Framingham Resident Maria Grandoni Completes Research Project in Costa Rica

Maria Grandoni of Framingham, a junior majoring in biochemistry at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), recently completed an intense, hands-on research project in Costa Rica. 

The project was titled Costa Rican greenhouse gas inventories.

At WPI, all undergraduates are required to complete a research-driven, professional-level project that applies science and technology to addresses an important societal need or issue. 

About two-thirds of students complete a project at one of the university's 35 off-campus project centers, which are located around the world. 

A signature element of the innovative undergraduate experience at WPI, the project-based curriculum offers students the opportunity to apply their scientific and technical knowledge to develop thoughtful solutions to real problems that affect the quality of people's lives--and make a difference before they graduate.

"The WPI project-based curriculum's focus on global studies brings students out of the classroom and their comfort zones and into the global community to apply their knowledge to solve real problems," said Professor Richard Vaz, dean of the WPI Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division. "Students are immersed in all aspects of a different culture, from the way people live and work to the values they hold to the foods they eat--all valuable perspectives for surviving and thriving in today's global marketplace. They also learn the meaning and magic of teamwork; make a real and meaningful difference in their host community; and gain a competitive edge for any r?sum?, or graduate or professional school application."

Founded in 1865 in Worcester, WPI is one of the nation's first engineering and technology universities. Its 14 academic departments offer more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science, engineering, technology, business, the social sciences, and the humanities and arts, leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees.