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Experience with Undergraduate Student Researchers on the City Block Project

Experience with Undergraduate Student Researchers on the City Block Project. QUAKE SUMMIT - NEES & PEER ANNUAL MEETING October 9, 2010. Gregg Fiegel, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Ben Mason, University of California, Berkeley Nick Trombetta , University of California, San Diego

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Experience with Undergraduate Student Researchers on the City Block Project

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  1. Experience with Undergraduate Student Researchers on the City Block Project QUAKE SUMMIT - NEES & PEER ANNUAL MEETING October 9, 2010 Gregg Fiegel, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Ben Mason, University of California, Berkeley Nick Trombetta, University of California, San Diego Bob Reitherman, CUREE Supported by the NSF under Grant No. CMMI-0830331 through NEES Participants include the University of California, Berkeley (lead institution), University of Buffalo-SUNY, University of California, Davis, University of California, San Diego, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and the Consortium of Universities for Research in Earthquake Engineering. This project utilizes the NEES equipment site at the University of California, Davis. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF.

  2. Presentation Objectives • Describe the project objectives and learning outcomes for the undergraduates • Describe the program used to recruit the undergraduate research assistants • Describe the strategies employed to train and mentor the students • Describe assessment strategies and discuss select assessment results • Comment on lessons learned and recommendations for moving forward

  3. Project Background • Centrifuge modeling to investigate soil-structure interaction in dense urban areas • Four-year project with six experiments • Large project team

  4. Well Suited for Undergrads • Hands-on learning experience • Diverse project team • “Wow factor” of the centrifuge • Graduate student mentors • Junior-level qualifications • Timing of experiments

  5. Learning Outcomes • Conduct a centrifuge model experiment • Function effectively on a multi-disciplinary research team • Prepare a well-written report or presentation summarizing his/her experience • Summarize the primary research objectives and findings • Describe the graduate school environment and what it means to be a graduate student

  6. Recruiting Program • Varied marketing approaches • Clearly defined goals • Letter of interest • Application • Interview • Graduate student input

  7. Mentoring Strategy Undergraduate Students: • Prepare them to be successful • Assign varied tasks • Encourage questions • Provide regular feedback • Reduce distractions

  8. Mentoring Strategy Graduate Students: • Articulate the learning outcomes • Provide leadership training • Provide teacher training • Trust them • Provide regular feedback

  9. Undergraduate Students • Background Information: • 2 female, 3 male • 4 civil engineering, 1 architectural engineering • 2 geotechnical, 2 structural, 1 general • 3 seniors, 2 juniors • 3.1 to 3.9 overall grade point average • Extensive work experience • Varied co-curricular experiences • Varied short-term career goals

  10. Assessment • Completed three successful centrifuge experiments • Inspired interest in research and graduate school • Provided opportunities for undergrads to practice presentation skills • Collected valuable feedback using post-employment surveys

  11. Recommendations • Involve the student researchers in the project as early as possible • Survey the student researchers on their skills prior to beginning site work • Provide regular feedback (positive and corrective) on student performance • Allow a week after testing for reflection and the completion of a capstone project • Seek opportunities for undergraduates to work together

  12. Acknowledgments Sponsor: National Science Foundation Principal Investigators: Jonathan Bray (UCB), Tara Hutchinson (UCSD), Bruce Kutter (UCD), Bob Reitherman (CUREE), Andrew Whittaker (Buffalo) The NEES City Block team:ChandrakanthBolisetti, ZhiQiangChen, Benjamin Choy, Stefanie Gille, Reed Helgens, Katherine Jones, Jonathan Lund, Ben Mason, Jack Montgomery, Roshani Patel, Clayton Proto, Hamilton Puangnak, Nick Trombetta, Josh Zupan UCD CGM Staff and Students:AnatoliyGanchenko, Chad Justice, Dan Wilson, David Dickey, Lijung Deng, Manny Hakhamaneshi, Ray Gerhard, Ross Boulanger

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