FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 16, 2005
FY05-59a
Graduate School Fair Offers Networking Opportunity for Student Researchers
OAK RIDGE, Tenn.—Many student researchers who were finalizing summer research projects took a break to begin the search for graduate school programs last week at the 6th Annual Graduate School Fair, sponsored by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU).
Students, such as Angela Reevely (pictured at right), who were involved in summer research programs at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, were given the opportunity to discuss graduate studies programs with university representatives from across the nation.
Reevely is currently a Tuskegee University undergraduate student pursuing a degree in biology. Her plans to continue with a master’s degree in education made her a candidate for the Pre-Service Teachers (PST) program, which is administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education. “Now, I will have the experience in research to back what I am teaching,” she said.
Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship participant, Carlos Ortiz is a junior at Davidson College in North Carolina, majoring physics. He is interested in many scientific disciplines, and although he is still unsure of what field he would pursue in graduate school, he found the graduate school fair very helpful. Of his summer research experience, Ortiz said, “I never thought I could learn so much in 10 weeks. Maybe the thing I enjoyed the most was discussing biology with the physicists.”
The 16 universities that were represented at the graduate school fair included Alabama A & M University, Arkansas State University, East Tennessee State University, Georgia Tech, Howard University, New Mexico State University, Rutgers University, Southern Illinois University of Carbondale, Tennessee Tech, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, University of Pittsburgh, University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt University and Western Carolina University.
The graduate school fair was held in partnership with the ORNL poster session, which was held earlier in the day. At the poster session, students were given the opportunity to showcase their research projects to student colleagues, ORNL scientists and university representatives.
For information about other educational opportunities through ORISE, visit http://see.orau.org/.
ORAU is a university consortium leveraging the scientific strength of 91 major research institutions to advance science and education by partnering with national laboratories, government agencies, and private industry. ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education for the U.S. Department of Energy.