and Training Opportunity Dr. Souma Chowdhury, ADAMS Lab, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University at Buffalo Initiative Goal: To develop a systematic framework for conducting drone based aerial survey of the health of vegetation in the UB North Campus, and assist in the creation of a workshop for training students to program and fly drones for related remote sensing applications. Initiative Description: This multidisciplinary initiative is an integral part of a project led by Dr. Souma Chowdhury on “Automated Design of Decentralized Robust and Explainable Swarm Systems”, and is sponsored by the National Science Foundation. The novelty of this initiative lies in synergizing an enjoyable hands-on learning experience (in emerging technologies such as autonomous drones) for undergraduate students, with the opportunity to solve a real-world problem with direct impact on the health and wellness of our campus community. A summary description of the initiative is given below. Our UB North campus, spanning over 5 sq. km. has seen an alarming rate of tree loss in recent years. Together with the Professional Staff Senate (PSS), we have converged on the idea of flying unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs (aka drones) to capture high-resolution images of trees to assess their health. The overall concept is to identify patches of the vegetated area to survey, design the best flight paths to conduct this survey, and then program and perform remote-controlled and supervised autonomous flights of 1-2 UAVs based on the planned flight paths over these patches of vegetation. The data collected thereof will be analyzed, under the advice and feedback of academic domain experts on vegetation health, to assess the health of the trees surveyed. These efforts will be strategically interjected with training tutorials, where the participating undergraduate students will get trained on the techniques underlying various moving parts involved in this project. Training, mentoring and day to day feedback will be provided by the PI, Dr. Chowdhury, and other graduate students working on this project. Additional Support: University Honors College students selected to work on this project are then eligible to apply to the Honors College Research Fund for up to $1,000 per semester per student to further support the research and learning efforts under this initiative. Expected Learning Outcomes: In this project, undergraduate students will learn to:
Plan and program single and cooperative UAV flights for automated data collection, subject to weather and regulatory constraints;
Prepare UAVs with appropriately mounted sensors and rain-checks for useful flight experiments;
Fly UAVs safely (the new SOAR facility will be used for training in this regard);
Best practices in data logging, geotagging and data processing; and
Prepare technical publications and presentations for leading international conferences. Student Eligibility: Sophomore, Junior and Senior year students from Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science & Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial & Systems Engineering, and Geography at University at Buffalo are encouraged to apply. Prior experience with programming (in C or Python), mechatronics, flying drones, and/or computer vision is a plus (but not required). Interested students should contact Dr. Souma Chowdhury at soumacho@buffalo.edu. Please include your latest resume and unofficial transcript in your email.
The Child Health and Behavior Lab (HABLAB) at the University of Buffalo is looking for undergraduate students to assist with research studies during Fall 2021 and Spring 2022. These research experiences would be under the leadership of Dr. Stephanie Anzman-Frasca, who conducts laboratory- and community-based studies in the area of children’s eating behavior and obesity prevention. More information about Dr. Anzman-Frasca’s work is available here: https://medicine.buffalo.edu/faculty/profile.html?ubit=safrasca, and more information about HABLAB is available at http://ubhablab.weebly.com. You can also find HABLAB on social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) @ubhablab.
Responsibilities of student research assistants include: assisting with materials preparation, entering data, and helping staff in the implementation of the study design. It is anticipated that students will have the opportunity to work directly with study participants, including parents and children, in laboratory and/or community studies. All incoming research assistants must be able to commit to at least 135 hours of research over the semester (equates to about 10 hours per week), with preference given to students who can commit to at least two semesters. Students may be asked to commit to evenings or weekends to work with participants. For students who spend multiple semesters on the team, independent research projects, conference presentations, and/or thesis projects are possible.
Interested students can apply by submitting an application and a resumeto ubhablab@gmail.com, using “HABLAB student research assistant application 2021” as the subject of the email. Applications may be downloaded at http://ubhablab.weebly.com/students. We are currently filling positions for the coming academic year on a rolling basis.
