Kelsey McGivern

This summer, I had the pleasure of being a research assistant at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I worked under the mentorship of Sarada Sripada, a post doc in Canan Sener’s lab. My research focused on the reductive catalytic fractionation of switchgrass, and I found it very interesting work. I spent time operating batch reactors and analyzing data using a GC-MS, which was brand new to me. As this was my first experience doing research, I was initially nervous, but I quickly found comfort in the lab, and I had great mentors to answer my questions and help me feel confident. I gained so many invaluable skills and I was found this work really enjoyable!

In addition to research, I had the ability to explore Madison. Through Picnic Point, the Terrace at Lake Mendota, the farmers market around the Capitol, I found Madison a wonderful place! My cohort at UW also spent a lot of time together. In addition to exploring Madison, I had the privilege to visit MSU and KBS with the other GLBRC students at UW. I loved seeing all of the bioenergy crops at KBS!

This REU program with the GLBRC was such a wonderful experience and I would recommend it to anyone, especially if this is your first time doing research. Additionally, you meet so many new people and have so much fun! Thank you so much to the GLBRC and UW and for this amazing summer! And thanks to Canan and Sarada for being the best mentors I could have asked for! This is an experience I will never forget!