Chowdhury, S., & Alzarrad, A., & Youn, S. (2025, March), Evaluating the Impact of a Summer NSF REU Program on Undergraduate Students' STEM Career Aspirations and Educational Goals: A Case Study  Paper presented at 2025 ASEE North Central Section  (NCS) Annual Conference, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia. 10.18260/1-2--54663

\bibitem{asee_peer_54663}
  Chowdhury, S., \& Alzarrad, A., \& Youn, S. (2025, March), \emph{Evaluating the Impact of a Summer NSF REU Program on Undergraduate Students' STEM Career Aspirations and Educational Goals: A Case Study}
  Paper presented at 2025 ASEE North Central Section  (NCS) Annual Conference, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia.
  10.18260/1-2--54663

Sudipta Chowdhury, Ammar Alzarrad, and Sungmin Youn.  "Evaluating the Impact of a Summer NSF REU Program on Undergraduate Students' STEM Career Aspirations and Educational Goals: A Case Study".  2025 ASEE North Central Section  (NCS) Annual Conference, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia, 2025, March.  ASEE Conferences, 2025.  https://peer.asee.org/54663 Internet.  07 Jul, 2025

\bibitem{asee_peer_54663}
  Sudipta Chowdhury, Ammar Alzarrad, and Sungmin Youn.
  "Evaluating the Impact of a Summer NSF REU Program on Undergraduate Students' STEM Career Aspirations and Educational Goals: A Case Study".
  \emph{2025 ASEE North Central Section  (NCS) Annual Conference, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia, 2025, March}.
  ASEE Conferences, 2025.
  https://peer.asee.org/54663 Internet.  07 Jul, 2025

@INPROCEEDINGS{asee_peer_54663
author = "Sudipta Chowdhury, Ammar Alzarrad, and Sungmin Youn"
title = "Evaluating the Impact of a Summer NSF REU Program on Undergraduate Students' STEM Career Aspirations and Educational Goals: A Case Study"
booktitle = "2025 ASEE North Central Section  (NCS) Annual Conference"
year = "2025"
month = "March"
address = "Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia"
publisher = "ASEE Conferences"
note = {https://peer.asee.org/54663}
number = {10.18260/1-2--54663}
}

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - This study examined the outcomes of the NSF-funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program at Marshall University, conducted during the 2023 Summer term. Over a 10-week period, eight undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds and educational experiences, hailing from various regions across the continental United States, participated in intensive, hands-on STEM research on the Marshall University campus. The program aimed to provide students with immersive research experiences, strengthen their academic skills, and broaden their perspectives on potential STEM career paths. Through a mixed-methods approach involving pre- and post-program surveys and in-depth interviews, data were collected to assess changes in students' STEM career inclinations, educational aspirations, and perceptions of STEM disciplines. Quantitative data focused on shifts in students’ interest in STEM careers, self-efficacy in research-related tasks, and academic confidence, while qualitative data provided insights into students’ personal growth, collaborative learning experiences, and exposure to real-world STEM challenges. The results demonstrated that the REU program effectively increased participants' enthusiasm for STEM fields and encouraged many to consider advanced education and careers in STEM. Participants reported a heightened sense of self-efficacy, particularly in conducting research, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Additionally, students expressed a stronger commitment to pursuing STEM pathways and identified new career interests as a result of their engagement with research mentors and peers. The findings highlight the REU program’s role in promoting diversity and inclusion within STEM by fostering a supportive and challenging environment for students. 
AU  - Sudipta Chowdhury
AU  - Ammar Alzarrad
AU  - Sungmin Youn
CY  - Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia
DA  - 2025/03/28
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Evaluating the Impact of a Summer NSF REU Program on Undergraduate Students' STEM Career Aspirations and Educational Goals: A Case Study
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/54663
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--54663
ER  -