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More than a dozen University of North Georgia (̨Íåswag) students participated in the Faculty Undergraduate Summer Engagement (FUSE) this year. Most agreed their research projects and the summer experience will help them attain their future goals.

"I would love to go to graduate school and build on my research project or a project like this one," Cursten Howard, a senior pursuing a degree in East Asian studies, said. "And my plan is to go on the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program to experience life in Japan before returning for grad school."

Dr. Victoria Hightower, professor of history and assistant director of the Nationally Competitive Scholarships office, said it was paramount for ̨Íåswag to continue its research despite the COVID-19 pandemic causing some disruptions.

"FUSE provides an intensive and mentored research experience to our undergraduate students," she said. "The students are brought into research projects not just as operators but innovators. They have some input in the way the research goes with all its twists and turns."

Madison Bunch, a senior pursuing a biology degree, took the challenges in stride. Last year, she conducted her research project in a lab at night to follow safety protocols. 

"It was dark and lonely," she said.

But when ̨Íåswag allowed more face-to-face instruction and research this summer, Bunch and other ̨Íåswag undergraduate research students embraced the change.

"It was great because I got to see more people around the lab," the 21-year-old from Senoia, Georgia, said. "I saw other FUSE students and we got to stop and have conversations. We didn't get to do that last year."

Hightower, who supervised the FUSE program this summer, explained the students met specific benchmarks during the program, which is administered by the Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (CURCA). In addition to convening with their fellow researchers eight times, other benchmarks included:

• Developing an abstract to submit to local, regional or national conferences.
• Forming a 5-minute presentation about the research methodology and initial results for review.
• Meeting with the Nationally Competitive Scholarships Office to pursue national awards.
• Devising a personal statement.

Hightower said while most of these functions can be performed alone, the personal interactions among the student researchers and the one-on-one synergy between students and mentors are priceless.

"Being able to have our students and faculty come together built their confidence and competence," she said.

Daniel Jackson, a senior pursuing a psychology degree, said interacting with research subjects face to face proved vital.

"The research experience is much better because we got to speak to people in person," the 23-year-old from Gainesville, Georgia, said. "It creates another level of depth and has a good give-and-take. It's better than an online conversation when you may have miscues because you can't read a person's body language."