“Going into the SUPER program, I had little previous research experience. Through the program and work with my research mentor, I practiced the process of writing and presenting a research paper. My research focused on evaluating the efficacy of agricultural models in estimating soil moisture. I was honored to be recognized by the CURC research symposium for excellence in natural resources research. In my completion of SUPER, I gained critical skills in background research, coding in R, data analysis, and networking. My mentor, Avery Driscoll, was a wonderful guide throughout the process. She has continued to serve as a source of knowledge and support after SUPER. I am grateful for the tangible skills and connections I received from the SUPER program, but more importantly I appreciate the confidence it gave me in myself as a scientist.”

“The SUPER program has been the highlight of my education at CSU. I worked with a lab on campus studying biological means of carbon capture in soils, and I have learned so much more than I could’ve ever gotten from a classroom. I had always wanted to go into research, but after actually getting to work hands-on in the lab, draft a paper, and share my findings with my colleagues, I know for sure that research is the right field for me. 

My time with SUPER has opened up so many doors. Since the completion of my project, I’ve been hired at the same lab as a paid research assistant. I’ve continued to make professional connections and look forward to future work with a team that I never would have found if it weren’t for SUPER.”

Bodie Spinner
Ecosystem Science and Sustainability Major, SUPER Participant: 2021-2022

Mentor: Dr. Caitlin Wells

“Participating in the SUPER program was the most impactful decision that I have made for my professional development as a researcher. At the beginning of the program, I had no research experience or understanding of how the world of academia operates. The SUPER program helped me understand the research process and design a well-planned proposal. It allowed me to explore my various interest in ecological research and to connect with Dr. Caitlin Wells, my program mentor. Dr. Wells assisted me with my application to the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, where I started a new research project and made amazing new professional connections. Currently, I am working with Dr. Wells on another research project and have the goal of becoming a published researcher.”

“The SUPER program has been a brilliant experience during my study at CSU. First of all, it provided many excellent research projects. I could choose the one I am interested in, directly connect with the project mentor, and cooperate with students who share the same interest. Also, the SUPER program has given me step-by-step professional guidance for research, from how to develop a good research question to what I need to prepare for completing a research paper. The planning and arrangement of each step made me feel that the whole research process was not as difficult as I thought it was. More importantly, the hands-on experience and skills I gained in the SUPER program gave me the confidence to complete independent research. When I was doing my Honors thesis, the SUPER program inspired my research topic, and a deeper understanding of research design and methodology enabled me to conduct my research independently. Finally, I would like to say that this experience enhanced my passion for academic research and prepared me well for my graduate study in Civil and Environmental Engineering (Master of Engineering) at Cornell University.”

Zoe Lipscomb
Ecosystem Science and Sustainability Major, SUPER Participant: 2020-2021

Mentor: Scott Bradfield

“Participating in the SUPER program, I worked on testing the heat threshold of dominant perennial grasses and measuring erosion at a grassland field site in Northern Colorado. SUPER allowed me to gain hands on experience working on a research project, which is something that I had not considered pursuing as a career before participating in the program. Working with my mentor, I was able to build not only my understanding of research methodology, but also my communication and networking skills. I participated in SUPER as a sophomore and getting the experience in the program early in my undergraduate degree allowed me to build on my experiences and skills that I gained while in SUPER over the past year. Because of my connections through SUPER, my mentor’s lab hired me, and I have been working for them ever since. I have built not only credentials that will be helpful looking toward graduate school, but experiences that have solidified my interest in pursuing a career in research. SUPER is truly the most impactful experience that I have had at CSU and has had a great impact on my post-undergrad plans.”

Daniel Dominguez
Watershed Science Major, SUPER Participant: 2019-2020

Mentor: Allison Rhea, Ecosystem Science & Sustainability

“As an aspiring scientist, the SUPER program allowed me to participate in a unique undergraduate research experience and work through the entirety of a scientific project. From a literature review to a final presentation at a conference, I built the necessary confidence in completing a research project and insights that led me to continue to pursue postgraduate education. The technical skills such as coding and data analysis that I learned in the program have allowed me to participate in the NASA DEVELOP program. More importantly, it helped me focus on research areas that I will continue to pursue in my academic career. As a soon-to-be Marshall Scholar and NSF GRFP Fellow, I can confidently say that my experience in the SUPER Program has been one of the essential experiences in my academic career.”

