Research is one of the most valuable opportunities in which engineering students can participate. Dalila Ricci, a Civil and Environmental Engineering major, shared her experience as an undergraduate research assistant in a summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at Princeton University. During the summer before her sophomore year, she worked with the Aerospace Engineering Department on the fabricating of a microfluidic spray that disintegrated drops to the microscale. Although she had no prior experience in this field, the post-docs on her team devoted ample time to teaching the scientific principles underlying the research. She was also exposed to different advanced technologies such as Scanning Electron Microscopy and expansive 3D printing.
Her major takeaways from the experience were the passion and patience required to invest in research projects. Her critical scientific thinking and observational skills were especially developed. Most importantly, the collaboration and application of skills across the various teams emphasized how critical a teamwork mindset is to success. In addition to being a tutor at the Undergraduate Learning Center and an officer with the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Dalila’s REU experience greatly contributed to her skillset as an engineering student.