“Getting a foot into the door, into a field that you don’t even know that you like, can change everything,” said Gibson, a senior in the . “I didn’t know this field that even existed before meeting Dr. Rochner.”

Gibson has been working in a lab for over a year researching dendrochronology – the study of measuring tree rings to establish age of historic trees. By analyzing the distinctive patterns of tree rings in living and dead trees, she can create a detailed record of environmental conditions and help date archaeological sites.

“It’s crucial because it can confirm construction dates and accurately determine the archaeological timbes and artifacts,” she said. “It can also help confirm the history of different people.”

Gibson’s summer research project has two parts. The first part is dating samples from the various structures such as the Riverside Planation in Louisville. The second part is a literature review on how dendrochronologists discuss the legacies of slavery in their work and how the dendrochronology can be used as a tool to tell lost stories.

“No matter what, you are dealing with this uncomfortable history. We are complicit in this work unless we say something and unless we are active in doing something about it,” said Gibson. “This is going to be an on-going project through my senior year because if I’m going to do this, I really want to do it well.”

Twenty-nine students are participating in UofL’s (SROP). SROP provides University of Louisville undergraduate students an intensive 10-week research experience with a faculty mentor in any discipline.

Dominic Laduke, a geography student in the , participated in summer research to explore his passion of meteorology.

“Getting to college and seeing all the research that goes into the different products that we use for meteorology really interested me and I knew that I wanted to do something like that,” Laduke said.

His project focuses on simulating how severe weather interacts with cities. By creating a detailed computer model of a virtual city, complete with increased roughness to represent buildings and changes in temperature to reflect the urban heat island effect, Laduke’s research examines the impact of aerosols – tiny particles suspended in the air – on these weather events.

Traditionally, research on severe weather and cities has relied on observations of past events. Laduke’s project uses computer modeling to create simulations, providing a deeper look into why these interactions happen. This research could lead to more accurate forecasts.

“The main goal of all of this research is to keep people informed and safe,” he said.

Some SROP students are even taking their research global. Gunnar Goshorn, a fine arts and liberal studies student in the , developed an intensive art program at the University of Rome.

Goshorn’s artistic journey began with a performance art experience that sparked a passion for the experimental and the essence of art. This curiosity led him to take a chance and reach out to a professor, a decision that blossomed into a collaborative summer research project.

“What really got me to reach out to my professor was just how open she was in the classroom. I just sent her an email saying I found a scholarship and would really love to try and create an opportunity not only for myself but for her as well,” he said. “A huge part of the creative identity is building connections and the most beautiful thing about those connections is that they can be built between any two creatives.”

UofL’s diverse environment also played a significant role in Goshorn’s desire for research. From professors with a traditional appreciation for art to classmates with a range of backgrounds and identities, UofL has provided a playground of experiences and perspectives for him. This exposure has not only shaped Gunnar’s artistic identity but also solidified his commitment to staying and building a community within Kentucky. 

“UofL has been a hundred percent the right choice for me because I don’t think I would have had this experience or anything like this at any other school,” Goshorn said.

UofL News: What are you researching this summer? 

Ava Peruski: This summer I am researching autobiographical memory in the NeuroImaging Laboratory of Cognitive, Affective and Motoric Processes with cognitive neuroscientist Brendan Depue and a few other undergraduate students.

UofL News: Describe some of your experiences.

Peruski: Since we are working with neuroimaging data, I have been learning how neuroimaging works, along with how to perform preprocessing tasks and different analyses on raw data. I also will help run analyses on our project’s data.

UofL News: What are you learning about research as part of this program? 

Peruski: So far, I have learned that research involves a lot of trial and error, and collaboration. Every meeting, we work through data and studies together, hypothesizing about different outcomes and sharing our thoughts. Collaboration allows everyone to learn from each other and formulate creative ideas.

UofL News: What are some of the key takeaways from your mentor (Dr. Brendan Depue)?

Peruski: Dr. Depue is a fantastic mentor! One of the main lessons that I have learned from studying with him is that it’s okay to be unsure and to make mistakes. He often has the other undergraduates and me try things for the purpose of getting hands-on experience and ‘learning by doing.’

This has included writing up my project proposal for SROP, as well as presenting a neuroimaging study to our lab group. Obviously, I have not had much experience with either of these, so I made a lot of mistakes. But, Dr. Depue was always completely encouraging and made sure I learned from my mistakes, and in the future, I’ll be better equipped. As someone who is a bit of a perfectionist, having a mentor show me it’s okay to make mistakes has been such a beneficial lesson. 

UofL News: What are your future career goals and how is this experience shaping your aspirations? 

Peruski: My main future career goal is to go to graduate school and then have a career in research, likely as a college professor. This experience has shown me a lot about the ‘behind the scenes’ of a college professor and a career in research. I’ve also been able to talk to Dr. Depue and other graduate students in the lab about applying to and being in graduate school, and they have given me some incredibly helpful and insightful advice.

UofL News: Do you feel this summer experience is a unique opportunity that UofL offers undergraduates? 

Peruski: I know many colleges offer summer research programs for their students, however, I think that UofL’s SROP program stands out in that it allows undergraduates a lot of freedom to really make this experience their own. We also have professional development seminars we attend weekly, which I think is unique and very helpful.

UofL News: Anything else you’d like to share?

Peruski: If you are an undergraduate looking to get involved in research, I would highly recommend applying to SROP. I had no prior research experience before SROP, and this summer has been invaluable to my academic and career development.