Testimonials
Zachary Chacko, 2014-2015
The Visiting Undergraduate Research Fellowship was the perfect step for me to take after graduating from my undergraduate career. My experience with this program has been extremely rewarding for my academic career. Working with Dr. Mary Murphy in her Mind & Identity in Context Lab has really helped me expand my research skills as I worked on the Friendship Network Study. Furthermore, I got the opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Victor Quintanilla on his Immigrant Labeling project. I was able to attend the SPI Conference at Purdue this year with my lab and learn about different research in the area of social psychology. My plan is to continue working with my advisors over the summer and assist in writing up papers for these projects. This fellowship also enabled me to take graduate classes and experience how these courses operate firsthand. There was an adjustment period, but I found these classes to be extremely enjoyable. My research and course experience has me looking forward to applying for graduate school in the future.
The city of Bloomington is a great place and it was easy for me to adjust to living here. The bus system is very accessible and the SRSC is a fantastic facility for recreational activities. I went there to play basketball during my free time and got to meet some great people. Also, there are plenty of restaurants to choose from when you want to dine out and try different types of cuisine. I had a great time this past year and am truly grateful for the opportunity the VURF has given me.