John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
Research is a fundamental part of Stanford's mission and culture, involving not only faculty but also students. Various departments and research centers at Stanford offer students the opportunity to work as research assistants during the summer. For eight to ten weeks, these students collaborate with mentors on full-time projects, allowing them to immerse themselves in their research without the distraction of academic classes.
Four undergraduates—Isabel Cai, Remington Graham, Nicholas Neoman, and Selena Niemi—pursued research this past summer driven by their passion for their respective fields.
Isabel Cai, a rising senior and double major in political science and East Asian studies, worked with Stanford political scientist Michael McFaul on his book about U.S. great power competition with China and Russia. Cai contributed content and made structural edits to the book. "One thing with international relations is that something is always happening, right? And we have to reflect that in the book," said Cai. She aims to continue her research in political science at graduate school.
Remington Graham focused on sustainability in steel manufacturing within the Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials (GLAM). He worked closely with the Department of Materials Science & Engineering and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory on hydrogen reduction for steelmaking. Graham learned Rietveld refinement techniques to process experimental data related to X-ray diffraction patterns of iron compounds. "I get to experiment, play, and investigate," said Graham.
Nicholas Neoman researched Diamond-Blackfan anemia at the Sakamoto Lab through the Stanford Bio-X Undergraduate Summer Research Program. He aimed to address racial disparities in healthcare while studying African American studies and chemistry. Neoman's breakthrough involved linking interleukin-6 cytokine levels to Diamond-Blackfan anemia through mouse models. "My whole life has really been working with marginalized people," said Neoman.
Selena Niemi studied how virtual reality games impact executive functioning for students diagnosed with ADHD at the VR Neurofit Lab with Bio-X. Niemi used mobile neuroimaging technology during VR experiments involving cognitive tasks integrated into games like Beat Saber. She focuses on whether exercise-based VR interventions could benefit under-resourced populations' cognitive and physical health. "I’ve always been fascinated by the brain and neuroscience," said Niemi.
These undergraduates plan to continue their research endeavors while contributing meaningfully to their respective fields.
Alerts Sign-up