Sidney Booher recently snagged second place at the SoCon Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF) at Wofford College. Thanks to the plentiful opportunities through the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities office, it wasn’t her first time presenting her work – but that’s just one of many factors she said contributed to her success.
Getting involved in Undergraduate Research
Her work began as a TRIO Ronald E. McNair Summer Research intern over the summer, which allows students to work directly with an ETSU faculty member and create a research proposal on a topic that interests them. The Bristol native decided to look into how trees react to pest infestation. By the time the fall semester started, Booher had gathered enough tree cores and begun the pilot stage of the project.
Dr. Ben Lee is an assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. His lab is one of the places with undergraduate research opportunities at ETSU and where Booher is conducting her scholarship. Lee encouraged her and other students to present at the SURF forum.
Lee was one of her biggest supporters as she prepared for SURF.
“He was there if we had any questions or needed feedback on our posters,” she said.
How did the conference enhance the research experience?
Getting to see other students from across the SoCon present their work was another highlight for Booher.
“It was sort of like being at the zoo, where you are looking at the map trying to figure out where you want to go first and you don’t want to miss anything,” she said. “But you couldn’t be everywhere at once.”
On top of public speaking, she got to put some other soft skills to practice, too.
“Social and networking skills are something you learn through practice, in my opinion, and not in a classroom. Being able to communicate and work well with others is crucial in almost any job,” she said.
Going Beyond
Even with two conference presentations under her belt, she’s not done. Once she graduates in May with a degree in biology, she’ll start working on her Master of Science in Biology. If all goes according to plan, this project will be part of both her undergraduate and graduate experiences.
“If the first set of results isn’t favorable, I may have to adjust my experimental design,” she added.
When she’s not in the lab or in the classroom, Booher stays busy: she’s always looking for a new skill that may help her secure a job in land management. Most recently, she earned her Tennessee Certified Burn Manager license and will be putting it to use at a prescribed burn this spring.
On top of going after her own dreams, she also supports her three kids in their endeavors.
“I hope to inspire them to chase their goals and give back to their community,” Booher said.
From undergraduate research to alternative breaks, ETSU highlights the importance of hands-on learning and how it enhances the student experience. Learn all about it at etsu.edu/gobeyond.