Make plans now to join us for the 26th Annual University at Buffalo Undergraduate Research Conference, July 22- 23, 2021. Our virtual platform will deliver an innovative two-day event packed with a variety of opportunities to engage and connect. Expand your knowledge and network— join us to hear invited speakers and presenters address emerging trends and opportunities related to innovation, social justice and research as a catalyst for change. The conference is an exciting opportunity to: • Present faculty-supervised research. • Participate in pre-conference workshops. • Foster stimulating conversation around shared interests. • Connect with your peers and current graduate students from your field of study. • Engage with inspirational speakers and panels in a personal setting. • Attend a UB Graduate School information program and meet with faculty, staff and students. Each day will begin at 9 a.m. EDT. Learn more about daily events by reviewing the online agenda. We look forward to welcoming you to the conference this summer!
Registration Information • Early bird registration ($80 per person) due by May 17. • Regular registration ($100 per person) due by June 30. • Presenter registration due by June 30. • Presenter abstracts due by July 9.
Keynote Presentations Imagining Ethical Land Relations and Marking Indigenous Presence in our Universities. Mishuana Goeman, PhD
If You Don’t Own the [Servers]: Aggregating Blackness in the Digital Era. Mark Anthony Neal, PhD
Pre-Conference Workshops Prepare for an engaging and productive conference experience by participating in pre-conference video workshops.
Making the Most of Your Research Conference Learn to successfully navigate a professional conference and discover tips and strategies to leverage your participation toward your professional and academic goals.
Presenting Your Research in a World of Skeptics How to present your research so it is understood and valued.
Your Digital Identity Academic digital platforms and how to use them effectively throughout graduate school and your professional career.
Surviving and Thriving in Graduate School—You Belong! Discover how to move beyond survival and thrive in graduate school—supporting your journey and mental health.
About the Conference
The University at Buffalo Undergraduate Research Conference brings together the next generation of professors, researchers, entrepreneurs and influencers to learn about graduate and professional opportunities, with a focus on diversifying the graduate student body at UB and across the nation.
Friday, April 30 at 3:00 p.m. RSVP Here “Race and Place in Washington, D.C.” Abstract:This research talk will discuss the effects of gentrification and media on Black communities in Washington, D.C. This research analyzes Black media representation by comparing two Washington, D.C.-based newspapers: The Washington Post and The Prince of Popville. By searching for trends about the frequency and types of Black topics discussed in both newspapers, I argue that based on where Black people live in accordance to the media coverage they encompass, can show the effects of gentrification and Black displacement in D.C.
Amanda is currently a PhD student in the Department of Geography. She received her B.A. in geography and music and M.S. in geospatial analysis from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA. She studies racial disparities in urban environments, specifically, how place affects racial inequalities.
She is also interested in ethnomusicology and how music affects the culture of people and vice-versa. She uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map out her research.
I am pleased to announce that Oak Ridge National Laboratory has two new lab-wide virtual internship programs beginning this summer, the Virtual Undergraduate Research Summer Institute (URSI) and the Virtual Graduate Research Summer Institute (GRSI).
Located in East Tennessee, ORNL is the US Department of Energy’s largest science and energy laboratory and boasts state-of-the-art capabilities across a wide range of scientific and engineering disciplines.
More details on the lab’s research areas and the program application links are in the attached flyer (also pasted below). Applications close on April 30, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Faculty Fellows week continues the last week of April with another Honors Faculty Fellows presentation !!!
How to get involved in scientific research as an undergrad
Via ZOOM – Thursday, April 29th
5:00 -6:30pm
Registration information coming soon!
– reservations close on 4/28 (6pm) and we will then email all registrants the zoom coordinates for the 4/29 event.
Looking to get involved in REAL RESEARCH while an undergraduate? Not sure how to start looking for a project or what it is like to work on a faculty member’s research project. Come join Professor Matthew Paul, Psychology, as he discusses research opportunities at UB. See what he has to say on his own research on social behavior in animals and how undergrads play a vital role in his research program.
Save the date: July 22-23, 2021 Registration opens in April!
We are excited to share a sneak peek of our 26th Annual Undergraduate Research Conference and hope you will join us for this exciting event. We will be in touch again soon when it’s time to register! Keynote Presentations Invited speakers will address emerging trends and opportunities related to innovation, social justice and research as a catalyst for change.
Mishuana Goeman, PhD University at Buffalo Center for Diversity Innovation visiting scholar; Professor of Gender Studies, American Indian Studies, and affiliated faculty of Critical Race Studies in the Law School, UCLA.
Mark Anthony Neal, PhD Distinguished professor of African and African American Studies and the founding director of the Center for Arts, Digital Culture and Entrepreneurship (CADCE), Duke University.
