When many people think about research, they think of laboratories with chemicals, beakers and test tubes. To be honest, this is what I thought before I began working in Professor Meiburg’s lab this summer. In this lab, all of our experiments are done using computer simulations. This different approach to research really surprised me at first.

In Professor Meiburg’s group, we are researching fluid dynamics. In particular, we are studying the behavior of particles in a dense suspension experiencing shear forces. This research has a variety large scale applications, from rivers, pipes, and channels with large amounts of sediment and debris, to ocean currents after an earthquake. These situations are extremely difficult to study in real life, so my lab uses sophisticated computer simulations to model them instead. The computer simulations allow us to analyze the flows on the particle level and compare the particles’ position and velocity across very small time intervals. This level of analysis would be very difficult, if not impossible, to achieve in physical situations. Although this is not quite what I expected going into my first research experience, this approach makes a lot of sense when considering the type of research that we are doing.

At first, I was a bit disappointed that I would not be working in a lab with exciting hands on experiments. However, I soon realized that there is much more to research than exciting experiments. Solving problems, obtaining results, and drawing conclusions is what makes research exciting. The applications of the research, and knowing that you are advancing scientific knowledge and helping the world is what makes research thrilling, and what I love about it.

In the past three weeks, I have grown to really enjoy working in Professor Meiburg’s lab. Before beginning work, I was worried that I would not fit in to the research environment since I am an undergraduate, who just finished her first year, and everyone else is a graduate student. However, my experience was exactly the opposite. All of the people are so friendly and helpful. I got a very warm welcome the first day when I entered the lab, and have felt very included and at home ever since. We all go to lunch together almost every day, and I was even invited to a dinner and game night at my mentor’s apartment. The lab group is a very close family that I am really glad to have joined. I am excited to go to work every day and really enjoy what I am doing.