Rebecca Wahls

Theater Major, URSP Fall 2014
OSCAR Blog Post

The OSCAR program has been the perfect example of everything I hoped Mason would be. Through it, I was able to take the Studio production I adapted and directed for the School of Theater, Dido, Queen of Carthage, to whole new heights. Through close work with my mentor, I learned how to truly integrate research into my adaptation process and expand my directing skill set when obstacles occurred. What I eventually presented to the public was unlike any Studio production before it. In the tradition of university studies, it inspired intellectual conversation throughout the rehearsal process and long after the audience had left the theater.

 Amy Handlan

Economics Major, URSP Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015
OSCAR Blog Post

In addition to helping me learn new concepts, travel to conferences, and introducing me to important economists, my research experience confirmed my decision to pursue a PhD in economics. The fun I have while researching financial crises is a supplemental benefit to the aforementioned reasons why undergraduate research was important to my undergraduate experience. My undergraduate research has helped me towards my long-term goal of becoming an economics professor. 

Margaret Westwater

Neuroscience Major, USTF Recipient 2014

Pursuing research as an undergraduate has advanced my ability to change the lives of those with psychopathology on both personal and professional levels. I developed well-rounded research design and data analysis skills by assisting a wide variety of research projects. My experiences as an undergraduate scholar has given me the skills, confidence, and drive to pursue a lifelong career in clinical research. 

 Laith Alhussein

Bioengineering Major, URSP Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015
OSCAR Blog Post

Involving myself in research has been the absolute most important privilege I have received during the course of my undergraduate career. I have obtained a vast amount of knowledge in different fields, been granted advantaged in many upper-level courses, and allowed me to practice being a real-world engineer. It is certainly the primary reason I was accepted into my NASA internship, an experience that will remain with me forever.  

Muhammed Talha Agcayazi

Electrical Engineering Major, URSP Spring 2014, Fall 2014
OSCAR Blog Post
Through my experiences I learned that research in aerial robotics and controls is challenging but fruitful. The success in my experiences were a result of my ability to pursue my passion, take initiative to come up with new ideas, and work through problems both independently and with a team. The research and creative activities that I participated in helped me decide that I wanted to continue in a PhD program to further drive aerial robotics and controls research. 

Alexandra Johnson 

Biology Major, URSP Fall 2013, Spring 2014
OSCAR Blog Post

My undergraduate research is a central point in my life because it has been the foundation of many skills that I have learned. Highly effective reading, writing, presenting, and collaboration skills have all been developed by me through research. The most monumental event in my life has been deciding to become a teacher, and I would never have reached this conclusion without my foray into education, which began with my URSP project. I know, based upon the experiences of my undergraduate years, that I will be doing research for life.