faculty spotlight
Sharon
Miller: Inspiring Students for Careers in Science
Getting students excited about science often involves more than showing them the inside of a textbook or a classroom. Dr. Sharon F. Miller, director of the Office of Student Development (OSD) at the EMS Energy Institute, knows that affording students the opportunity to participate in research can make the difference in helping them discover whether a career in science is right for them.
“My whole goal is to try and get students into a different environment, hands-on and get them thinking critically,” Dr. Miller says.
In her capacity as director for the OSD, Dr. Miller is responsible for coordinating programs that focus on facilitating the educational experience for students beyond the classroom.
As the present concern for a clean and energy efficient society heightens, so does the demand for a future generation of scientists. Educational programs, like those offered through the OSD, may be instrumental in developing future leaders in the field of science.
Dr. Miller says there has been an increase in students involved in energy research since the office’s establishment almost two years ago, which is especially apparent in female numbers. Programs targeting girls and minorities have been very important to the OSD’s mission, she says.
Opportunities available through the OSD for K-12 students include school visits, summer science camps, Science Lions (a graduate student educational outreach group sponsored by the OSD), and other various outreach activities. Undergraduate students at Penn State can take advantage of internships, fellowships, wage/payroll positions, and senior/honors thesis research opportunities at the EMS Energy Institute.
Also a part-time research associate at the Institute, Dr. Miller is focused on investigating the inorganic portion of fuels and what environmental impacts result when different fuels are utilized.
She received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Geology, and later her Ph.D. in Fuel Science at Penn State. As a researcher, Dr. Miller says the hands-on and problem-solving aspects of her work appeal to her, as well as seeing how research can translate to the outside world and ultimately impact lives.
When her research duties are paired with her student development workload, it is not surprising that Dr. Miller has her hands full. Nevertheless, she is constantly looking for new ways to get young people involved in energy research.
One emerging initiative is the establishment of an international exchange program, specifically for the field of energy engineering. She says having a program where there is an exchange between universities is advantageous to both parties because students are much more likely to be set up with research programs abroad that are specific to their interests.
“If you’re a little proactive and you seek out partnerships then your chance for a successful experience is much better,” she says.
Similarly, an industrial internship program for Penn State undergrads with the specific focus of energy engineering is also in the works and may operate in conjunction with the Engineering Cooperative Education & Professional Internship Program in the College of Engineering.
Another initiative Dr. Miller is pursuing is a mentorship program where undergraduates will be paired with graduate students and assist them in a research environment. Too often students at the undergraduate level don’t ever get the exposure to a research setting, she says.
“The grad students get help on a research project...and it benefits the undergrads because they get that experience,” she says. “It helps them decide if they’re interested in grad school because it gives them a better idea of what it’s all about.”
Research opportunities at the EMS Energy Institute are open to undergrads from all Colleges of study so long as the interests of the individuals match the area of research. Dr. Miller says it ultimately takes the support of the faculty and the departments to pull off successful programs.
“I think there’s a long-term commitment to the whole-student centered idea,” she says. “And I like to think that the Institute’s commitment reflects the University’s educational commitment.”
by Sarah Haner