Research Experiences for Undergraduates Student (Summer 2013)

"During the summer of 2013, I was a Research Experiences for Undergraduates Intern at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention. Under the mentorship of Dr. Steven Leff, I gained Qualitative research experience on the “Better Understanding Cyber Bullying:Youth, Parent and Provider Perceptions” Project. My responsibilities included managing data using SPSS and Nvivo; collaborating with interdisciplinary team members to code and analyze themes in interviews; and translating qualitative data into usable resources for parents and providers. Through the REU experience I was able to gain networking skills and build long-lasting connections, which led to my position as a Clinical Research Assistant on Dr. Leff’s research team after graduating from Temple University in 2014.

Over the past three years, I have been involved in various Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) projects. Currently I am a school-based facilitator for a bullying prevention program, working with 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th graders in Philadelphia public schools, as well as a Research Coordinator for a small grant investigating Adverse Childhood Experiences and Neurological Delays. During my time here at CHOP, I have been given the opportunity to work with researchers and doctors within the Violence Prevention Initiative, learning all the components of CBPR and how to work collaboratively with communities to best support them. Because of the REU program, I have been afforded opportunities to work at CHOP for several years beyond that summer, building valuable relationships and learning essential skills for working in research. I plan to take all that I have learned and am excited to pursue the next step in my education. I will be attending the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice to pursue a master's degree in Social Work in the Fall of 2017."