Week 1: Days 1 and 2

    Within the first two days of my internship, I have realized that a research program is a lot different than I had expected. From my previous understanding, we were going to be assigned a project and asked to continue research on that project while being closely supervised. I feel as though my perceived understanding is the exact opposite of what this program is doing. We do not have set schedules nor are we closely supervised. We were told that as long as we got our hours in for the week it did not matter when we did our research just as long as we got it done. I am quite surprised but also relieved by this; This will allow us to practice with trail and error. This is how actual research is conducted and I'm glad that we will have the freedom to do this. 

    I am paired with two other undergraduate students and one PhD student in Victoria Interrante's lab. We were not given clear instruction on what to do the first two days, we were asked to begin to learn Unreal Engine. This is not a program that I am familiar with at all so I have spent the past few days watching Youtube tutorials on how to use the program and implement code within it. I have had fun messing around with the program and I am excited to render an environment that can be used within virtual reality. 

    Professor Interrante sent us an email earlier today giving us some projects and their descriptions that we can choose from. Among the options that I was interested in were cybersickness and how different environments affect the user (which will be continued research), and the other is the role of virtual reality in creating relaxation interventions (which will be creating a nature environment). 

    Overall, I am excited to start this research and to get my project selected. I am confident that I will enjoy whatever project I choose and being able to render virtual reality environments.