Chemistry’s summer programs for undergraduates a successful tradition

This summer, undergraduate students traveled to Buffalo from as far away as Puerto Rico to conduct summer research in UB’s chemistry department.

Among the mentors who welcomed them: UB graduate students, some of who conducted summer research at UB themselves before deciding to come to Western New York to pursue their PhDs.

“It is always rewarding to help the next generation of scientists. The best part is seeing their progress after they finish the program and present their research,” says chemistry doctoral candidate Nahyr A. López Dauphin.

She coordinated many details of one summer program in the department: a new initiative, funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, that brought six undergraduates from the University of Puerto Rico at Cayey (UPR Cayey) to UB for research and workshops. López Dauphin organized transportation, answered participants’ questions about graduate school, and introduced students to faculty members with matching scientific interests.

She understood the excitement, as well as the challenges, of taking part in a program like this, so far from home. In 2016, as an undergraduate at UPR Cayey, López Dauphin was recruited by SUNY Distinguished Professor of Chemistry Luis Colón to conduct summer research at UB through the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP).

“The summer experience allowed me to see firsthand the responsibilities and intricacies of being in grad school,” she recalls. “I learned what type of mentorship I needed to succeed, what kind of environment would allow me to thrive, and if I had the tools necessary here at UB to finish my degree.”

As summer drew to a close, undergraduate researchers and graduate student mentors in the Sloan Foundation-supported program took time to speak with UBNow, as did participants in the chemistry department’s National Science Foundation-funded summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates program.

Their stories highlight how such summer programs have been a successful recruitment tool over many years, helping undergraduates discover UB and learn about graduate school.

Funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, this program brings undergraduates from UPR Cayey to UB for 10 weeks of summer research in chemistry or other science departments, and for workshops focused on graduate school readiness. Participants who successfully complete all activities are offered admission to a participating STEM graduate program at UB. The effort is led by Colón, SUNY Distinguished Professor and A. Conger Goodyear Professor of Chemistry at UB, and Wilfredo Resto, chair of chemistry at UPR Cayey. Many UB graduate students contribute to planning and implementation.

Angelie Méndez-Miranda (participant)

Undergraduate in chemistry, UPR Cayey

Méndez-Miranda’s summer research focused on optimizing qualities of a diarylethene-based photoswitch. This involved spending over 16 hours collecting data in a dark room with a red light. The work demonstrated that science is a long and complicated process, Méndez-Miranda says, but a very rewarding one.

Méndez-Miranda, regarding the summer experience at UB:

“The idea of potentially discovering something new to the field fills me with excitement, and I am very grateful to have experienced all of this.

“Through the Sloan Foundation-funded summer program, I have learned how to be a better scientist. I strengthened many skills, like teamwork, problem-solving, analytical thinking and networking. In addition, I grew as a person, learning along the way how to be more independent. This experience also gave me an insight of what graduate school is like and what it is to pursue a PhD. Now, I know what to expect.”

Raúl J. Díaz-Santiago (participant)

Undergraduate in chemistry, UPR Cayey

Díaz-Santiago’s summer project focused on modifying the surface of silica particles using diazonium chemistry. The eventual goal is to develop materials for use in liquid chromatography, a scientific technique used to separate chemicals.

Díaz-Santiago, regarding the summer experience at UB:

“The summer research and program at UB provided new opportunities for me to grow as an aspiring researcher in chemistry. Working within a graduate-level research laboratory allowed me to handle lab equipment and carry out techniques I wouldn't have seen otherwise had I not participated in this program. For me, this will make the transition from undergrad to grad school a lot more manageable, as I know what to expect from this type of environment.

“Working alongside other people from the same background as myself taught me the importance of trust, camaraderie and diversity within academia. Having other Puerto Ricans from UPR Cayey within this research program made me feel like I was back at home, which wouldn't have happened without the Sloan Foundation’s financial support.”

Karoline E. García-Pedraza (graduate student mentor)

UB PhD student in chemistry

In 2019, García-Pedraza took part in the UB chemistry department’s REU as a UPR Cayey undergraduate. This summer, García-Pedraza served as a mentor and research project assistant for the Sloan Foundation-funded program. Duties included providing workshops that help prepare students for graduate courses in inorganic chemistry. García-Pedraza’s knowledge of the chemistry programs at UB and UPR Cayey was key to developing content that will be highly relevant and useful for undergraduates in the summer program.

García-Pedraza, regarding the summer experience at UB:

“I found satisfaction in sharing my knowledge and experience. Being aware that I serve as a model for this group of students, I provided positive mentoring to show them that they can succeed if they decide to enter the field.

“My experience as an REU student was the decisive step for me to continue to graduate school. It was my first time participating in a summer research program, where I challenged and tested my ability as a scientist. Also, UB’s diversity and the chemistry department’s faculty made me feel comfortable.”

