UK’s CAER empowers student researcher through experiential learning
There is no substitute for hands-on experience. The best way to learn is by doing, and experiential learning opportunities allow just that.
This is something that North Carolina State University chemical engineering major, and Lexington native Kara Bracken, found at the University of Kentucky Center of Applied Energy Research over the summer of 2024.
Bracken has many ties to UK, researching previously in the UK Department of Horticulture as part of the Math Science Technology Center program from Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School.
“I did really want to go home, you know going to school so far away can definitely be hard, so I was looking for opportunities at UK.”
Opportunities proved to be abundant. Bracken spoke to one of her previous mentors about opportunities and was pointed in the direction of CAER. After an interview CAER Associate Director Matthew Weisenberger, she was offered an internship. Bracken’s primary focus was to develop a multifilament spinning process for conductive PEDOT: PSS fibers.
PEDOT: PSS are flexible fibers with dozens of potential applications for electronic sensors, robotics, textiles, and prosthetics. Bracken’s summer work sought to convert the PEDOT: PSS material from a liquid into wet, spinnable fibers, which can then be spooled and shipped to manufacturers.
Her experience in wet labs and fiber spinning will prove useful, regardless of what work she does in the future.
“Now I have a lot more familiarity…now I have those base skills that I can transfer to a lot of different things,” Bracken said. “As I moved through my lectures, labs, and activities, I felt the impact of everything I learned. I can apply wet lab skills that I developed in fiber spinning to organic chemistry, analytical problem-solving techniques to chemical process principles, and ideas I learned studying capillary rheometry to physics.”
In addition to these transferrable skills in the lab, Bracken also valued the culture and mentor relationships that helped with her personal growth and development over the summer.
“Honestly, a lot of it is a strong research mindset...just having that initiative to dive deep into the concepts of what you're working with.”
That learning mindset is something that CAER tries to cultivate through its experiential learning programs.
One initiative of CAER’s strategic plan to is to strengthen the quality and distinctiveness of UK’s undergraduate and graduate programs through transformational experiences of self-discovery and learning, like Bracken’s summer experience. As she reflects on her experiences with CAER and moves forward on her academic path, Bracken wants to be sure to express gratitude.
“Dave Eaton, Ashley [Morris], Matthew [Weisenberger], they all just did such a good job making me feel comfortable.” Bracken said. “That is honestly something that is rare, so I think it’s really important to acknowledge and appreciate that.”
The appreciation was mutual amongst her peers working in the lab.
“Her observation and problem-solving skills were a true asset to our team and helped us make progress on our project. She was always willing to do whatever needed to be done, whether that was a challenging experiment or cleaning up the lab,” said post-doctoral scholar Leah Noble. “I very much enjoyed working with and getting to know her this summer and hope that we have that opportunity again in the future.”
As a sophomore, there is still a long journey ahead for Bracken at NC State, with a potential trip abroad to study, and many opportunities in the research field to pursue. Just maybe, that road will lead her back home to Lexington once more.
“If the opportunity presents itself, I would absolutely love to go back.”