Tauheedah Brady posed with a William Faulkner statue in Oxford, Mississippi. Photo courtesy of Tauheedah Brady.
Every summer, several undergraduate students at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga leave their comfort zones and embark on learning experiences at other universities.
Think lab work, field research, seminars, faculty mentorship, bonding with peers and exploring new cities.
These opportunities are made possible thanks to the National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program, which provides funding for students to spend the summer collaborating on research projects at institutions across the country.
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Click here to read other UTC REU stories.
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Dr. Trey Straussberger, director of national scholarships at UTC, works to help students find and apply for REU opportunities.
“The REU program provides an integral role in developing the next generation of scientists in the United States, who will—in the future—shape the world we live in,” Straussberger said. “When UTC students attend another university and engage in research, develop skills, build networks, and meet other students and faculty in their field, they bring that knowledge back to UTC and strengthen our connections with other universities and like-minded scientists.
“The more we have those connections, the more UTC can become a leading research institution that engages in STEM fields.”
Tauheedah Brady, a sophomore chemical engineering major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and Brock Scholar in the UTC Honors College, is one of this summer’s REU participants, taking part in the 2025 Ole Miss Chemistry REU program at the University of Mississippi.
A Chattanooga native and graduate of Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy, she shared what the experience has meant to her.
How did you first hear about NSF REU?
“I didn’t even know what an REU was until I got to UTC. I’d heard of internships and undergraduate research, but I didn’t know you could do research at other schools as an undergrad. I thought that was just for their own students. I was talking to Dr. Straussberger about summer internships, and he said, ‘You could do an REU.’
“He explained it to me, and I was like, ‘That’s perfect.’ I’m also a commuter student, so I’ve never lived in a dorm. I thought this would be a good chance to experience that side of college, too.”
Tell me about the REU itself. What kind of research are you doing?
“There are two REUs at Ole Miss, and the one I’m in—the chemistry REU—has been going on since 2009. It’s funded through a continuous four-year grant, which I thought was so cool. They even have photos of past REU students hanging up. It’s inspiring to walk past them and wonder where they are now.
“I’m working with Dr. Abby Boyd, continuing research she started during the school year. A lot of students leave in the summer, so she needed help. The chemistry faculty put together this REU and matched 12 of us with professors. My group is small—it’s just me, a grad student and another undergrad from Ole Miss. We’re an all-girls team, which is really fun. We meet weekly and work closely with Dr. Boyd.
“A lot of what I’m doing is qualitative research. We’re analyzing interviews with STEM transfer students who moved from one non-R1 institution to another. My job has been to find themes and patterns in their stories. I’ve always been interested in STEM education and I even wrote about it in my personal statement. Now I’m even more interested in this kind of research.”
What’s a typical day like for you?
“One of the best parts is that we get to set our own schedules as long as the work gets done. I’m a morning person, so I try to get started early and be done by mid-afternoon.
“Most days start with a lecture at 10 a.m. from a professor or grad student. They talk about their research, and it’s honestly inspiring and makes me want to go to grad school. After the lecture, my roommate and I get lunch and then come back to work for a few hours. In the evenings, we’ll go grocery shopping or play pickleball.”
Have you had time to explore Oxford, Mississippi?
“Yes. I haven’t made it to the William Faulkner house yet, but I’m definitely going before I leave. We went downtown and there are three bookstores with tons of Faulkner books and even a statue of him. I love that whole Southern Gothic vibe.”
Has this experience shaped or confirmed your academic or career goals?
“It’s definitely confirmed my interest in chemical education. I’ve always wanted to help get more people into STEM and this research really brought that home. A lot of transfer students come from underrepresented backgrounds. If we can support them better, that helps boost graduation rates and increase representation in STEM fields.
“If I go to grad school, I’d love to do research in that area. Working with Dr. Boyd has been amazing. We really click and have a lot of good ideas together.”
What does it mean to you to have this kind of research experience?
“It made me feel more like a ‘normal’ college student. As a commuter, I’ve definitely had ‘FOMO’—feeling like I’m missing out on the college experience. But being here has made me really grateful. I’m getting this opportunity, with free housing and everything, and it’s helped me appreciate my situation at UTC even more.
“Before this, I didn’t even know opportunities like this existed. And now I’ve been telling all my classmates about REUs. Most of them didn’t know, either. I tell them, ‘If I can get into one, so can you.’”
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Tauheedah Brady with her research group and mentor, Dr. Abby Boyd.
