"The Injury Science REU program at CIRP exceeded every expectation I had. As a member of Dr. Elizabeth Walshe’s Neuroscience of Driving Research team, I contributed to the DRIVER study, a longitudinal project examining the impact of driver education on teen crash risk. My work included supporting participant recruitment through outreach calls, building and managing surveys in REDCap, and pulling reports to support data collection and tracking.

One of the highlights of my summer was learning R from scratch to conduct an independent analysis exploring the relationship between caffeine intake and executive function in teen driving behavior. Using baseline survey data, VDA classifications, and reckless driving behaviors, I developed skills in data cleaning, visualization, and statistical testing. I also gained experience with platforms like RStudio, REDCap, and EPIC — all of which were new to me at the start of the summer.

Beyond research, the program emphasized career development. I was able to shadow clinicians, hold informational interviews, and connect with professionals across medicine and public health. Everyone I met was incredibly supportive and eager to help me learn. I’m leaving this internship with stronger technical skills, meaningful mentorship, and a clearer sense of the path I want to take."

Research Experiences for Undergraduates Student (Summer 2025)