Jianyi Tang
SUPER Participant: 2016-2017

Mentor Amy Burzynski, Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA), CSU

“Wildfires are unplanned fires that can ruin homes and cause death to people. Our SUPER study with mentor Amy Burzynski of the Center for Ecological Management of Military Lands (CEMML) found that considering the different growth stages of plants could help to improve accuracy in fire simulations, especially in extreme fire danger risk weather.

This project not only familiarized me with the model but also helped me have a better understanding of a complete research process. More importantly, it helped me improve my time management and communication skills. The most significant improvement was to accumulate the courage to face difficulties and strange things. For now, I am doing my Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. The great experience from SUPER really helps me a lot on my master thesis.

I was thrilled to participate in the SUPER program, and it was the most useful course in my undergraduate study!”

Alannah Leibert
Biological Science Major, SUPER Participant: 2016-2017
Mentors: Dr. Robert Flynn and Dr. Gabriel Senay, North Central Climate Science Center

“When participating in SUPER, I was connected to the North Central Climate Science Center to create vulnerability assessments for US Air Force Bases. We worked to research protected species within the boundaries of these bases and how these species may be impacted by projected changes in climate, helping establish priorities for environmental managers.

This program helped me understand research in areas I thought I had already mastered, from learning to communicate with mentors to forming an attractive and informative scientific poster. To top it all off, I ended up continuing my work with the NCCSC and am still working with them today – without SUPER, I may have never met my team!”

Connor McCarty
Ecosystem Science and Sustainability Major, SUPER Participant: 2016-2017
Mentor: Dr. Stacy Lynn, East African International Research Experience for Students

“Through the SUPER program and an NSF undergraduate fellowship to conduct research in East Africa (IRES), I worked with my mentor, Dr. Stacy Lynn of CSU’s Natural Resource Ecology laboratory, to design a project focused on indigenous Maasai characterizations of ‘problematic plants’ and their ‘problematic traits’ in rural Tanzania. My social-ecological research skillset grew leaps and bounds during this process, and it contributed greatly to my personal and professional growth. As a result, my first job out of college was as a biologist in environmental consulting. Due to the international field experience and technical writing skills gained through SUPER/IRES, I quickly became a field lead and was fortunate enough to travel across the country studying a variety of flora and fauna. In 2024 I completed my Master’s in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability with Dr. Lynn as a continuation of my undergraduate work. The rewards of this unique program are enduring for young scientists.”

Ellen Eisenbeis
Ecosystem Science and Sustainability Major, SUPER Participant: 2016-2017
Mentors: Dr. Greg Newman and Dr. Sarah Newman, CitSci.org

“The SUPER program was one of my favorite experiences at CSU. It allowed me to work alongside an amazing team of professionals and gave me an inside look into how research is conducted professionally. In the four years since I participated in SUPER, I have been able to use my research experience with CitSci.org to further my career. My experience allowed me to gain confidence in my ability to work with colleagues on research projects, which has been integral to positions I have held since, and to my work as a current graduate student at the University of Denver. Hands-on experiences like SUPER made my transition from undergrad to full-time work and then to graduate school easier, as I was more confident in my own abilities and better able to communicate questions I had to team members. I currently work as a Graduate Researcher for former Governor Ritter at the CSU Center for the New Energy Economy where I track and research state-level energy legislation. I am also attending graduate school at DU in the Environmental Policy and Management program.”

Zachary Petsch
Ecosystem Science and Sustainability Major, SUPER Participant: 2016-2017

Mentor: Cara Steger, Graduate Degree Program in Ecology

“In this intensive, hands-on experience, I was able to learn and apply essential research skills that both stimulated my passion for conducting academic research and prepared me for entering the scientific workforce. My experiences culminated into a project focused on using satellite imagery of the Menz-Guassa Community Conservation Area in the central highlands of Ethiopia. Imagery over a period of thirty years was used to produce NDVI composites and monitor land cover change during multiple resource management regimes. The SUPER program paired me up with a great advisor, who has remained to this day (four years later) a trusted mentor in my academic career. This project was vital in showcasing the scientific knowledge I gained at CSU and this program inspired me to continue my education by pursuing a Master’s degree in Environmental GISc. The SUPER program truly changed the trajectory of my career and provided an unmatched opportunity that will remain with me throughout my life.”