Purdue Bootcamp

Hi REUs,

I had a great time at Purdue with all of you! Just wanted to share a little about the experience. This was my first real good insight to research and it was very intriguing. I can really see how research is very self driven and am already experiencing that at the U of MN. I enjoy the freedom and think I should be able to stay motivated. I also think the project's progress is the main motivator, so it's a nice cycle.

Purdue had a bunch of great, smart faculty and graduate students. I think the personal attention, as I was in a group of four, was especially nice to really understand the labs. I thought the labs were quite interesting and enlightening. Messing around with the tractor was awesome of course, but I also thought that graduate student was a very good teacher. I heard he's going to be a professor so that works out well. I thought that technology was very interesting; the increased efficiency is a big deal.

I'm glad to have made many new friends and connections with all of you. I've met my advisor and graduate students and am very excited about the free piston engine project. I hope you guys are intrigued with your work as well and the first week goes well!

-Brad Hogan