My name is Derek Morris Jr. I am a sophomore at Elizabeth City State University (ECSU).  I was born and raised in Portsmouth, Virginia. I am majoring in Computer Science with a concentration in Scientific and a minor in Mathematics. Computers are being used every day such as making new graphics for TVs, movie, and lap tops. In order to do that you have to make a program for the modern technology to work. This is influenced me heavily into being a Computer Scientist.

To obtain more knowledge about my major, I am currently an active member of the Center of Excellence for Remote Sensing Education and Research program (CERSER). In the program I have learned how to use Linux and Mac OS X, Dreamweaver, Adobe Photoshop C23, GPS, and etcetera. Since I have been in this program they not only taught me more than how to use operating systems and make programs; they program helps me improve my networking, and communication skills, and overall improve my presentation skills.

In the spring of 2013 I was a member of a research team under Mr. Je’aime Powell (mentor). The project was called “Documentation of Seaspace Ground Station Systems at Elizabeth City State University.” This project consisted of us finding how/what building we are going to put up two of the ground station; the third one will not have to be placed on the building. After we figure out the weight, size, tools, what building we using, and etcetera we will have an ECSU training. The ground station collect data that NASA can receive and transmit it back to then; they cannot receive it because they are on the west coast and their signal is not strong enough. Once I finish that project, I presented in New Hampshire, at The Association of Computer/Information Sciences and Engineering Departments at Minority Institutions (ADMI), and on research day at my school.

I recently completed a summer research program at Indiana University (Bloomington) in summer 2013. This was a single project, I didn’t have any group members other than my mentor Dr. Gregor von Laszewski. The topic he assigned to me was “Programming the Cloud: From Zero to Hundred for Non-Programmers.” I had learn how to use python for the first few weeks. From there, everything was a buildup. I learn the basic such as starting a program, declaring, and initialize the program. Once I got that basic, I made a program inside the cloud that was useful for the scientist. After the project was done I had to present in Indianapolis, Indiana.
After I graduate, I plan to further my education by obtaining my master’s degree followed by my PhD in Computer Science. In the near future I hope to work for a successful computer company that will allow me to perform my skills and help create educational software for our next generation.