Author: CU Denver McNairScholar

Make Room for the Queen!

Posted on by CU Denver McNairScholar

The University of Colorado Denver TRIO McNair Scholars Program is honored to welcome Queen Esther Pompee to the TRIO McNair community. Queen Esther is fiercely passionate about public administration and is excited to engage in research and scholarly activity in the 2023 McNair Summer Intensive Research Experience. Since joining TRIO McNair this fall, Queen Esther has ensured to maximize McNair resources and is scheduled to attend the 2022 AGEP Student Success Conference provided by the Graduate School at Michigan State University. You can learn more about Queen Esther via her bio below and if you see her around, please give her a BIG CU Denver warm welcome!

Greetings My Name is Esther J Pompee. My Pronouns are She/Her/Hers.  I’m mainly known by Queen Esther. I’m Haitian American born and raised in Miami, FL. I’m a super mom to 7 amazing kids.  I’m a transfer scholar & former Student Government Association President from Community College of Denver. 

I’m pursuing my undergraduate studies in Public Administration minoring in Pre-Law. My goals are to go to law school. If I’m not able, then I will plan to pursue my Master’s in Public Policy. I’m a McNair & TRIO SSS Scholar. Lastly, I’m a CU Denver Honors Scholar. Currently, I’m reading “The 1619 Project” I enjoy watching documentaries. The apps I use daily are “Word of the day” “Apple Fitness” “LinkedIn“

My values are Integrity, Courageous, Community & Perseverance. My values provide me with the strength to defeat adversity & connect with my community to build a relationship. I’m obsessed with transforming myself. I believe if you’re the same person yesterday, then you’re not changing for the better.  

I love riding my dirt bike on the weekends. I love going on hikes with my kids. I’m a fur mom to a Cane Corso name Renzo, and a husky name Diamond. My favorite color is Rose Gold. My favorite food is Caribbean food.  Four words that describe me are Fierce, Assertive, Passionate, Leader and Dedicated 

The women I look up to are Mrs. Lisa Neal Graves, Mrs. Marielena DeSantis, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Stacey Abrams, and Corey Bush. To see women that I look up to makes me believe that I’m capable of being successful. 

—

“Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.” 

Queen Esther J 

D.A.R.E 2021

Posted on by CU Denver McNairScholar

As CU Denver strives to be the nation’s first equity-serving institution, we celebrated the 4th Annual Diversity in Academic Research Expo (D.A.R.E.) on Friday, October 15, 2021, at the CU Denver Student Wellness Center. This year’s event boasted over sixty attendees. It was sponsored by the Anschutz Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, Anschutz Medical Campus: Office of Inclusion & Outreach, CU Denver Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, TRIO McNair Scholars Program, and CU Denver: Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities.

D.A.R.E. is C.U.’s only multi-campus hybrid research symposium and professional development conference that features the work of first-gen, low-income & historically underrepresented undergraduate researchers from across the C.U. system. 

2021 Development Sessions included: 

           -CV’s and Resumes for Undergraduate Researchers: The CU Denver Career Center 

           -Getting Involved in Undergrad Research: A Panel Discussion with C.U. Students & Alumni

           -Mentoring Diverse Students and Culturally Relevant Pedagogy: 

                      Dr. Hamilton: Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning 

           -Virtual Graduate School Fair

Congratulations to the 2021 D.A.R.E. presentation awardees!

Regenerative Research

Posted on by CU Denver McNairScholar

Regenerative ability has been researched in a biological context for several decades; however, new research suggests that this ability can be applied to materials as well. Using bacteria, a lab group demonstrated the creation of a cementitious material that has high potential. Traditionally, concrete is a go-to material for construction material and is known to crack over time. A bacterial based material allows for a degree of self-healing so that the material lasts longer. This innovative material is biologically safe, consumes carbon dioxide, and can be used to strengthen existing concrete structures.

The material is based on an enzyme known as carbonic anhydrase, which is not consumed in the reaction. It catalyzes the reaction between calcium ions and atmospheric carbon dioxide to create calcium carbonate crystals that is like cement. The enzyme can be used after several weeks of curing.

This research has profound implications in construction and repair. This foundational work can be used beyond the construction paradigm. Self-healing ceramic systems can benefit due to the way that calcium carbonate crystals can repair themselves. These systems can be found in the automotive world, dentistry, and other fields.

For more information: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352940721001001

How to Request Letters of Recommendation

Posted on by CU Denver McNairScholar

Letters of Recommendation (LOR) are common and critical components of graduate school application packets and fellowship and job applications. LOR’s give admission and selection a different perspective on your applicant profile. More specifically, recommenders use LOR to discuss your preparation for graduate studies, graduate-level research, and your fit within a particular department and discipline. Consequently, you should select recommenders who know you well, and you should do everything you can to make the letter-writing process as easy as possible for your recommender. If you’re unsure how to do the latter, keep reading! 

