Indiana University Northwest is proud to send two students to other universities this summer to participate in the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program, which enables undergraduates to participate in ongoing NSF research across the country.

Ehson Umrani, 22, of Hobart, will spend the summer at the Illinois Institute of Technology and the University of Chicago.

Majoring in computer information systems (CIS), Umrani is fluent in multiple programming languages, including Java, Python, R, and some variants of SQL. He said that some of these languages are in high demand in the field, yet many universities don’t offer courses in them, like IU Northwest does. Umrani believes this gave him a definite edge in the selection process for the highly competitive program.

From his summer experience, Umrani hopes to gain in-depth knowledge of the Big Data field. “Big Data means working with mass quantities of data collected and trying to interpret it in some way that can be useful.”

Umrani expects to graduate in the spring of 2020, work in his field for a while, and then head to graduate school.

“Ultimately, I would like to own my own business,” Umrani says. “It has always been a dream of mine to be my own boss.”

Rachel Humes, 22, of Merrillville, will graduate in the spring of 2019 with double bachelor’s degrees in French and Geology. She plans to attend graduate school and further her education in hydrology while working in the environmental field.

This summer, she will conduct research at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, studying water and coastal processes and resources within watersheds and nearshore coastal environments in southern Louisiana. Specifically, she will study at the Vermillion River, classified as an impaired waterway.

“The Bayou Vermillion District has been doing a lot to try and delist the area,” Humes explained. “I will be looking at the water quality variables of the area such as dissolved oxygen levels, sediment load, erosion and pH, and also looking at flood predictions and possibly working on flood relief in the area.”

Humes said that she’ll be working to incorporate the scientific research on the river into public education and environmental awareness efforts.

“This experience will give me the skills and knowledge that I need to continue research in graduate school,” Humes said. “I hope to network with others in the scientific community and gain insight on what is expected of me academically and professionally as I continue my studies and start my career.”