Rosemarie Carter participated in the Plant Genomics Research Experience for Undergraduates at Michigan State University in the summer of 2025.
How did you find out about your research experience, and what was the process for applying?
I found the program through the NSF ETAP website while searching for REUs. The application was also through NSF ETAP and included a personal statement, two letters of recommendation, transcripts, a resume/CV, and a few short-answer questions about lab preferences. There was also a 30-minute Zoom interview later on, which seems to be pretty uncommon for REUs.
Can you summarize your project and what your role was?
My project used a mathematical model to better understand how carbon dioxide moves through leaf tissue. My job was to modify the model so that it could be applied to new plant species while also improving how well the model’s predictions fit experimental data. Most of my work involved modifying Python scripts and digitizing experimental data from various research papers.
How did you benefit from this experience?
While working on my own project, I gained experience with Linux, Python, and VMD. I also got to learn a few non-computational skills including RNA extraction and plant tissue culture. Each week, I had the opportunity to meet with professional researchers and learn about their jobs. There were also weekly seminars dedicated to topics like improving your CV and preparing for graduate school. At the end of the program each intern designed and presented a scientific poster along with a 10-minute oral presentation. The process of preparing for and giving these presentations taught me a lot about scientific communication.