  1. ASK EARLY. Keep in mind that many graduate programs and fellowship applications have fall deadlines and faculty receive LOR requests from current and former students, so ask early. If you know you will be submitting an application that requires letters of recommendation, you can ask as early as late August/early September. You want to give your recommender enough time to write a strong, thoughtful letter, and LORs take time! Also, you want to give yourself time to find an alternate recommender if a professor denies your request. Be mindful of faculty members’ time and obligations, don’t make last-minute LOR requests. For me, a last-minute is anything less than three weeks’ notice.  
  2. EXPLAIN YOUR WHY. Talk to your recommender about why you have chosen to pursue graduate studies and how this experience will prepare you for your future career. Why have you chosen the programs to which you are applying? What kind of research do you hope to engage in as a graduate student? If you have identified prospective faculty mentors at different graduate schools (something expected of those applying to doctoral programs), let your recommender know with whom you’d like to work and why. 
  3. PROVIDE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS. Once someone agrees to write letters of recommendation on your behalf, you must provide them with the following: 
    • A list of programs to which you are applying and submission deadlines. If you’re still finalizing your list, that’s okay! Give your recommender the current list and let them know you are planning to add a few more. I encourage you to discuss your list with your recommenders and ask if there are any programs/schools they recommend you to consider. 
    • A draft of your admissions essays. Some schools will only require a statement of purpose, while others will also ask for a personal statement. Provide a draft of these documents to your recommenders. If you’re still revising your documents, just let your recommenders know; they may even provide feedback! 
    • A copy of your CV, resume, and unofficial transcript. These documents help your recommender better understand who you are outside of the class/classes you took with them. 
    • Special requests. It is appropriate to ask a recommender to help you address low GRE scores, a bad semester, a low GPA, or highlight specific accomplishments or strengths. If this is your case, don’t be afraid to ask your recommender if they can address these topics. You should help them better understand why you might have a low GPA (maybe you were sick one semester or dealing with a personal loss) or low GRE scores (perhaps you’re not great with standardized tests, and you couldn’t afford to take a test prep course). On the other hand, you can ask a recommender to highlight your undergraduate research experience, for example. 
  4. SEND GENTLE REMINDERS. Most application portals allow you to track the status of your recommendation letters. Check the status of your recommendations a week before the deadline and if you’re still missing a letter, send your recommender a gentle email reminding them about the upcoming deadline. Remember that professors get busy too, and a gentle reminder might be welcome. However, make sure you do not harass your recommenders with too many reminders. 
  5. THANK YOU and UPDATES. After your recommender has submitted the last letter, please give them a handwritten thank you recognizing their time, effort, and support. I have found nice thank you card packets for under $4, so there’s no need to spend too much money on this. To some, a handwritten note may sound “old school” or outdated, but I disagree. I think a handwritten thank you card is a step above a thank you email; it feels more personal. If you are unable to provide a thank you card, please write a thoughtful thank you email. After you have heard back from all grad programs or fellowship applications, give your recommenders an update. Tell them where you got accepted and where you will be attending. If you didn’t get accepted anywhere, please still provide an update and know that you shouldn’t be embarrassed. Academics are not strangers to rejection, and your recommender may have advice about how to prepare for the next round of applications. Remember, your recommenders invested time and energy into the process, and you should update them.

If the thought of asking someone to write a letter of recommendation makes you nervous, that’s normal! Acknowledge your nerves but also remember that this is a common request in academia. The worst that can happen is that someone can say no, and if you follow the advice outlined above and start early, you will have enough time to ask someone else. You can do this! Please use the comments feature to post any additional questions you might have about securing letters of recommendation. 

By Sonia Valencia

Research vs. Mesearch

Posted on by CU Denver McNairScholar

Re·search

noun

  1. The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.

Me-search (Interpreted by J. Luna)

Verb

  1. The non-liner investigation into and study of myself in order to establish understanding & reach new conclusions of one-self.

  • CU Denver TRIO McNair Scholars are known for their research & professionalism, but what you may not know is that along this academic journey, they also engage in me-search, as academia is only part of the holistic development. After over a year of isolation, continuing and new McNair Scholars joined forces with the EURēCA! Summer Fellows at Earth Illuminated for the annual summer research experience kick-off. This totally immersive experience led scholars on an ethereal journey of interactive art instillations that were sure to evoke inner reflection.

Look out for McNair Scholars and the Summer Fellows to present their summer research virtually 7/26/2021.

If you are interested in research, McNair Scholars is recruiting, apply here. Also, you may find additional research opportunities at the Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities site.