Dr. Crystal Johnson takes full advantage of the National Science Foundation's Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program, which provides a fellowship for undergraduates to do research over the summer. During the summer of 2010 Jaclyn Williams was the REU undergrad in Crystal's lab. Among her many duties was helping with the high school students in the SUMRI program who were also in Crystal's lab – a role she was uniquely qualified for as a role model and mentor, having previously been a SUMRI participant herself while still in high school.

"One of the things about outreach is you are able to take on a lot of side projects that you otherwise wouldn’t have time to do."

Jaclyn also does her own research. During 2010 she was working with Vibrio vulnificus, looking at the genetic relationships among clinical isolates of vibrio, crab and crawfish. Jaclyn and Crystal are both benefiting from the REU program. "One of the things about outreach is you are able to take on a lot of side projects that you otherwise wouldn't have time to do," says Crystal. "You have those extra sets of hands, and you have that extra energy of students."

Jaclyn's experience with SUMRI and REU will have long-term effects. "Working in the bio lab my freshman year I realized I've done 200 of these," she says. "I love that advantage because I always felt two or three steps ahead. I want to do a lot more internships!"