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Research Highlight – Steven Tra

Posted by Christopher Lester

Hello CSS Community: My name is Steven Tra and I am currently a sophomore majoring in Computer Science with an intended minor in Mathematics. This past summer, I was accepted into a research program at The Ohio State University known as the Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP). I was selected to attend the program, conduct research with a faculty member at OSU, and present the findings of my research to the SROP staff and other fellow SROP scholars. Overall, this experience was very fulfilling for me because it allowed me to perform research in an area of computer science that I was interested in and acquire a sense of what graduate school will be like.

SROP was a ten week program that started in late May of 2016 and ended in late July of 2016. While I was there, I was matched with an associate professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Dr. Huamin Wang, and conducted research alongside him in computer graphics. Specifically, I studied different simulation algorithms for physically-based deformable body simulation. Deformable bodies are computer-generated 3D models that react realistically to different stresses and forces (e.g. cloth, fluids, muscles, etc.), so my research was looking at how we could make the simulation of these deformable bodies more efficient. I learned several things from this experience, not just concerning my research but concerning myself as well. I learned that I should accept criticisms from my peers and colleagues regarding my research, avoid overworking myself during times of disappointing results, and always stay open to new opportunities as they arise.

Although I initially did not consider attending graduate school, as an option, after completing my bachelor’s degree, this experience has made me consider it as a viable option. I enjoyed the flexibility, independence, and satisfaction derived from working as a “graduate” student, and I would definitely like to conduct research in future summers or receive employment at an internship where I can work at my own pace.

CSS Scholar & Team Leader,
Steven Tra

 

This entry was posted in Research and Internships, Research Reflections and tagged excellence, internship, research, scholar. Bookmark the permalink.
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Juan Roa
Alumni

College Success Scholars was the first thing I knew about at Maryland. I came in not knowing what a bachelor’s degree was, what I wanted to study, or even how to get a degree. All I knew was that I wanted to succeed and work as hard as I could to be the first in my family to get a college degree. Through CSS, I not only was able to learn about how to succeed in college, but most importantly, make friends in order for my experience to not be as daunting. Through Dr. Lester’s unconditional mentorship and support, even when I did not have a dollar for textbooks, I double majored, minored, came out with a full-time job and in the evenings am in the Public Policy Master’s Program. I like to measure my success not by what I have been able to acquire through my education, but the number of lives I am now able to serve as an example for, as well as the students I now mentor based on my past experiences. Thank you CSS and Dr. Lester for believing in me.

Juan Roa
Minor in International
Development and
Conflict Management

2016 MPP Candidate
Education Policy and
International Development
University of Maryland,
School of Public Policy

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