Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Student (Summer 2017)
My time at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention enriched my research experience and exposed me to a career in big data analysis, including the possibility to help combine future data sources to help generate more insight into hospital and clinical care provided by CHOP. This summer I primarily spent my time extracting data from EPIC into RedCap to be used in future projects. As a team, we completed over 400 extractions and ran primary individual analysis on individual topics. Methodology of injury and symptoms served an important role in my analysis and provided me with future project questions to explore after CHOP. The possibility of tailoring individual recovery treatments to promote patient wellness with a basis of larger data sets can help us gain a new understanding of concussions and mild traumatic brain injuries. Research is the foundation of change and innovation in any field, and this summer I gained a new understanding and appreciation of the work and dedication needed to pursue a career in any aspect of research.
CHOP’s diverse and vast network connected me with many different departments and gave me access to many different professionals. The hospital tour and lectures supplemented my learning experience in understanding the bridge between research and clinical medicine. I am a rising junior at Wellesley College, where I study Economics and Cognitive Sciences with a concentration in Computer Science. The guidance that I received during my summer at CIRP provided me with invaluable experience for future research endeavors and opportunities.