ANA G. MENDEZ UNIVERSITY SYSTEM STUDENT RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CENTER AGMUS Ins tute of Mathema cs CARIBBEAN COMPUTING CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE

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1 ANA G. MENDEZ UNIVERSITY SYSTEM STUDENT RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CENTER AGMUS Ins tute of Mathema cs CARIBBEAN COMPUTING CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE Funding provided by the Na onal Science Founda- on (NSF)

2 Index Message from the Director 3 University of Vermont 4 UCAR 6 MIT-Haystack 8 Lawrence Livermore 10 Vanderbilt University 11 Lawrence Berkeley 12 List of Schools 14 Aknowledgements 15 2

3 Message from the Execu ve Director The Ana G. Méndez University System (AGMUS) 2011 Pre-College Summer Research Internship Program was a great success. Twenty nine (29) high school students from public and private schools across Puerto Rico travelled to six research sites at ins tu ons in six states, the University of Vermont, MIT- Haystack Observatory, Purdue University, the Na onal Center for Atmospheric Research, University of Texas, El Paso and Lawrence Livermore Na onal Laboratory. The pre-college students worked with research mentors in projects in the areas of computer science, mathema cs, computa onal biology, astronomy and atmospheric sciences. According to the research mentors, the pre-college students had be er performance than the average undergraduate student par cipa ng in research experiences for undergraduates (REU). The success of this program is based on the selec on process and the experience of the AGMUS Saturday Research Academy, where all the student par cipants learned the first steps of the research methodology. I would like to recognize the dedica on of the coordinators and mentors at all the sites where our pre-college students worked for a period of six to eight weeks; and the staff of the AGMUS Ins tute of Mathema cs, the Caribbean Compu ng Center for Excellence and the Student Research Development Center. Mentoring pre-college students during the summer was a great experience. Personally, I enjoyed having daily and weekly contact with all the par cipants. Visi ng them during the month of July, 2012 was a unique experience. I wish all the par cipants success in their university careers. I know that all of them will reach Ph.D. studies in the near future. The funding of the Na onal Science Founda on was well invested in preparing the next genera on of scien sts from Puerto Rico. Juan F. Arra a, Ph.D. Execu ve Director 3

4 The University of Vermont, Burlington The knowledge and experience I am gaining here will be instrumental to me as I advance in my life and career. Here I have gained a social support system of faculty and students that I know will con nue to help me grow as a scien st and as a person. I am convinced that I will be able to contribute to my society in a near future in unimaginable ways. I am extremely grateful to be granted this opportunity and am excited to take what I have learned with me along my scholas c journey. Without a doubt, this experience will be one of the most influen al of my high school years. Kathyana San ago 4

5 The University of Vermont University of Vermont Pre-College Student Researchers This internship has provided me with a unique and enriching opportunity, being part of this program has broadened my knowledge, outlook and insight on science and has helped feed my desire for inves ga on in this field, allowing it to grow into a passion of mine. I now see biology and science research in many new and different lights and overall this nternship has given me an even greater love for science - Alondra Baez 5

6 North Carolina State University, Charlo e "Working in Purdue University provided me the opportunity to choose from various research topics ranging from mechanical engineering to molecular biology, teaching me the importance of having an open mind for interdisciplinary research." Kevin Joel Marrero Nieves 6

7 Research is not something you're sent to do without knowledge, real research begins when you have the knowledge, and yet you ask yourself; "Why?" -Edwin Lopez North Carolina State University Pre-College Student Researchers It is very rewarding to have the chance of designing your own experiment by yourself under the guidance of adequate mentorship, for you learn that you have the ability to tackle important issues if you acquire as much knowledge as you can about them Arnaldo Mercado 7

8 University Corpora on for Atmospheric Research "Science is nature's poem of exelence. It is complex, inacurate, and mind blowing; yet, it is a literature worth submerging in." Gabriela Talavera Hard mes inspire us to collaborate, push our limits and think crea vely in order to solve a common problema Emery Price 8

9 University Corpora on for Atmospheric Research "Science is constantly improving and impac ng our world, environment, and the people that live within it; a significant part of its improvement relies on research". Rosa Vargas UCAR Pre-College Student Researchers "Sort data for a day, and then tell me if you want to be a scien st". Alberto Mulero 9

