James Madison University

Opportunities for Undergraduate Research with NASA and the National Science Foundation

For a student at James Madison University, it is not unusual to attend classes with women constituting the majority; however, for ISAT graduate Stefanie Bourne, it was the exact opposite.

Pursuing a concentration in Energy (along with Environment), Stefanie found herself the minority in classes dominated by men. “A lot of students, especially women that I’ve found, get really intimidated because it’s a really competitive environment,” she says. However, this did not cause Stefanie to falter by any means. “I kind of like a challenge,” she says.

As a freshman, Stefanie joined the Infrared Development and Thermal Structure Laboratory (IDTSL) through the College of Integrated Science and Technology at JMU. IDTSL is an undergraduate laboratory, which was started by Dr. Jonathan Miles in 1997 to give students first-hand experience with non-contact thermal and mechanical measurement technology research and development. The lab also works closely with NASA assisting in experimental research in the field. “I was really overwhelmed when I came in. They were giving me all these scientific terms and trying to explain these processes they were just way over my head,” Stefanie says about starting out at the lab her very first year in college. However, Stefanie found herself learning very quickly in the real-world atmosphere of IDTSL. Through research at the lab, Stefanie has had several papers published as both a primary and secondary author. “It’s [IDTSL] really given me a chance to get my name out there and publish papers, get work experience, it’s been awesome,” Stefanie says.

PHOTO: Stefanie and her ISAT Peers Travel to Malta

Stefanie and her ISAT Peers Travel to Malta"

Stefanie carried her skills abroad in May 2004 when she took a trip through the ISAT program to Malta. During the month-long trip, students were assigned various projects. Stefanie headed a team of two other students required to take an energy audit of a kitchen in a five-star hotel. “We had to stay in this five-star hotel kitchen from like 7am to 8pm. Every ten minutes we had to walk through the kitchen and write down what people were using, if something was on or off, if it was on, was someone using it…It was really work-intensive,” Stefanie says about her project. However, the trip was not all work. The group went scuba-diving, took a boat tour, went to the beach and Stefanie was able to board a small plane which afforded a bird’s eye-view of the Maltese landscape.

That same year, Stefanie also worked as an intern with the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at JMU. REU is a program which is funded by the National Science Foundations (NSF) and allows students to be paid for research conducted. Through the research she participated in, Stefanie was able to write her senior thesis: "Characterization and Evaluation of Membrane Material Using Non-contact Measurement Techniques for the Development of an Optical Diagnostic System (ODS)." She has also worked with NSF writing grants and proposals for Dr. Miles.

While Stefanie is currently applying to graduate schools, she remembers her achievements at JMU fondly: “When I was applying to all these graduate schools, I looked back at all the work I’ve done here and it was really rewarding to myself…All the publications that I’ve had…All the knowledge that I’ve gained.” To students pursuing a career in ISAT, she strongly advises participation in IDTSL as an undergraduate, saying “There’s so much work students can do, but they just don’t know about it.” To fellow women studying Energy, she says “Don’t be intimidated by the first two years… If you want to do it then don’t give up…It’ll be worth it in the end.”