While most college students are vacationing and relaxing this summer, three College of Natural and Applied Sciences (CNAS) students are busy with their research projects. 

Samuel Cope, Emily Rapp and Raina Clements received research grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF).  

The NSF offers hundreds of funding opportunities, including grants, cooperative agreements and fellowships that support research and education across science and engineering. 

Applicants go through a competitive and lengthy application process, requiring not only a high level of scientific expertise, but also a well-crafted proposal that meets the specific goals and criteria of each funding program.  

Samuel Cope 

From Verona, Missouri, Cope is a senior physics major focusing on astrophysics at Missouri State University. 

He received NSF’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) grant for his summer research at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory based at the University of Virginia. This $9,000 grant supports his work in radio astronomy, where he will investigate Ultra Compact H2 regions — dense clouds of ionized hydrogen gas surrounding young, high-mass stars. 

“I’m thrilled to be working on this project,” Cope said. “My research will involve analyzing data from telescopes, creating detailed images of star-forming regions like W49A and studying the dynamics and composition of these regions.” 

Looking ahead, Cope plans to pursue graduate studies with the goal of earning a doctorate in astronomy. He wants to teach at the college level while conducting his own research. 

Emily Rapp 

A Springfield, Missouri, native, Rapp is a senior at Missouri State, triple majoring in astronomy, materials physics and applied mathematics. This summer, Rapp will advance her research through an NSF-funded program at the University of Notre Dame.  

She is collaborating with a team there to synthesize quantum materials. Her project involves growing single crystals of new materials and evaluating their properties to explore alternatives to silicon semiconductors in electronics. 

“I’m thrilled about this opportunity because it enables me to work on innovative materials that could lead to thinner, faster and more efficient electronic devices,” Rapp said.  

Her work involves both practical and theoretical aspects. She first identifies promising compounds, then tests them in the lab. The process includes melting elements, allowing them to cool slowly and analyzing the resulting crystals through X-rays and other measurements. 

“I’ve just started seeing results in the successful growth of crystals, and I’m looking forward to analyzing them further,” Rapp said. 

After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school but is open to exploring industry opportunities. She would like a career in particle physics, possibly working in a national laboratory.   

Raina Clements 

Clements is a junior at Missouri State, double majoring in wildlife conservation and management and geography and sustainability. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, her passion for environmental science is guiding her academic and professional journey.

Clement’s research is taking place at the University of Central Florida. It focuses on comparing the carbon and nitrogen storage capabilities of natural versus artificial wetlands.

“I’m examining how different types of wetlands store carbon and nitrogen — whether natural wetlands or those created using dredge sediment,” Clements said. “The aim is to understand which type is more effective at storing these crucial elements.” 

Her project involves a comprehensive analysis of particulate organic matter and mineral-associated organic matter from various soil samples. The research process includes physical and density fractionation, grinding and elemental analysis. 

Clements is interested in a career in soil science, but she will also explore other research opportunities.   

Explore majors in the College of Natural and Applied Sciences