Finding Your Path To Research: How SPUR Helps Undergrads Get Started
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Rakshitha Mosur Satish, a third-year student in chemical engineering student pursuing the computer process control option, and Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) student.
Starting a journey into a career in research can feel daunting; with so many fields and approaches, it can be a challenge just figuring out where to start. This year, Future Energy Systems (FES) launched the Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) to specifically offer a path to undergrad students looking to dip their toes into a research career. The program provides students with hands-on experience working in an energy research lab supported by FES, helping them explore and develop their interests in the field.
During the summer of 2024, FES funded research opportunities for three undergraduates, giving Jarif Ahmed Rashid and Rakshitha Mosur Satish a first glance to working in an academic research environment. Both engineering students in their third years, Jarif and Rakshitha joined different research teams, yet each gained unique and invaluable experience through their participation in SPUR.
Jarif’s Experience: A Look into Wind Energy Research
Ahmed (Jarif) Rashid, a third-year undergraduate in mechanical engineering, spent the summer working with Dr. Witold Pedrycz’s research team on a project focused on wind energy in Alberta. He worked specifically under Hanyu E and Jarif’s role centered on developing a predictive model that forecasts wind speeds using data from existing centers. With a machine learning algorithm as the backbone, the project’s final goal was to create an interactive map accessible to the public—a tool designed to aid planning and resource management in wind energy.
Jarif’s responsibilities were diverse and constantly evolving. He coded, collected data, and did a lot of debugging. He even developed a search engine function that pinpoints a location on the map. The role required adaptability, as each day brought new tasks, but he embraced the learning curve and enjoyed the variety.
“I never felt like I wasn’t part of the team or that I was different for being an intern. It was a little challenging, but the workload was manageable and my supervisor and team were great supports,” Jarif recounts. “One of my favourite things was that I got to do something a little different every day.”
When asked about the most significant lesson he learned, Jarif emphasized the importance of planning. “The biggest thing I learned was how to plan to do the work. We had the goals and a general idea of how to get there, but I quickly learned that the most efficient way to get it done was to plan properly and communicate everything,” he explained.
The additional science communication training offered through SPUR also proved invaluable, teaching Jarif how to discuss his work in a way that made sense to people outside the academic world: “It was a great skill to test out when I’m discussing this work with family and friends. More importantly, I think it’s helped preparing for any career where communication has a big role.”
Rakshitha’s Journey: Exploring Carbon Capture with MOFs
Rakshitha is a third-year student in chemical engineering student pursuing the computer process control option. She took a different route with Dr. Vinay Prasad’s team, where she worked on a project involving metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for carbon capture. Her focus was to gather data on materials with potential for MOF development, which will ultimately contribute to more efficient carbon capture technologies.
Unlike Jarif, who was busy building and debugging code, Rakshitha’s responsibilities were computational and database-focused. She spent her first month delving into machine learning, then spent the following month applying her knowledge to develop a code-based search tool that could efficiently process relevant materials data.
“When you think of research, people have this idea that you’re working with chemicals in a lab—or at least I did. Really, it was a lot of searching through databases,” she shared. “I learned that research can look a lot different across different disciplines and even just across projects.”
Rakshitha also found the additional science communication training transformative, especially in adapting her explanations to various audiences. The training has been instrumental in her professional growth, equipping her with the skills to apply for an engineering internship with the background knowledge she needed to stand out as a candidate: “Now I take the time to check in with people when I’m explaining the more complicated stuff.”
Rakshitha found her work deeply rewarding, particularly because it aligned with her passion for sustainability. “I’m really into sustainability. With this research being about carbon capture, it’s fundamentally about building a more sustainable energy industry. It felt good knowing my work was a part of that——though my responsibilities are a drop in the ocean of carbon capture research,” she explained.
Looking Forward: A Place for Every Student to Start
For undergraduates like Jarif and Rakshitha, research provides more than just a chance to explore their academic interests—it’s an opportunity to gain professional skills, build confidence, and envision future careers. Research methodologies and designs vary greatly across disciplines, and the research experience itself can differ significantly based on the focus, team, and project goals. However, Future Energy System’s SPUR program has shown that no matter your background, entry into a research career doesn’t have to be intimidating.
Future Energy Systems is committed to providing research and funding opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and other highly qualified personnel. Check out our Opportunities page for current funding and subscribe to our monthly newsletter to stay updated with Future Energy Systems research, opportunities, and more.
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