Many graduate students have the opportunity to leave Champaign for the summer to take a break, go on vacation or find an internship. However, the majority stick around because they are passionate about one thing: research.

“I mean, I suppose I could take the time off, but it’s not really an option in my head,” said Robert Gregg, Ph.D. candidate in computer engineering. “There are so many things I could be working on, so many questions to be answered. I would be wasting too much time.”

Gregg focuses on the control of complex robotic systems, particularly walking bipeds in 3-D space. He hopes to create orthopedic and prosthetic robotic legs.

“These could significantly help people who are injured from (battle) and people who are recovering from strokes,” Gregg said.

Gregg isn’t the only graduate student who enjoys solving problems.

Adam Tilton, a recent graduate in mechanical engineering, just started a program this summer.

Tilton studies heating, ventilation and air conditioning. He works to find better controls for the systems in large buildings.

His program places him at the University of Florida for the first half of the summer and then moves him back to Illinois for the remainder.

“We get to work with people from the University of Florida and also from Columbia College in New York,” Tilton said. “It’s really great to be able to bounce all these ideas off one another and meet so many new people.”

Tilton spends a lot of time solving complicated problems by looking at intricate designs.

“Some people are just natural geeks and enjoy solving difficult problems,” Tilton said.

“Sometimes I go home and I’m really excited and I don’t know why. Then I realize it’s because me or somebody else solved a really complicated problem, and it just makes me so happy.”

Tilton said he wanted to stay at Illinois for graduate school because of the strength of the facilities and programs in its research department.

“One of the best things about this university is how well everybody works together,” said Annie Weisner, graduate student in neuroscience. “If I ever need any help, another lab will give it to me, no questions asked. We have a really great working environment.”

Weisner works as a graduate student researcher with Lisa Stubbs at the Institute for Genomic Biology.

She studies mutant mouse strains, each of which has a genetic mutation causing abnormal neurodevelopment, resulting in really bizarre behaviors.

Each mouse model mimics a human disease, and Weisner studies the mice to find out the causes of the disease and to learn more about the genes involved.

“It’s a lot easier to get a hold of mouse brains then human brains,” Weisner said. “A lot of my time is spent cutting up mouse brains, and it’s interesting.”

Weisner enjoys staying around in the summer because she is able to concentrate more on her work.

“During the summer you are able to advance so much quicker than the school year,” Weisner said. “You don’t have to take a break for classes, you can just focus on your research and there is nothing holding you back.”