WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., April 3, 2025 – West Liberty University Data Science Major Gwyneth Horzempa was recently selected to the prestigious Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program for summer 2025 at the University of California Riverside (UCR). Out of around 600 applicants, Horzempa was one of only nine chosen.
Funded by the National Science Foundation, the REU program gives undergraduates the opportunity to conduct their own research, under the guidance of mentors, in areas of interest centered around using data science to help improve public policy initiatives.
During the 8-week program, Horzempa will be researching the areas of data analytics and natural language processing. Data analytics is the process of using tools to evaluate different datasets to discover some sort of pattern or meaningful information. Natural language processing is a branch of AI where computers can learn at a high level, similar to the way Chat GPT functions.
At UCR, Horzempa will experience the entire data science pipeline, which involves data acquisition, data modeling, and how to apply those skills into the real world. She will also attend seminars and work with UCR faculty members Drs. Analisa Flores, Mariam Salloum, and Paea LePendu specifically in the areas of data analytics and natural language processing.
Horzempa expresses gratitude and excitement while crediting her professor and advisor Dr. Raymond Holsapple for his key role in her successful application to the highly competitive program.
“I am honored to have been selected for this program, and I could not have done it without the help of my professors” said Horzempa. “Dr. Holsapple, my academic advisor and professor, recommended that I apply for this program. He coached me along the way, read my application materials, and provided advice on how to improve each component of my application. If I did not attend West Liberty University, I would not have received this level of mentorship and guidance from my professors and may have been lost in the crowd. I cannot wait to take part in this experience this summer, and I am so glad I chose to attend West Liberty!” she adds.
West Liberty University blends a small-town environment with a comprehensive college experience, fostering students’ aspirations through hands-on learning, personalized support, and unique academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Learn more at westliberty.edu.
