18 Research Reflection by Daniel Coimbra Salomao

Faculty Mentor: Blair Sullivan (School of Computing, University of Utah)

My undergraduate research experience was great, particularly, offering me the chance to actively engage in research and connect with the broader academic community as an undergraduate. Through the collaboration with researchers from different institutions and our research lab, Theory in Practice, I gained valuable skills in algorithms, advanced topics in inspection planning and robotics, research methodologies, and presenting my work to diverse audiences, including through posters and conferences. Presenting my poster at the undergraduate research symposium and having my first paper published at WAFR were especially meaningful milestones, paving the way for future work and deepening my interest in researching in computing. These experiences really concretized my passion for research and inspired me to pursue graduate school, where I hope to build on this foundation. Working with such a collaborative and supportive team not only strengthened my technical and research skills but also highlighted the importance of teamwork in achieving impactful results.