WEEK 10 – Nathanael Salako

The STEM REU program concludes today. Week 10 focused on learning from errors and tying up loose ends. In a couple of hours, I will be presenting my research at the symposium, marking a significant milestone. This experience has pushed me out of my comfort zone, highlighting that growth often requires discomfort. Overall, this research internship at Rice University has been a rollercoaster of emotions—interesting, fun, challenging, and at times uncomfortable.

Throughout this journey, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to my mentor, Morgan Brinson, for her guidance and support. My gratitude also goes to Dr. Ashutosh Sabharwal, whose vision made this opportunity possible. I appreciate Dr. Faiza Zafar for her dedication and for pushing us to excel in every task. Thanks also to Dr. Clay, Mr. Mathew Cushing, and everyone involved in the REU program.

A special thank you to Rice University for this incredible opportunity. May we all continue our journeys forward, blessed and surpassing our own expectations.

Week 9 – Nathanael Salako

On Monday, I submitted the draft of my poster and finalized my abstract for the annual research symposium.

Tuesday was spent at Dell Butcher Hall, where we focused on resume development. Following this, we held our weekly meeting where colleagues provided constructive feedback on our poster drafts, noting both positive aspects and areas for improvement. This feedback was collected on cards and compiled at the end of the session.

Wednesday was dedicated to revising my poster based on the feedback received from my colleagues and Dr. Faiza.

On Thursday, I focused on tasks assigned by my mentor. Since I was unable to engage in machine learning activities, she directed me to a Kaggle program designed to teach me about machine learning, with the goal of completing it before our discussion on Tuesday.

On Friday, I decided to spend quality time with my family and take some personal time for myself. The work will resume tomorrow, where I plan to write out my pitch delivery and also review my poster once more to make any final adjustments before the submission deadline. With just one week left, Week 9 has concluded successfully.

Week-8 Nathanael Salako

If I were to give this week’s blog a title, it would be “Abstracts Done, Posters Begun: The Art of Making Science Look Good.” This week was all about finalizing my abstract and planning how to approach my poster.
On Tuesday, I spent the early part of the day learning about poster design. Having never created a poster before, it was fascinating to see how they are crafted and to understand the psychology behind influencing perception through visuals. I learned about the importance of using more images over words and choosing color schemes that attract or guide the viewer’s attention. Once this session was complete, I went home to tie up loose ends on my project.
On Thursday, I met with my mentor to discuss how I would execute my poster. She shared an example of her previous work, which provided valuable insights and inspiration. I asked her several questions about her approach, gaining practical tips on layout, content organization, and effective communication of key points. This mentorship session was instrumental in shaping my strategy and boosting my confidence as I prepared to start my poster.
Friday was the highlight of the week. I presented my project at the BRC building to Dr. Faiza and a few other colleagues. It was enlightening to hear about the diverse projects others were working on and to receive feedback from Dr. Faiza. Her constructive criticism on how to improve my delivery and make my presentation more engaging was invaluable as I prepare for the symposium. This feedback session was pivotal in honing my presentation skills, ensuring I am well-prepared for the upcoming event.
Overall, Week 8 was a productive period of learning and growth. I refined my abstract, gained new insights, and received critical feedback to enhance my presentation abilities. I am now more confident and prepared to start my poster and present my work effectively at the symposium.

Week 7- Nathanael Salako

As I move forward, I am excited to continue exploring new interests and deepening my existing passions. The goal is to stay curious, keep learning, and maintain a balance between work, hobbies, and personal relationships. Life is all about growth, and I am committed to making the most of every opportunity that comes my way.

Thank you for joining me on this journey thus far. Stay tuned for more updates and insights in the coming weeks!

Week 6 – Nathanael Salako


I was a bit late to the party, but better late than never, as they say. This week has been fulfilling; I’m starting to see the fruits of my labor, and it’s truly motivating.

Monday was spent making final touches to my PowerPoint. (Needed more slides to convey further points, change fonts, add images of data results from python, etc.)

On Tuesday, we had our weekly meeting, which was both inspiring and educational. A pattern is emerging from the two speakers we’ve had so far: the importance of a growth mindset over a fixed one, having a plan, and leaving room for things to happen as they will. This was confirmed once again to me by Dr. Lynn Frostman’s journey. Later on, I met up with my mentor, who reviewed my PowerPoint. I’m grateful for her keen eye; as she pointed out errors and helped me make necessary changes where needed.

Wednesday was dedicated to deciding on the approach for my abstract, using templates and structures provided by my mentor. I’m still contemplating my options.


