Summer research experiences have potential to benefit undergraduate students in various ways. Students involved in REUs in engineering have been found to grow in confidence about using specialized equipment, as well as understanding theory and practice. Additionally, these students have shown positive views of seeking employment or attending graduate school in their engineering fields. Given this potential, Florida International University (FIU) offered summer research experiences in wireless communications for undergraduate students to participate in novel hands-on experimentation. These experiences took on several forms and involved students from the US and two other countries. Studies analyzing the learning experiences of students involved in summer research projects in wireless communications are lacking. Thus, we sought to understand the influence of such summer experiences in wireless communications on undergraduate students' learning and thinking about their education and future careers. To this end, we conducted a study of undergraduates participating in these experiences at FIU.
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