Name: Aureliane Tchamdja

Pronouns: She/Her

Semester of Internship: Summer 2025

Major: Computer Science 

Current Class Level: Junior

This semester I completed a(n)...: Research experience

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): University of Nebraska-Lincoln Summer Research Program

Location of the Organization (City, State): Lincoln, Nebraska

Title of position: Research Scholar

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities: 

I worked with Dr. Wissam Kontar and Mohammad Elayan on our project, "Autonomous Ground and Air Systems for Last-Mile Mobility: A Case Study on the Agriculture System". This research allowed me to explore the logistics of last-mile delivery and learn how to solve route optimization problems using autonomous vehicles and drones in rural, agricultural settings. I had the opportunity to present my research as a poster at both UNL's 2025 Engineering Summer Research Fair hosted by the College of Engineering, and UNL's 2025 Summer Research Symposium hosted by the Office of Graduate Studies. Other than my poster, other deliverables that I had completed by the end of the program were a 10+ page scientific paper on my project and an oral presentation in front of my peers and faculty in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department. I was also able to attend workshops and panels that have better prepared me for graduate school and strengthened my skills as a scientist/researcher.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?

I heard of the Nebraska Summer Research Program through emails that were sent to me during the Fall 2024 semester. I applied and submitted my application to the program in January.

What resources did you use to find your current experience?

Student Organizations/Scholar Groups, University website 

What have you enjoyed the most about your position and organization?

I enjoyed being able to explore the sustainability/transportation research field, especially being able to look at the use of autonomous technology. I also found the workshops and panels that the program provided to be very valuable. 

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

Although my work was more so in a preliminary stage, I believe that it is still a great contribution to the scientific community because it will help start conversations on how to better address transportation gaps in agriculture and in rural areas as a whole.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

Advice that I would give to another student seeking an internship is to not be afraid to apply to any and as many programs/experiences as they desire. The more you open yourself up to these opportunities, the more likely you are to get them.

Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / working with the Career Center.

What I liked most about my research experience was being able to explore a research field that I may not have been able to otherwise, as well as being able to learn more about graduate school and what to expect as a student who wants to pursue a PhD degree.