Tara Ruttley, PhD Associate chief scientist for Microgravity Research at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) headquarters in the Office of the Chief Scientist in Washington, D.C.
Pre-Conference WorkshopsRegistered attendees will receive access to pre-conference video workshops featuring faculty, students and alum to prepare them for an engaging and productive conference experience.
Making the Most of Your Research Conference Learn to successfully navigate a professional conference and discover tips and strategies to leverage your participation toward your professional and academic goals.
Presenting Your Research in a World of Skeptics How to present your research so it is understood and valued.
Your Digital Identity Academic digital platforms and how to use them effectively throughout graduate school and your professional career.
Surviving and Thriving in Graduate School—You Belong! Discover how to move beyond survival and thrive in graduate school—supporting your journey and mental health.
About the Conference
Date: July 22-23, 2021 Location: This year’s conference will be virtual.
Who should attend: All undergraduate student researchers are welcome, including (but not limited to) those from McNair, SSS, LSAMP and CSTEP.
This conference is an excellent opportunity to: • Present faculty-supervised research.• Participate in pre-conference workshops.• Foster conversation around shared interests through digital storytelling.• Network with your peers and current graduate students from your field of study.• Attend a UB Graduate School information program and meet with program faculty, staff and students.• Engage with inspirational speakers and panels in a personal setting.
Registration:• An email announcement will be sent in April once registration is open. The University at Buffalo Undergraduate Research Conference brings together the next generation of professors, researchers, entrepreneurs and influencers to learn about graduate and professional opportunities, with a focus on diversifying the graduate student body at UB and across the nation.
We look forward to welcoming you to the conference this summer!
STEM for Everyone: Stories and Examples from Students
Are you an undergraduate or graduate student involved in research or hands-on projects? Would you like to share your work with a broad audience and sharpen your communication skills? Submit your proposal to participate in STEM for Everyone!
STEM for Everyone, presented by the UB Women in STEM Cooperative (WISC) and UB Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE), invites students to record a 5-minute video presentation about an existing research project or a STEM topic. This event provides a platform for students to communicate the significance of their work to a general audience, an important skill for any STEM professional. Creativity is encouraged!
Participants will benefit from mentorship and constructive feedback from a communication coach as they are preparing their video, and will be eligible to win prizes based on final submissions!
As we begin the start of a new semester, here’s a quick update on the 2nd annual Western New York Undergraduate Psychology Conference. Abstract submissions are now open, and the submission deadline is March 15th, 2021. Students can opt to present either a 5-minute lightning talk or a 12-minute oral presentation. More details can be found on the conference website: http://ubwp.buffalo.edu/wnypsychologyconference As a reminder, the conference date is April 17th, 2021. Attached is an updated conference flyer.
RUTGERS, The State University of New Jersey, invites talented undergraduates with a passion for research and interest in graduate study to apply for our nationally acclaimed RISE (Research Intensive Summer Experience) at Rutgers program. We particularly encourage applications from students from underrepresented, disadvantaged, and first-generation college backgrounds.
RISE at Rutgers has A LOT to offer:
CUTTING-EDGE INTERDISCIPLINARYRESEARCH at a top 20 U.S. public university
PERSONALIZED MENTOR-MATCHING
EXCELLENTFUNDING: Stipend up to $6000 + housing + travel (for 10-week in-person program, if possible). Virtual or hybrid options may be necessary instead. Free optional GRE prep course (valued at $1300).
PARTNERSHIPS with REU programs in Cellular Bioengineering, Toxicology & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Green Energy Technology, Biomedicine/Proteomics, Physics & Astronomy, Advanced Materials, and Environmental Sciences. RISE applicants can opt to be considered by partner REUs. One Application – Multiple Opportunities!
OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: scientific & scholarly speaking and writing, GRE prep, grad school and career workshops, networking with industry & academic leaders…and more
ALUMNI SUCCESS: Awards at national meetings & placement at top graduate school
UNIVERSITY EXCELLENCE FELLOWSHIPS for top RISE alumni who return to Rutgers for graduate school.
DIVERSE COMMUNITY: Rutgers is one of the nation’s most diverse public research universities with DEI at the forefront of our new President’s vision.
APPLY NOW! Rolling admissions starts February 1, 2021.
