15 Research Reflection by Young Lee

Faculty Mentor: Rajesh Menon (Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Utah)

Before participating in the Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR), I struggled to find what I wanted to do after my undergraduate studies. The idea of attending graduate school seemed daunting, and I wasn’t sure if it would be the right path for me. However, SPUR provided a valuable opportunity to experience what graduate school might be like. Despite having no background in optics, I joined Dr. Menon’s lab and pursued a project titled “Single-exposure Volumetric Holographic Additive Manufacturing.”

Throughout the project, I learned various aspects of research, such as optics, chemistry, machine learning, and experimental setups. As a bonus, I developed a personal interest in 3D printing, which I pursued as a hobby. It was challenging to work on a project outside of my comfort zone, but the experience allowed me to grow both academically and personally. I am now eager to take courses to learn rather than to graduate, and I feel more confident in taking on hard projects. I am grateful to my faculty mentor, Dr. Menon; my graduate student mentor, Dajun; everyone in the lab; and SPUR for their support and guidance.