The chapter hosted its first picnic, bringing together its members for a delightful day of connection. Set at one of the USF Riverfront Park shelters, the event provided a relaxed atmosphere. It was attended by our chapter officers, as well as current, new, and prospective members. Attendees enjoyed casual conversations over a picnic lunch provided by our chapter. The event served as a platform for members to learn about our chapter activities, exchange ideas, collaborate on potential projects, and explore interdisciplinary connections. It also offered a valuable opportunity for newer members to integrate into the Sigma Xi community and feel welcomed by their peers.

On October 5th, 2023, the USF chapter of Sigma Xi visited the Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO) on the St. Petersburg campus. Attendees included faculty from the School of Geosciences and the Department of Anthropology.

We toured two of the three research vessels, the R/V Weatherbird and the R/V Hogarth, and learned about the newly acquired R/V Western Flyer that has capabilities for ROV operations.

The vessels support research and education at sea throughout the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and parts of the Atlantic. The vessels are equipped with wet & dry labs on board, and can carry multiple instruments.

Many thanks to the FIO team, Chris Sharp and Rob Walker for taking the time to show us around and share their wealth of knowledge!

The fall cycle of the Student Grant Program received an outstanding application from Sunhye Kim. The Chapter officers awarded her the $700 graduate award.

• Sunhye Kim, Ph.D. Geology program, School of Geosciences. Award will be used to analyze water samples and to purchase sampling materials. Project title: Quantifying the impact of farming on karst spring water quality.

The USF Chapter of Sigma Xi hosted an enriching grant writing workshop tailored to the needs of its student members. The objectives were to introduce students to Sigma Xi grant program in Aid of Research and present the guidelines and submission process. The workshop aimed to demystify the grant application process and equip participants with essential skills to secure funding for their projects.

Led by our chapter officers, who are experienced grant writers and reviewers, the workshop provided invaluable insights into crafting compelling grant proposals. Attendees learned about the key components of a successful grant application, including formulating research questions, designing methodologies, and budgeting for success.

The 1h-long workshop was attended by 10 student members.

The spring cycle of the Student Grant Program received 5 applications (3 graduates and 2 undergraduate students). The proposals were all very well written and competitive. The Chapter officers ranked the applicants and awarded 2 graduates (~$700 each) and 2 undergraduate students (~$300 each).

• Colin Goodman, Ph.D. candidate, Deban Lab, Department of Integrative Biology. “Muscles, motor patterns, and movement: what explains interspecific variation in thermal performance curves?”
• Fernanda Silva Pimenta, PhD student, Department of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering. “Landfill Gas to Produce Liquid Fuels and Chemicals using an Eggshell Catalyst”
• Kira M. Ruiz-Houston, Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, Minor in Infection Control; Minor in General Public Health. “Functional Analysis of Novel Holin Proteins in Mycobacteria Phage D29.”
• Daniela Zamora Alviarez, B.S. Mechanical Engineering. “Characterization of Graphene Monolayer and Bilayers for Electrocatalysis”

We visited the USF Nanotechnology research and Educational Center (NREC), offering a unique opportunity for students to learn about the various instrumentation and research activities carried on the Tampa campus. The tour was part of the chapter's commitment to promoting scientific excellence and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Three faculty members and three nom-member students participated.

We learned about the Thin Film lab and activities and spent most of the visit in the Metrology lab where we learned about the various instruments, specifically the Transmission Electron Microscope Lab, the Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope lab, and the Focused Ion Beam lab. Many of the instruments in the metrology suite allow users to image, measure, characterize materials or thin film properties, or view fabricated structures in great detail.

Participants were inspired by the innovative research being conducted at the Nanotechnology Center and motivated to explore potential avenues for collaboration and further study. Many thanks to the NREC team, Robert Tufts and Jay Bieber, for helping us organize this visit and for taking the time to show us around.

Our chapter attended the 2024 Annual Undergraduate Research Conference this spring to let students know about our chapter. We were represented by President Germa, staff support member Madeleine Hershberger, and student member Fernanda Pimenta.

Since August 2023, our chapter induced 34 new members, including 4 post-doctoral fellows, 16 undergraduate students, and 13 graduate students. On April 22, 2024, 26 of them were able to attend the USF Student Research Award luncheon, at the USF Research Park.  During the ceremony, we recognized our new inductees and Grant awardees. Sigma Xi certificates were presented, and members had the opportunity to learn about other successful researcher peers celebrated that day.