Brandon Salazar (graduate student mentor)

UB PhD candidate in chemistry

Salazar served as a research mentor for Méndez-Miranda and Díaz-Santiago. This included explaining their projects in detail and providing training on laboratory and instrumentation techniques, and on data collection and interpretation. Also important: helping students understand that lab work requires patience. Not all experiments succeed, and learning from mistakes, trial and error, and failed experiments is part of the process of conducting research, Salazar says.

Salazar, regarding the summer experience at UB:

“This was a very rewarding experience for me because it was the first instance in my graduate career where I could actually mentor someone. Through the summer, they were able to get a lot more out of the experience than just ending up with a poster to present. They were able to truly understand what they were doing and why, and how it contributed to the big picture of their research project.

“I didn’t have the opportunity to do undergraduate research through a summer program such as the one UB offers. However, I can say that my decision to come to UB was directly a result of Dr. Luis Colón. His history of recruiting members of underrepresented groups to do undergraduate research at UB, as well as attend UB for graduate school and to work in his lab, demonstrated to me that he is someone who has been committed to increasing minority representation in the STEM fields. That was a big deal to me, being a person of Hispanic descent and being a first-generation college student. That’s why I was eager to mentor two students this summer. It was a privilege to be able to pay it forward and aid in the mentoring of the next generation of Latinx scientists as they near the end of their undergraduate studies.”

Funded by the National Science Foundation, the REU invites undergraduates from across the U.S. to conduct summer research in UB’s chemistry department. The 10-week program has a career-oriented bent: Participants attend workshops on topics like ethics, interviewing, public speaking and establishing a professional presence on social media. The REU is led by Jason Benedict and Timothy Cook, both associate professors of chemistry. Many UB graduate students contribute to planning and implementation.

Paige King (participant)

Undergraduate in chemistry, St. Bonaventure University

King’s summer research involved synthesizing co-crystals containing compounds called diarylethenes. When exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, diarylethenes switch between open and closed states, initiating a color change. King’s project sought to understand which materials best facilitate this light-activated switching when paired with diarylethenes in co-crystals.

King, regarding the REU experience:

“I have learned a variety of synthesis techniques throughout the REU, along with several analysis techniques, such as single-crystal X-ray diffraction and solid-state UV/vis. I have also developed skills in experimental setup, problem-solving and scientific communication.

“The REU has been extremely rewarding both scientifically and personally. Successful research outcomes have boosted my confidence in the lab, and the weekly workshops have prepared me for the future in grad school and the workplace.”

Brett Wilson (participant)

Undergraduate in chemistry, Penn State University

Wilson’s summer project also involved synthesizing light-sensitive diarylethene compounds. This research, along with workshops on career development, helped solidify Wilson’s goal of attending graduate school for chemistry.

Wilson, regarding the REU experience:

“I learned a lot during the REU. I have made a lot of progress in my own synthesis skills with all of the hands-on lab work I was doing each day. Additionally, I have a better understanding of what grad school is like, as well as more knowledge on how the process of research works, from reading literature, testing experiments, dealing with problems on the fly, and adjusting things in our own experiments for better results.”

Shea Myers (graduate student mentor)

UB PhD candidate in chemistry

In 2015, Myers took part in the UB chemistry department’s REU as a Penn State undergraduate. He was placed in Benedict’s lab, and says the experience “was easily the biggest factor in deciding my career.” He adds: “From the day I left the REU, the plan was to come back to UB for graduate school.” Fast forward to 2022, and Myers spent the summer serving as a mentor in the same lab, guiding Wilson on conducting experiments and interpreting results.

Myers, regarding the REU experience:

“Many of the REU students have never done research before, so this is their opportunity to get a taste of it and to see if this is something they can see themselves doing as a career.

“Working in chemistry, I am in a position where I get to be the first person in human history to hold never-before-seen substances by the simple fact that I was the one who made them. That is an awesome feeling, and being able to share that feeling with someone who has never experienced that before is one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had.

“When I first attended the REU as an undergraduate, I really wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to be some kind of scientist, but I had started off in geology and had just recently switched majors to chemistry. I had been doing research with Dr. Dan Patel at Penn State for about a year and applied to the REU at his suggestion. Within the first week I was hooked. The REU program really set in stone the fact that I wanted to pursue research as a career path and, because of my participation in the REU, I knew the kind of research I was interested in and had already built a rapport with a lab where I could do it.”

Zoe Marr (graduate student mentor)

UB PhD student in chemistry

Marr served as a mentor, helping King develop skills necessary for conducting good research. Marr’s work included teaching experimental techniques, demonstrating the use of instruments, assisting with data collection and analysis, and providing instruction on bookkeeping.

Marr, regarding the REU experience:

“My goal is to work at a predominantly undergraduate institution, so helping out with the REU has helped me develop as a mentor.

“I didn't take part in the REU or summer research at UB as an undergraduate, but I did participate in summer research at my undergrad institution. It was helpful for me because I learned what it would be like to be a researcher full time. From this experience, I was able to get a taste of what graduate school would be like and then decided to pursue a PhD.”