The fourth year of the Integrated Optics for Undergraduate Native Americans (IOU-NA) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program has come to a close at the University of Arizona, College of Optical Sciences. The IOU-NA program is designed for Native American students to participate in hands-on research opportunities at the University of Arizona in optics and photonics, as well as in hydrology, astronomy, soil sciences, atmospheric sciences, environmental sciences, and more. IOU-NA students participate in Native American focused workshops facilitated by the Center for Integrated Access Networks (CIAN) staff. This summer twelve students from across the country came together,
The IOU-NA program is designed for Native American students to participate in hands-on research opportunities at the University of Arizona in optics and photonics, as well as in hydrology, astronomy, soil sciences, atmospheric sciences, environmental sciences, and more. IOU-NA students participate in Native American focused workshops facilitated by the Center for Integrated Access Networks (CIAN) staff.
This summer twelve students from across the country came together, performed, and presented unique and innovative research projects. Over the last four years, the IOU-NA program has hosted 35 NA students from 12 different tribes, 17 different universities, and many were freshmen and sophomores. Thirteen students have since graduated and eleven students have gone on to pursue higher degrees of education including degrees from the University of Arizona, MIT, University of Virginia, and more.
Since the program has begun CIAN’s IOU-NA REU program will continue for two more years based on National Science Foundation Funding. This year’s students are listed below along with their project titles and mentors.
If you would like to learn more or apply for the program visit our website here.
Israel Aragon
Fort Lewis College
Optical Diffraction Switching
Pierre-Alexandre Blanche, Colton Bigler
Leo Bia
University of Arizona
The effects of increasing temperatures on photochemical smog in the Phoenix Metropolitan area during 1984 to 2016
Chris Castro
Refreeno Harvey
Fort Lewis College
Research in Hydrology for Streamflow Infiltration at Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed
Pieter Hazenberg
Antonia Jim
Fort Lewis College
Testing the Ability of Landscape Evolution Observatory Soil To Support Plant Growth
Aditi Sengupta
Jasmine Lopez
Tohono O’odham Community College
Water Quality in The Southern United States & Navajo Nation
Paloma Beamer, Nathan Lothrop, Yoshi Ornelas
Madison McMillen
University of Arkansas
Navajo Gold King Mine Spill (GKMS) Exposure Project: Dietary Patterns Pre- and Post- the GKMS
Paloma Beamer, Nathan Lothrop, Yoshi Ornelas
Natasha Manygoats
University of Arizona
Effects of centrifuging brine prior to membrane distillation has on the performance and fouling of the membrane
Vicky Karanikola, Bob Arnold, Chris Yazzie
Micah Mann
University of Arizona
Fluorescent Anisotropy Measurements
Leilei Peng, Dustin Tran, Dongli Xu