OUPI UReCA Students

Over the course of ten weeks, the Summer Fellowship gives students the opportunity to research and perform creative activities with a mentor throughout the summer.

“The UReCA program is designed to connect motivated students with faculty who can help them shape meaningful, independent research projects,” said John Hassell, Ph.D., associate professor of software development and integration and secondary mentor to the UReCA fellows. “Our inaugural OUPI class has already displayed remarkable creativity and initiative through their coursework.”

Cybersecurity major and UReCA Fellow Braden Wilson applied to UReCA after his mentors encouraged him to take a chance and apply. This summer, Wilson’s research will focus on the possibilities of artificial intelligence when it comes to game design and how users engage with AI-powered mechanics, environments, and storytelling. 

“I’ve had the chance to work independently and it's exciting to see my ideas take shape through the research process,” Wilson said. “You learn a lot through trial and error. It’s been one of the best ways to grow my skills and confidence.” 

OUPI provides an applied learning experience that engages students with real-world problems requiring theoretical knowledge and critical thinking. Wilson’s mentor and assistant professor of applied artificial intelligence, Ahmed Ashraf Butt, Ph.D., is focused on helping students develop a strong research identity during the early stages of their academic journeys.

“Research opportunities like the Summer Fellowship build valuable skills like problem-solving, communication, and resilience for OUPI students,” Butt said. “My role as a mentor is to challenge Braden to think critically and help with his analysis and presentation.”

UReCA Fellow and cybersecurity major Paul Nguyen applied to the fellowship following the completion of his first year at OUPI. During his coursework, Nguyen was inspired by OUPI’s faculty’s career experience and the projects they completed.

“It’s inspiring and comforting to have classes with this kind of flexible learning approach where we focus on creating projects that have real-world implications,” Nguyen said. 

Nguyen is in the beginning stages of his research to find an effective, industry-standard approach to safeguard sensitive and personal data across multiple online platforms. His mentor, assistant professor of software development and integration Chad Roller, is helping to structure the research project to keep it grounded in industry relevance. 

“It's about keeping our digital spaces clean so that we don’t get hacked or run out of storage,” Nguyen said. “Digital literacy is essential in safeguarding your information online, but the technology must also be consumer-friendly for the general users that are not as used to the new technological landscape.”

In October, Nguyen and Wilson will travel to OU’s Norman campus to participate in the UReCA showcase, where they will display the status and reports of their research.