Before starting her summer internship at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University student Skyler Butler had the unique opportunity to tour some of Europe’s top physics facilities first-hand.
“I arrived three days late for emergency bone surgery,” said Butler, an astronomy/astrophysics and astrophysics double major from Columbus, Ohio. “But I had never been outside the United States before, so there was nothing stopping me.”
Butler’s travel expenses were covered by a 2024 Study Abroad Grant awarded through the university’s Daytona Beach campus.
“The Office of Undergraduate Research is excited to help our students accelerate their academic and professional growth,” said Dr. Ronnie Mack, Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research. “International research experiences are particularly enriching, and we are committed to supporting the growth of our undergraduate researchers in creative ways.”
Butler works with Dr. Michelle Zanolin, a physics professor on the Prescott campus, to study gravitational waves from collapsing supernovae. As part of her study abroad trip, she toured the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva, Switzerland. She also had the opportunity to tour Virgo, a gravitational wave interferometer hosted by the European Gravitational Observatory (EGO) in Italy.
“Touring the world’s largest particle accelerator and diving into nuclear collapse supernova research broadened my horizons and deepened my passion for physics,” Butler said.
In addition to juggling school, an internship, and two part-time jobs, Butler is also involved in three different undergraduate research projects on topics such as stellar evolution, asteroid destruction, and particle physics.
“I always try to do my best in everything I do, but I have to manage my time,” she said. “By learning about different things, you can make better decisions about what you want your future to be.”
But the past year and a half has been tough since Butler suffered a skateboarding injury that resulted in three major surgeries and a bone infection. After her most recent surgery in March, she had to get around campus on a knee scooter and have an IV port containing antibiotics attached to her arm.
“Through that process, I learned grit,” she said. “Life will throw you curveballs and you have to learn how to adapt to them.”
After returning from Europe in June, Butler spent the remainder of the summer interning at Johns Hopkins University in Laurel, Maryland.
“Research in the space field is my ultimate goal,” she said. “We want to push the frontiers of what we know.”
James “Tyler” Diehl, a senior Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) student, traveled to Argentina to research Ibera wetland restoration. (Photo: Embry Riddle/James “Tyler” Diehl)
Innovations that support conservation
James “Tyler” Diehl, a senior Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) student, received a 2024 Overseas Research Grant funding a trip to Argentina for Ibera wetland restoration research.
“It was a great experience and my first time being out of the country,” said Diehl, a native of Milton, West Virginia. “And that wouldn’t have been possible without the grant.”
During the trip, Diehl worked with Dr. Nicholas “Dan” Macchiarella, a professor in the Department of Aeronautical Sciences, to collect and analyze data on plant and wetland health using UAS.
“This is the second largest wetland in the world, so it’s a good area to focus on conservation efforts,” Deal said.
At the Daytona Beach campus, Diehl is active with Turtle Tech, which uses UAS to study sea turtles, and is using UAS to help evaluate environmentally friendly stormwater solutions in the City of Cape Canaveral, Florida. I participated in a project to He completed an internship with Lumbee Tribe Enterprises last summer and is currently a flight test and manufacturing intern at Censys Technologies.
“Embry-Riddle offers opportunities that are hard to find elsewhere,” he said.
journey of exploration
Cassandra Walker was the first student to receive an overseas study grant, traveling to the United Arab Emirates last summer. (Photo: Embry Riddle/Cassandra Walker)
Cassandra Walker knows firsthand how life-changing a research grant abroad can be. She was the first student to receive this grant last summer. Walker, who traveled to the United Arab Emirates on the university’s Arabic Indo-Bhai program, focused her research on the UAE’s historic pearl diving industry, how the subject is portrayed in museums, and modern-day slavery in the Gulf. focused on the impact on
“It was a great experience,” she said. “I loved the classes I was taking and the opportunity to practice Arabic.”
Walker, a Michigan native, is majoring in World Conflict Studies with minors in Arabic Studies and Computer Science. She is deeply involved on campus as a Fellow in the Center for Faith and Spirituality, a Peer Mentor in 195 College, a Panhellenic Council Officer, and a Sorority Executive Officer.
“I have always been very interested in history and geopolitics, and I hope my research will inspire other students who want to take a different direction at Embry-Riddle. ” Walker said.
Currently, she is a research assistant to Dr. Chelsi Müller, assistant professor in the School of Security Studies and International Affairs, collecting Arabic sources on current events in the region’s geopolitics.
“I’m thinking about going to graduate school,” Walker said. “I would like to continue studying the Gulf and perhaps become a researcher or analyst.”
Categories: Aviation | Research | Security Intelligence and Safety | Spatial
