Science & Math Summer Research Experience

The 2026 SNU Summer Research Experience (SRE) will take place from May 6 to June 22, 2026.  The SRE is sponsored jointly by SNU and the Oklahoma NASA Space Grant Consortium (OSGC).  You can read more about OSGC activities here. 

Current SNU students may apply for the 2026 SRE if they have declared an academic major offered through the SNU Biology, Chemistry, or Computing/Mathematics/Physics Department.

Project Descriptions

A description of the research topics in each area is given below along with the respective research adviser(s).

Biology
Dr. Caio Franca

Project Title: Remote Sensing and Mosquito Ecology in a Tropical Montane Cloud Forest

The Quetzal Education and Research Center (QERC) is seeking a motivated undergraduate or early graduate student to join a year-long, mentored research project focused on mosquito ecology in a tropical montane cloud forest of Costa Rica’s Talamanca Mountains.

Project Overview

Tropical Montane Cloud Forests are among the most biodiverse and climate-sensitive ecosystems on Earth, yet many remain understudied due to their remoteness and persistent cloud cover. In February 2025, cloud-free airborne imaging spectroscopy data (AVIRIS-3) were collected over the Savegre Valley, providing a rare opportunity to characterize forest structure and vegetation functional traits at high resolution.

In this initial phase of the project, the student will focus on linking mosquito species distributions to landscape and vegetation characteristics using a multi-year mosquito trapping dataset collected since 2019 across an elevational gradient (approximately 2,200–2,500 m). By integrating species occurrence data with high-resolution airborne imaging spectroscopy (AVIRIS-3) and canopy height products (e.g., GEDI), the student will conduct a foundational spatial analysis of how forest structure, vegetation type, and functional traits influence mosquito presence and community composition in a tropical montane cloud forest. This work will establish the analytical framework for future, expanded ecological investigations at QERC.

Research Focus

Mentorship and Training

Ideal Candidate

Biology

Dr. Christopher Garner

Project Title: Oxygen Controls Methane Oxidation in Oklahoma Soils

Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, and methane-oxidizing bacteria (methanotrophs) play an important role in the carbon cycle by consuming methane before it reaches the atmosphere. This project explores how different oxygen concentrations affect the activity of methanotrophs in Oklahoma soils and sediments. By comparing contrasting habitats (such as engineered landfill cover soils and natural wetland or riparian sediments), the project connects local Oklahoma environments to global questions about greenhouse-gas mitigation and microbial controls on carbon cycling.

Students on this project will gain experience in environmental microbiology while asking an ecologically meaningful question: when and where do microbes act as the strongest “methane filter,” and what conditions strengthen or weaken that function? The work provides a hands-on opportunity to study how microbial communities respond to environmental change and how those responses can affect the movement of carbon through ecosystems.

Physics
Dr. Rusiri Rathnasekara

Project Title: Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles by Microwave Method for Solar Cell Applications 

This research aims to develop a low-cost and efficient solar cell using zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles synthesized through a microwave-assisted method. ZnO is a promising semiconductor material for photovoltaic applications due to its wide band gap, high electron mobility, and chemical stability. The microwave synthesis technique offers rapid and uniform heating, reduced processing time, and improved control over nanoparticle size compared to conventional methods. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles will be characterized in terms of their structural, optical, and electrical properties and then used to fabricate a ZnO-based solar cell. The performance of the device will be evaluated using key photovoltaic parameters such as open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current density, fill factor, and overall efficiency. This study contributes to the development of cost-effective and energy-efficient materials for renewable energy technologies.

Summer Support and Stipend

Participants are eligible for free room in a SNU dorm facility. Each participant will receive $3,500 as a stipend for research. Payments will be made throughout the summer program; a final installment will be paid at the conclusion of the program. Participants are expected to commit to 40 hours of research a week as scheduled by the research adviser, generally from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. If participants anticipate being gone for any reason during the program, they should make alternate arrangements with their research adviser for making up research. Additionally, participants must present the results of their research in two different settings during the 2026-2027 academic year:

Application Requirements

Applicants must be SNU students who have declared an academic major offered through the SNU Biology, Chemistry, or Computing/Mathematics/Physics Department. Preference will be given to applicants who expect to complete their first one or two years of study in their major by the end of the Spring 2026 semester. Participants are expected to be available Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, for the entire eight-week period (from May 6 to June 22). If applicants anticipate being absent for any reason, they should report the duration and reason for absence on the application form.

Each applicant must submit three recommendations – two of which must come from SNU professors. Applicants should email the recommenders and provide the URL (see below) for the online recommendation form. If a paper recommendation (rather than the online form) is needed, please contact SRE Director, Dr. Nicholas Zoller at nzoller@snu.edu.

Deadlines

Applicants must complete their online application forms and have all required documentation (recommendations, etc.) completed by Friday, March 6, 2026. If the applicant must submit paper copies of application materials, then they should be delivered to Dr. Nicholas Zoller in Beaver Science 202D. Successful applicants will be notified by Friday, March 13 of their acceptance into the program. If you have questions, please contact Dr. Nicholas Zoller at nzoller@snu.edu. You are also encouraged to discuss your interests with any of the research advisers listed above.

Links