And just like that, week 6 is a wrap.

Week 5 – Nathanael Salako

This week has been filled with extensive screen time,  coding and data manipulation/cleaning.  I am definitely becoming more comfortable with running code on Python and Google Colab. I guess one can say that the snake is getting tamed a bit. Currently, I am focused on tasks assigned by my mentor, aiming to complete them by the end of Sunday—fingers crossed. Unfortunately, I don’t have any new pictures to share, but we’re still thriving in Week 5. Here’s to a blessed Week 6, everyone. That’s all from me for now.

Week 4 – Nathanael Salako

Monday: I kicked off the week with a sense of achievement, having completed all the tasks assigned by my mentor right on schedule. I also submitted my project design ahead of time, which left me feeling particularly satisfied.
Tuesday: I spent the morning, from 9am to 10am, at the ORI workshop, the topic delivered focused on managing mindsets. Given my interest in personal development, this session was incredibly invigorating. Next in line was our weekly meeting. then it was off to the lab. At 2.00pm, I  met up with my mentor to give her updates on how I was progressing.
Wednesday: With Juneteenth observed as a holiday, I dedicated the day to family and much-needed relaxation.
Thursday: I delved into Kaggle exercises using Google Colab. Today was all about replicating steps from the `food_csv` datasets, an exercise that will be invaluable for our upcoming research project.
Friday: We visited the City of Sugar Land’s Surface Water treatment plant, where we observed the intricate process water undergoes before reaching our homes for consumption and use. Here are a few snapshots from our adventure.
          
                 
                         

Week 3-Nathanael Salako



This week was filled with intensive reading and practical exercises focused on Python. Tuesday’s undergraduate research workshop was particularly engaging and expanded my understanding of several critical topics, such as diversity, creating inclusive work, social environments, and tackling discrimination. It was enlightening and thought-provoking.

Following the workshop, I moved on to our regular weekly meeting. During this session, we had the opportunity to voice our concerns and discuss what needed attention in our projects. We were also encouraged to share the challenges that we may be facing in our respective projects, and to seek advice from our peers on how they would handle these issues if they were in our shoes. This approach provided valuable feedback and different perspectives, which were quite beneficial.

Later on, we had the privilege of meeting with Dr. Matthew Peña, the Associate Director of the Rice Alliance Clean Energy Accelerator. His session covered a range of topics including startups, entrepreneurship education, technology, napkin statements, value propositions, and the development of minimal viable products. Dr. Peña shared a wealth of knowledge and insights. One of the key takeaways for me was the importance of being able to pivot in life. Flexibility and adaptability are indeed powerful strengths.

And with that, week 3 has come to a close, rich with learning and new perspectives.

Week 2 – Nathanael Salako

Another week has flown by, and it is amazing how time passes when you are surrounded by such inspiring individuals. This week, I am happy to report that I am getting more familiar with the terrain over here at Rice. Knowing where specific buildings are is a real improvement. Plus, I appreciate how close green-briar parking is to the campus, as I truly enjoy those morning walks.

In the lab on Monday, I had a bit of pause put on my current task. I was working on organizing food log data, which included various details like mealtimes, types of foods, quantities in grams, snack or rescue carbs, fluids consumed, physical activities, to name a few. The challenge was to categorize this information accurately, but doing it manually proved to be time-consuming and tedious, leading to a halt in the process.

Tuesday was more eventful. I attended a workshop on the roles and responsibilities of undergraduate researchers. The session was highly engaging, encouraging group participation and providing valuable insights from both the host and fellow students. After the workshop, I attended our weekly meeting, which was followed by a discussion with my mentor.

A new goal was set to accelerate my progress. I am now focused on learning Python and conducting data analysis. The immediate objectives are to grasp the basics, including introductory programming, the fundamentals of pandas, data visualization and understanding time series data, all by the 11th of this month. To aid my learning, i have been using Kaggle, an online website that offers practical, hands-on activities that align perfectly with my training needs.

Week 1-Nathanael Salako

Starting any new journey brings its share of fear, but once you take the plunge, you realize that the worst outcomes seldom occur. During the first part of my week, I had only a vague understanding of my research project. However, after meeting up with my mentor yesterday, I gained a much clearer insight into our objectives.

In terms of challenges, a better word for me would be the word adventure. As Rice is a large institution, and getting accustomed to it will take some time, but I am ready for such a feat.

To conclude, one positive aspect is the privilege of being on Rice universities soil as a REU. As for that which is negative, we will see what time reveals. But, in the meantime, everything is going well thus far, and the mission stays the same. “Thou shall excel.”