By: Dahlya Byrne
Florida Gulf coast University (FGCU) is a four-year, public research university located in Fort Myers, Florida, with an estimated 15,000 enrolled students (https://www.fgcu.edu/about/fastfacts). A primary goal at FGCU is to encourage and develop new methods of learning. One program that exemplifies this practice is the WiSER Eagles program in the Office of Undergraduate Scholarship. Created in 2018 with a pilot group of ten students, there are now more than 60 WiSER Eagle positions available to undergraduate students (Personal communication Jaclyn Chastain, 17 February 2020). I became aware that the program is not well known when I talked to my classmates about the different activities I was able to participate in. Since I have benefitted greatly from this program, I thought writing an article spotlighting current and past participants would introduce other students to WiSER Eagle and give them a chance to participate.
The intent of the program is to provide opportunities for students to experience valuable research skills by offering them an opportunity to participate in faculty driven research in a variety of disciplines in a group setting. Students gain valuable technical skills while strengthening their interpersonal and professional skills. Students are surrounded by like-minded individuals and mentored by dedicated professionals passionate about research and educating students. WiSER Eagle positions are available across the disciplines and in a wide range of settings from Engineering, Environmental Sciences to Rehabilitation. Additionally, the WiSER Eagles provides academic stipends to individual students, allowing them to work up to 10 hours per week at an hourly rate of $9.50. Students who continue to participate after the first year become eligible for pay raises.
I was hired to work as a Student Research Assistant for Dr. Brigitte Belanger, an assistant professor in the Occupational Therapy program at FGCU in the fall of 2019. I continue to work in this capacity. My position involves multiple roles. At times I have been an event planner coordinating, planning and participating in our FGCU Student Veterans’ Golf Event where we raise $15,000 for Scholarships and programs. I am a member of the Veterans’ Support Committee (VSC) and attend monthly board meetings where I’ve learned to take notes for minutes and prepare agendas. I work with graduate students and have completed the CITI training in order to participate in the creation of a research project that has been IRB approved. The more intangible or soft skills I’ve acquired include better time management skills, effective communication, multi-tasking, just to name a few. As my competence and confidence improved my role expanded.
The skills and abilities I have developed are too numerous to list but I can definitely say that none of these experiences would have been possible were it not for the WiSER Eagles program. As I work to develop this article for publication, I find myself realizing that nine months ago I don’t think I would have had the confidence to approach and interview strangers much less know how to get an article published. Not bad for a college freshman! The students I interviewed for this article hold similar views.
Freshman Elaine Cooke says she heard about her position from her teachers during class. Both her major and research area incorporated Engineering, however, she described the focus of her major to be primarily business. While it remains on par with her major, she stated that participating in WiSER Eagles forced her out of her comfort zone as she was working hands on with the construction aspect.
In her position, Elaine works alongside her mentor, Dr Hashem Izadi Moud in the Department of Construction Management to develop of new mix of concrete for increased sustainability in the houses of Southwest Florida. Under his guidance she has presented at a variety of conferences, including the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference (FURC) in February of 2020 and the ASHRAE Conference of 2020. This program opened the door for many opportunities like these that she expressed she would not have had otherwise.
Laina Lamb is a recent FGCU graduate who worked as a Research Assistant for Assistant Professors Dr. Davey and Dr. Salapska-Gelleri in the Departments of Social Sciences and Psychology. Laina’s position involved conducting IRB approved interviews on historians based on study guide questionnaires given by her mentors. She was in charge of collecting narratives on the home front of subjects who were children during WWII.
Laina states there was a huge learning curve due to the number of new tasks she had to acquire. Some of these tasks involved learning to use software (NVIVO) to transcribe interviews and operating the audio equipment. Laina says working at a position that combined history and psychology allowed her to develop a deeper appreciation for history. Laina is grateful for the opportunity to practice her interviewing skills during the course of her sessions. Laina is confident that these skills will be invaluable in her future career as a therapist.
Daniel Talamas is a research assistant working with Dr. Molly Nation in the Department of Ecology & Environmental Studies. He began his work with this mentor as a volunteer Spanish translator, as he became more familiar with her research, he took on greater responsibilities. The research focused on educating middle and high school students about water quality using their campus ponds. Daniel was involved in curriculum development and implementation. He also monitored student outcomes and was responsible for collecting water samples. Daniel explains there were some challenges scheduling sessions around student classes but he reports the skills he gained (journal writing, teach, and communication) were well worth the efforts and Daniel believes he never would have considered research before this experience as he found it much too intimidating.
The three students I interviewed felt strongly that the WISER Eagle Professional Development sessions contributed greatly to their success. They reported that the assignments encouraged critical thinking and felt that time spent researching independently, and with their mentors was enhanced by the biweekly group sessions. Overall, they reported the experience as positive and provided “an enriching and curiosity inducing work environment”.
In conclusion I would like to say that I am very grateful to the WiSER Eagles program. I have been exposed to so many opportunities and taken on new challenges that are providing me with considerable hands on experience, allowing me to improve on a variety of skills, building a resume of skills outside the traditional classroom while enhancing my competence and confidence in my ability to take on bigger and greater challenges. I hope other students will read this article and look in to becoming a “WiSER Eagle” It’s an experience that will enrich your life and possibly open a door to a career you had not considered. There aren’t many part time jobs that can make that claim!
I want to thank the Eagle WiSER Participants, Daniel Talamas, Laina Lamb, and Elaine Cook, as well as Jaclyn Chastain & Billy Gunnels for taking the time to speak with me.
