Pathways to Success

  • Published
  • By Molly Lachance
  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
ARLINGTON, Va. --  Early in their academic careers, few college students know exactly what they want to do after graduation or what factors will determine their eventual decisions. Like so many, this was the case for Jenna Scisco, a driven, undergraduate psychology student with good grades, a passion for research and an open mind.

After her junior year, Jenna participated in a summer research program at Clemson University to prepare herself in case she decided to pursue a graduate or doctoral degree. The research opportunity Jenna chose was funded by a Department of Defense program called Awards to Stimulate and Support Undergraduate Research Experiences (ASSURE).

The ASSURE summer program introduced Jenna to "human factors psychology," the study of how humans interact with different systems and technology. She became very interested in its benefits to the military and, over that summer, completed a research project examining simulator sickness during training exercises that use head-mounted displays.

Jenna's positive experience with the ASSURE summer program and support from the faculty, led her to enroll in Clemson's Human Factors Psychology Program the following year and apply for another DOD program called the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship. The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) selected Jenna's application and awarded her one of the 200 fellowships from a candidate pool of over 3,000 for that year.

DOD educational programs are valuable assets to students, providing both financial assistance and experience in their chosen fields. These programs are also extremely important to the U.S. government, which relies on these gifted students to one-day advance scientific knowledge as DOD laboratory personnel, university researchers and industry scientists here in the U.S. in support of the Department's efforts worldwide.

After selecting Jenna as a recipient of funding for both the ASSURE summer program and the NDSEG Fellowship program, AFOSR asked her to share some insight about the process and benefits of participating in DOD educational programs. We hope her responses to the following questions inspire you to investigate how the DOD can help you reach your personal and professional goals. As Jenna has proven, each educational program is a stepping-stone to new opportunities that can lead to a successful and rewarding career, whatever it may be.

AFOSR: How did you find out about the DoD-funded educational programs available to students?
Jenna: During my junior year as an undergraduate, I decided that I wanted to participate in a summer research program to prepare myself for graduate school.  I used the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) website to locate funded summer research opportunities -- Clemson University's REU summer program in applied psychology caught my eye.  I noted that the program was funded by ASSURE and looked forward to participating in a research project funded by the DOD.

After successfully completing the ASSURE summer program, I applied to Clemson's Human Factors Psychology Program.  Dr. Ben Stephens, who directs the ASSURE summer program at Clemson and Dr. Eric Muth, my current mentor at Clemson, were aware of the NDSEG Fellowship program and encouraged me to apply.

AFOSR: Do you have any advice for students interested in applying for DOD-funded educational programs?
Jenna: I believe that I was a successful applicant for DOD-funded programs because of my academic record and research experience.  I worked very hard to do well in my undergraduate coursework and began psychological research early on in my career.  Therefore, my first piece of advice is to work hard in school to not only obtain good grades and test scores, but also to explore research opportunities and discover your interests.

My other piece of advice is always apply to programs and fellowships that interest you.  I almost did not apply for the NDSEG Fellowship program because the percentage of accepted applications was so low.  Never take yourself out of the selection process before you submit the application.

AFOSR:  Would you recommend these programs to other students interested in science and engineering?
Jenna:  Definitely!  The ASSURE summer program gave me the opportunity to learn about a new field of psychology and decide if graduate school was the right path for me.  The NDSEG Fellowship program has given me the financial support I need to go to graduate school and pursue my research interests. Without these two programs, I might not be where I am today.

AFOSR:  What aspects of the programs did you like the most?
Jenna: During the ASSURE summer program, I was able to design and conduct my own experiment with the guidance of a graduate student and two professors.  The one-on-one interaction and feedback I received really helped me to learn about psychological research and develop as a scientist.  Additionally, I participated in the program with 10 of my undergraduate peers from across the country.  I enjoyed making new friends, who shared my interest in discussing psychology and our plans for graduate school.

Currently, I am particularly pleased with the freedom the NDSEG Fellowship program affords me.  I have been exposed to research in a wide variety of fields to include human factors, psychophysiology and the psychology of eating behaviors.  I am excited to learn as much about psychology as I can while funded by the NDSEG Fellowship program.

AFOSR:  Do you plan to continue seeking funding from the DoD throughout your career after graduation?
Jenna:  Yes, I hope to pursue post-doctoral funding and research grants from the DoD.

Jenna just completed her first year as a graduate student in Clemson University's Human Factors Psychology Program with plans to pursue a doctoral degree and career in human factors psychology.

This summer she will be conducting research at the University of Pittsburgh for a project that investigates the stress-related mechanisms of cardiovascular disease risk. This exciting opportunity will allow her to learn more about brain imaging and health psychology in a new academic environment.

For more information regarding the DOD educational programs managed by AFOSR, visit the website at www.afosr.af.mil  and click on the "Education" link (http://www.wpafb.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=8972).