Research Experiences for Undergraduates Student (Summer 2024)

"The Injury Science REU program at CIRP strengthened my presence as a researcher, academic, and professional. My work with Dr. Elizabeth Walshe’s Neuroscience of Driving Research team exposed me to the inner workings of a large scale longitudinal study. This summer, I contributed to the development of the DRIVER study, which aims to investigate the effectiveness of driver education in reducing crash risk for novice drivers. 

Over the past 10 weeks, I helped the team prepare for recruitment and data collection. I created consent scripts to ensure that participants were receiving information in the most effective way. In preparation for in-clinic assessments, I was trained to administer the virtual driving assessment, which is a simulation that incorporates eye tracking technology to real-life driving hazard scenarios. 

Alongside my involvement in the DRIVER study, I investigated my own research question using data from the pilot study. I tested for a relationship between eye tracking patterns on the virtual driving assessment and impulsivity through literature searches and data analysis. I learned to manipulate data in R, allowing me to apply my previous training and knowledge to a real dataset.

Career exploration is a key focus of CIRP’s REU program, which gave me direction for future areas of interest. Working on an interdisciplinary team exposed me to research in psychology, neuroscience, public health, and data science. Through my mentors, I was able to connect with other researchers throughout CHOP, the University of Pennsylvania, and Drexel to learn about their experiences in the field. By expanding my network, I was able to determine my future goals in pursuing a PhD in Social Psychology."