USD Scientist for a Day: Student Labs Research

It may be summer at the University of San Diego, but research happens year-round. On Tuesday, July 30, Vice President and Provost Gail F. Baker, PhD, joined Noelle Norton, PhD, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and other staff and administrators for a tour of campus labs in the Shiley Center for Science and Technology.

Dubbed “USD Scientist for a Day,” the inaugural event gave participants an up-close look at the research done in the departments of chemistry and biochemistry, physics and biophysics, environmental and ocean sciences, and biology. In all, more than 10 labs were visited, with students from each lab sharing the diverse and original research being done daily at USD.

The opportunity for these students to conduct research over the summer is a unique experience, giving them the chance to explore a wide array of topics they are passionate about.

For Simren Kaur, a rising senior, her research has enabled her to work closely with many faculty mentors. “I get different insights because they have their areas of expertise,” said Kaur. “I get to hear all these ideas and directions for how to take these projects and I feel a lot of support from the faculty who are helping me.”

This sentiment was shared by other researchers, who stressed faculty engagement and cross-disciplinary support as a unique component of the USD research experience. With year-round research at USD, these faculty-student connections are key to the success of not only researchers and the campus departments, but the career fields students choose to enter after graduation.

— Allyson Meyer ‘16

Learn more about student research at the Second Annual Summer Research Colloquium on Thursday, August 8 in Camino Hall.