Student life at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention (CIRP) is anything but a "typical" research co-op or internship experience. Our students become important participants in their research activities and see projects through from beginning to end as often as possible. Students are also encouraged to attend meetings, training, and presentations to become fully immersed in CIRP and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
Mari Allison, who is working toward her PhD in Bioengineering at The University of Pennsylvania, collaborates with CIRP Director of Engineering Kristy Arbogast on a variety of projects. “My research here focuses on pediatric concussion biomechanics, but I’ve also gotten to work on a hyperthermia prevention project as well as a project that looks at how neck and spine movement differs in kids compared to adults," she says. "Working at CIRP has been a particularly rewarding experience because it is easy to see the direct applicability of each project, acting as a constant reminder of why this research is so important.”
Bukola Famakinwa, a senior at The University of Maryland College Park, participated in CIRP's Research Experiences for Undergraduates program from June 2012 to August 2012. “I worked on the Teen Driving Plan Project with Dr. Jessica Mirman for 10 weeks. As one of the eight REU interns, I was able to have my first hands-on clinical research experience where I learned a great deal about translational research," she says. "Interning at CIRP has changed my overall perspective about research, and I am grateful for the opportunity.”
Student Spotlight
Olivia Klingbell
Major: Psychology
Minor: Criminal Justice
Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
"I’m in my fourth year at Drexel University with one more to go. I’m in the middle of my final co-op (and second co-op here at CIRP). Over the past year I’ve learned a great deal as a part of the Behavioral Sciences Core. I’ve been involved in almost every stage of research from study management to manuscript prep. My experience here has allowed me to put my classroom knowledge into practice in both the research and hospital setting. I truly feel like a part of the research team and apart of CIRP as a whole."