Page 18 - Eureka-2013

Neuroscience students with
professor Hymie Anisman
(seated).

Dean’s Summer Research Internships

Dean’s

Summer

Research Internships

By Kristy Strauss

ost first-year students wrap up In January each year, letters are sent Chai, who’s an international
Mtheir studies for the summer to the top first-year science, computer student, says he’s grateful for the
and head off in different directions. science and mathematics students who experience. He decided to apply for
But some Faculty of Science students have a grade point average of 10.0 or the internship because he felt it was
stay behind, thanks to the Dean’s higher (80 per cent or higher) inviting a good opportunity to get experience
Summer Research Internships (DSRIs) them to apply for an internship. Deugo in his field. “It’s definitely more hands-
that provide these students with the says students who are interested must on,” Chai says. “I get to build a website,
opportunity to work closely with a then fill out an application stating why while working on great techniques.
professor during the summer break. they want to do research, and which With programming, there are new
“It’s difficult for a first-year student to professors they would like to work with technologies all the time, so I stay very
find a job in their field of study because and why. Faculty representatives from up-to-date. It’s a great experience.”
a lot of employers are looking for those the various science units review each Sonia Chiasson, a Canada Research
with previous experience, or want to application and determine who gets Chair who is an assistant professor
wait until students have completed chosen. in the School of Computer Science, is
second year at least,” explains Dwight Deugo says it’s a fairly competitive working with student Michael Lutaaya
Deugo, Assistant Dean of Science process. Approximately 100 students on her research into human oriented
(Recruitment and Retention). “DSRIs are receive a letter, and about half will computer security. She works with
a great way of giving students that first apply; out of those students, roughly students from all levels – from PhD to
experience.” 15 get chosen. “You can tell a lot of first-year DSRIs – and says students
the time if the student is interested or from each level bring unique skill sets,
passionate about what they’re trying including the DSRI student she has
to do or accomplish for the summer,” hired for the summer. “Michael has
says Deugo. “And, you can tell when the been wonderful. He’s technically skilled,
student has already had a conversation creative, able to work independently,
with the professor who’s supporting and enthusiastic about research,” she
them.” says. “I am hopeful that his work,
Deugo, who is also a Computer combined with an earlier part of the
Science professor, is overseeing a project, will result in an academic
student just out of his first year in publication.”
the program. Zachary Chai is helping Lutaaya applied for the internship
Deugo study the popularity of different because he wanted to get hands-on
computer languages and web-based experience with programming. He’s
charting packages. For example, they particularly interested in computer
are working collaboratively on a website security, and has been working on a
that shows a comparison of how often game that helps people remember their
one computer language is required for a passwords as part of his summer work.
job over another. The results show up as “In order for a password to be hard to
First-year computer science student Michael numbers, and a bar graph. guess, it has to be complex,” he explains.
Lutaaya is working with professor Sonia Chiasson.

18 Summer 2013