There is no shortage of opportunities when it comes to research at the University of Oklahoma. I did research my first year at OU under the First Year Research Experience (FYRE) program, which encourages honor students to embark on a year of research. Due to this, I reached out, met, and worked with Dr. Metcalf, who is now my mentor. Today, I work under him as an official student employee.
There are other ways to complete research. I have friends who have reached out to professors with research interests that aligned with theirs, and asked if the professor had room for a passionate undergraduate. In most cases, they said yes. Generally, professors in STEM are all in the middle of exciting research, and it's common for students to help support their research, which allows undergraduate students to learn about research, procedures, and how to operate lab equipment.
The AI Club at OU was founded in fall of 2021 through a group of enthusiastic engineering students, one of them being me. Thanks to this club, I was able to meet and work with other passionate engineers on campus. My important contribution to the AI Club is the Annual Symposium, where members design and build an AI/ML project and present it to faculty and job recruiters. This is an opportunity to not only showcase our knowledge, but create connections and network with professionals in our desired field.
My advice is never assume the answer is "no." It is very easy to assume you are not qualified for awards, experiences, or opportunities. Please, don't allow self-doubt to cloud you achievements and restrict you from trying. When I applied to the Astronaut Scholarship, I had to try and believe I could, even though I have been previously rejected from other scholarship organizations. Even this summer, I applied to a research experience at Stanford University—I thought there was no way I would be chosen out of thousands of applicants, later I received news that I was one of 29 students to be selected for the summer fellowship.
I am on track to receiving an accelerated master's within five years, meaning I will graduate with my B.S. in electrical engineering in May 2024 and my M.S. in electrical engineeering in May 2025. After earning my M.S., I want to earn a Ph.D so I can become a professor, where I would have the opportunity to directly impact and inspire women and minorities in STEM to pursue a higher education and continue to contribute to the future of technology.
