Marcos Morales is a senior computer science major whose academic interests center on applying technical skills to support research and community awareness. He currently serves as a research assistant with Project Social Media and Resilient Teens (Project SMART), where he works on the STEM side of the project by using machine learning to analyze interview data. His work involves classifying words and sentences to identify positive and negative emotional expression in participant responses.
Through this experience, Marcos has developed a strong appreciation for the role science communication plays in research impact. He is particularly interested in translating complex technical processes, such as sentiment analysis and machine learning, into usable knowledge that can be understood by a range of stakeholders. Through the Science Influencers REEU program, mentored by Jun Wang, Marcos hopes to further develop his ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively, supporting his goal of integrating STEM skills with science communication in his future studies and career.