February 2018 Student of the Month

Eli Darby

Sophomore

When and where was your undergraduate research experience?

I began my undergraduate research experience in the summer of 2017, and primarily worked at UT campus labs, but also the Joint Institute for Advanced Materials and Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago.

Tell us about your research.

My research involved examining manufacturing parameters associated with 3-D printing, and observing how that effects defect characteristics in samples.

How did you go about finding this research opportunity?

I was able to find my research opportunity by first of all getting to know the faculty teaching my courses. I was fortunate Dr. Claudia Rawn helped get me in contact with some professors. After that I was able to find a good fit with Dr. Hahn Choo, and do some really exciting research.

How did the experience benefit you?

This experience benefited me in multiple ways. Academically I immersed myself in the world of Materials Science for a whole summer which was a huge help for my sophomore coursework. Professionally my research assistantship allowed me to develop professional skills necessary in the workplace, and also gave me valuable experience to expand upon in future internships.

Do you have any advice for other students considering undergraduate research?

My advice would be it’s never too early. I think a lot of people don’t do a whole lot the summer after their first year because it seems daunting to have an internship or research job, but if you take the initiative and get a position there is a support framework to help you succeed in that professional environment.

What else are you involved in?

I am the vice president of The Canoe and Hiking Club, so I get to spend a lot of time outside hiking, biking, and kayaking. I also play a lot of intramurals which are an important outlet for me during a stressful semester.