Engineering Internship and Research Program Welcomes Its Fall Cohort

Photo by Camilla Shumaker

SIIRE fall 2015 cohort.

The fall 2015 class of students in the Student Integrated Intern Research Experience have already begun expanding their engineering skills, experience and opportunities.                     

The Student Integrated Intern Research Experience, or SIIRE, seeks to increase the number of highly skilled employees in Arkansas who are ready to apply engineering research upon graduation. It serves engineering students by connecting them with faculty and industry through mentorships.

Each student beginning the program is participating in co-operative education, earning class credit through a paid job in an engineering field, an internship, or research experience. Students participate in professional development activities on their way to completing their B.S., and eventually, their M.S. degree in engineering. Students will integrate their work experience with their graduate thesis. This will help student and mentors understand how engineering research can be applied on the job, and it will highlight the benefits to companies of hiring engineers with graduate degrees. Twenty-four students are beginning the program this fall:

• Orlando Aquirre Martinez, Decatur, pursuing a bachelor's degree in computer science and computer engineering. 
• Jacob Brown, Little Rock, pursuing a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.
• Trenton Carson, Greenwood, pursuing a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering.
• Ikenna Egbosimba, Little Rock, pursuing a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.
• Olivia Griffin, Siloam Springs, pursuing a bachelor's degree in biological and agricultural engineering.
• Ian Hargrove, West Memphis, pursuing a bachelor's degree in civil engineering.
• Connor Heo, Little Rock, pursuing a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.
• Iliana Hernandez, Siloam Springs, pursuing a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering. 
• Merrisa Jennings, Collinsville, Oklahoma, pursuing a bachelor's degree in biological and agricultural engineering.
• Kristianna Jones, Frisco, Texas, pursuing a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering.
• Isaac Kroger, Little Rock, pursuing a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.
• Drake Maltos, Montrose, pursuing a bachelor's degree in computer science and computer engineering. 
• Maria Mariscal, Springdale, pursuing a bachelor's degree in civil engineering.
• Crystal Meeks, El Dorado, pursuing a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering. 
• David Mendenhall, Winslow, pursuing a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.
• Jose Messina, Lowell, pursuing a bachelor's degree in civil engineering.
• Perry Mills, Benton, pursuing a bachelor's degree in computer science and computer engineering.
• SanJuana Mota, Dallas, pursuing a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering.
• Kami Parmenter, Bella Vista, pursuing a bachelor's degree in biological and agricultural engineering. 
• Ryan Sanders, Cave City, pursuing a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering.
• Stephanie Sandoval, Springdale, pursuing a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.
• CeDale Smith, St. Louis, pursuing a bachelor's degree in computer science engineering.
• Justin Taylor, Round Rock, Texas, pursuing a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering. 
• Shelby White, Damascus, pursuing a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering.

SIIRE is sponsored by a grant from the National Science Foundation and is directed by a team of University of Arkansas faculty members:

• Manuel Rossetti, professor and associate department head, Industrial Engineering
• Kim LaScola Needy, professor and dean, Graduate School and International Education
• Ed Clausen, professor, Chemical Engineering
• Carol Gattis, associate dean, Honors College
• Micah Hale, professor, Civil Engineering

To learn more about the SIIRE program, please visit, siire.uark.edu.