How Research Experiences for Undergraduates Make a Difference

Embry-Riddle students are no strangers to performing research. Thanks to small class sizes taught by experienced professors, our Eagles are given plentiful opportunities to work side-by-side with faculty on a vast array of research topics.

We also encourage our students to participate in research inside and outside of the classroom and beyond the academic year. Some students even stay on campus to take summer courses and keep working on their passion projects.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates

For the past several years, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has been designated as a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). This funding from the NSF allows our faculty to select a handful of applicants to participate in research and gain valuable laboratory experience and direct mentorship.

The MicaPlex at Embry-Riddle's Research Park, where students and faculty work on next-level research.

Students from all universities in the U.S. are permitted to apply for the NSF’s interdisciplinary 10-week summer program, which provides housing, meals, activities and a stipend. Some research areas include post-space flight syndrome, spacecraft trajectory design and biomarker sensing – all of which are led by Embry-Riddle faculty in our own facilities, like the MicaPlex.

Though many students who come to Embry-Riddle for the REU program are from other universities, a certain percentage of Embry-Riddle students are typically accepted as well.

During the summer 2023 program session, Embry-Riddle student Forrest Dohner (’26) was one of the few students selected to participate in the REU site on the Daytona Beach Campus. He’s studying Aerospace Engineering, driven by his love for air and spacecraft.

“I have always been fascinated by anything that flies, especially rockets,” he said. “I didn’t travel much growing up, so researching planes and rockets became a skill I picked up early on.”

Forrest worked with chemistry professors Dr. Foram Madiyar – Embry-Riddle’s REU Principal Investigator (PI) – and Dr. Jenny Vu on research surrounding self-healing polymers. He says that after working with Dr. Vu during this project, she’s become one of the greatest influences in his college career.

“I was introduced to Dr. Vu during last summer’s REU program. Beforehand, I had worked closely with her to better understand the polymer chemistry behind the synthesis. Now, I continue to work with Dr. Vu, continuing research into the same self-healing polymers,” he said.

Forrest noted that one of the advantages of researching over the summer was the time he was able to dedicate to research without having classes at the same time. 

The Importance of Research

Research has guided Forrest’s path through Embry-Riddle and beyond. After he graduates, he plans to take the skills he learned and the research he conducted during his REU experience and continue researching materials applications in aerospace engineering.

“Ultimately, I hope that this path can lead me to work at an organization like NASA to contribute to the further exploration of space,” he expressed.

Forrest advises future Embry-Riddle students that a key contributor to having a positive experience is getting involved in research or similar projects they find interest in. He said, “Getting a real-world application of your classes makes the learning process so much more fun.”

Are you looking for ways to get research on your resume before college graduation? Apply to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and discover the opportunities.