10 MIT Haystack Observatory It has been a very enriching experience and I've been able to learn many new skills. It'll be hard to leave such a wonderful place. - Kevin Matos 10

11 MIT Haystack Observatory As a soon to be college student, this summer internship had enriched my interest in the STEM areas. During this opportunity I have improved my knowledge with hand on experiences and resources that help me grow academic and would definitely track my future professional life Yesenia Rivera MIT-Haystack Pre-College Student Researchers This internship has been an amazing experience and an excellent learning opportunity. The skills I ve obtained here will help me advance in my studies of Computer Science and serve as a great experience for my career. Juan C. Morales 11

12 Morehead State University, Kentucky "...this summer I got the opportunity to work with a totally new and highly interes ng inves ga on Michelle Pérez PHOTO LAB "This experience taught me the importance of research, in whatever area, is important to the world, no ma er how small and simple the research may seem." Netsha San ago 12

13 Morehead State University, Kentucky "Reaching knowledge in Geographic Informa on System had helped me improve my skills in the area of geography and also accomplish tasks in so wares that I never thought I was capable of doing" Jessica Rivera Morehead State University Pre-College Student Researchers 13

14 NASA/AMES, San Jose, California quotes quotes NASA/AMES, San Jose, California Pre-College Student Researchers 14

15 University of Texas, El Paso It is the perfect opportunity to grow spiritually, mentally, and gain your independence. Jonathan Rodríguez "Coming to this internship has made me want to learn more then I already know and it makes everything more intriguing, I love it." Chelsea M. Marrero University of Texas Pre-College Student Researchers 15

16 Jagiellonian Observatory, Krakow, Poland "This great opportunity has been frui ul, it has grown my interest to become an astrophysicist and to immerse myself into the study of our universe." Jagiellonian Observatory, Krakow, Poland Pre-College Student Researchers "Opportuni es like this internship ignites within me a commitment with Science and Math, expanding the curiosity to keep on exploring and discovering, also the experience you obtain is incomparable" 16

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18 ACKNOLEGMENT The Execu ve Director would like to thank: University of Vermont Mentors: Dr. Declan McCabe, Dr. Eugene Delay, Dr. Bryan Ballif, Dr. Jim Vigoreaux (Coordinator) Chaperone: Ms. Yaina Hernaiz, doctoral student, University of Vermont UCAR Mentors: Dr. James W. Elkins, Mr. Sco Landolt, Dr. Amy Solomon, Dr. Lyne e Laffea, Brandi McCarty, Christoph Senff, Dr. Pieter Tans Program Coordinators: Dr. Rajul Pandya, Ms. Rebecca Hacker Chaperone: Mr. Josehp Colón, undergraduate student, Universidad Metropolitana MIT Haystack Observatory Mentors: Dr. William Rideout, Dr. Larisa Goncharenko, Dr. Robert Schaefer, Dr. Shurong Zhang Program Coordinator: Dr. Phil Erickson Chaperon: Mr. Francisco Perez, graduate student, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Carolina Morehead State University Mentor: Program Coordinator: Wilson J. González Chaperone: Mr. Luis Or z Martes, undergraduate Student, Universidad Metropolitna University of Texas El Paso Mentors: Dr. Jason Hick, Dr. John Wu, Dr. Helen He, Dr. Shane Canon, Dr. David Bailey Coordinator: Dr. Manuel Ramos Chaperone: Mr. Victor Correa, undergraduate student, Universidad Metropolitana North Carolina State University, Charlo e Mentors: Dr. Coordinator: Chaperone: Mr. Jeffrey Carrión, undergraduate student, Universidad Metropolitana NASA/AMES, San Jose, California Mentors: Dr. Coordinator: Chaperone: Angel Andino, undergraduate student, Universidad Metropolitana Jagiellonian Observatory, Krakow, Poland Mentors: Dr. Coordinator: Chaperone: Anna Flores, undergraduate student, Universidad Metropolitana Parents of all the pre college students 18

19 SRDC Staff AGMUS Ins tute of Mathema cs: Ms. Wanda Rodríguez CCCE: Mr. Tomas Yan Melo SRCD: Ms. Zulma Irizarry, Ms. Thelma Graniela, Ms. Ive e Miranda and Mr. Enrique Funding provided by the Na onal Science Founda on (NSF) Grants DMS & CNS