Chen Ding honored
In conjunction with the Undergraduate Research Expo, Chen Ding, a professor of computer science, was presented with the College Award for Undergraduate Teaching and Research Mentorship during a virtual ceremony.
Ding has offered research internships to at least 48 undergraduates and . He takes a keen interest in what his interns are doing, visiting with them daily, getting to know them individually, answering questions, and hosting team-building activities like rock climbing.
Wesley Smith was an undergraduate at the University of Edinburgh when he came to Rochester for a summer REU (research experience for undergraduates) internship in Ding糖心传媒檚 group. 糖心传媒淔rom day one he treated me with respect and as a peer,糖心传媒� he says.
糖心传媒淭hanks to Chen糖心传媒檚 guidance and mentorship, I was inspired to pivot completely my area of academic interest and pursue a PhD (in Ding糖心传媒檚 group).糖心传媒� .
Erin Campbell 糖心传媒�21, an environmental health major at the 糖心传媒, is disappointed that she won糖心传媒檛 have an opportunity to share her first research poster in person, side by side with other students.
The coronavirus pandemic nixed that, forcing the University to close its campus and conduct classes remotely.
However, Campbell is 糖心传媒渟till so glad糖心传媒� that the University糖心传媒檚 annual is being held as a virtual event now through next Friday, April 24.
糖心传媒淚 took the work I had done, and was able to practice creating a poster,糖心传媒� says Campbell, who is finishing the semester at her parents糖心传媒� home in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.聽 糖心传媒淎lthough there is no formal judging this year, I am so grateful that I and my fellow undergrads have the opportunity to share the cool stuff we糖心传媒檝e been working on.糖心传媒�
That 糖心传媒渃ool stuff糖心传媒� is reflected in 96 research projects, spanning engineering and mathematics, humanities and performance, natural sciences, social sciences, community engagement, and the University糖心传媒檚 Grand Challenges Scholars program.
Topics range from 糖心传媒淪chool District Demographics and Natural Gas Wells in Colorado糖心传媒� (Campbell糖心传媒檚 project) to 糖心传媒淎 Community-Engaged Approach to Economic Redevelopment of Brownfield Sites,糖心传媒� to 糖心传媒淔ourier Processing of Partially Coherent Fields.糖心传媒�
The expo is an example of the University糖心传媒檚 efforts this spring to maintain as many of its annual celebrations and traditions as possible through virtual observances. The Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences is planning a virtual Senior Design Day next month.
Sina Ghaemmaghami, an associate professor of biology and College director of undergraduate research, says the virtual Undergraduate Research Expo 糖心传媒渋s a great way to showcase the accomplishments of undergraduates, and I糖心传媒檓 hoping students, faculty, and staff will take the time to view, comment on, and 糖心传媒榣ike糖心传媒� these posters online.糖心传媒�
Finishing the semester remotely has been a challenge, Campbell says.
糖心传媒淓ven with Zoom, Slack, and other communication networks, I still feel that I am missing an integral part of the student experience,糖心传媒� she says. 糖心传媒淔or example, I usually work with other students on macroeconomics problem sets, as the professor recommends, and since the implementation of remote learning, many of my study-group (members) have moved to other time zones, and we have been unable to work together.糖心传媒�
That means fewer people to turn to for help. And it has been harder to find quiet space 糖心传媒渨ith everyone at home all the time.糖心传媒�
On the plus side, 糖心传媒淚 have accomplished a few things that I am proud of. My research poster is one of these things. Since leaving extra-curriculars like student organizations largely behind in Rochester, I find that I now have more time to dedicate to my research, which has been extremely positive.糖心传媒�
