What years did you participate in UROP?

2009 - 2010

What UROP Program(s) were you a part of?

Traditional UROP

What made you choose UROP?

I chose to participate in UROP so that I'd have a support group to help me through the challenges of working on a research project but I received much more than that.

 

What do you think you have learned from your UROP experience?

Through UROP, I was exposed to the wide variety of projects and amazing labs at the University of Michigan and gained real world experience in the field of astronomy and the art of technical presentations.

What is the extent to which you have kept in contact with your Research Mentor?

While my astronomy project was only affiliated with UROP for 1 year, I continued working on it for 3 years and ended up presenting it at the American Astronomical Society's biannual meeting in 2012.

How did your UROP experience shape or inform the next steps you took in your academic and professional journey?

My ability to quickly adapt to and master new technology stems directly from my time in UROP. In UROP, you are thrown into a world where you learn the importance of asking questions and persevering until you become an expert.

What advice would you give to a current UROP student?

To the current UROP students, I would say make the time to invest in your project and the hands on aspects of your chosen field. If your project is only for one year, find another project or team to join next year. And, don't be afraid to ask professors directly if they have research you can participate in. You may be surprised!

What are some recent publications or accomplishments that you are proud of?

In the last few years, I served as the President of the Portland chapter of the Michigan Alumni Club, gained my Product Owner/Product Manager certification for Scaled Agile projects, and entered my 8th year in the software world.