HDFS Undergraduate Research Opportunities: An amazing opportunity for HDFS majors to learn hands-on research skills.
Would I be a right fit for undergraduate research? You might be if:
- You want to become a researcher or go to graduate school
- Get started early in a research career
- Build networking skills and make connections
- Work closely with HDFS faculty in lab and/or 1-on-1 settings
Benefits of undergraduate research:
From this professional development and research methodology experience, you can:
- Get ahead in your career by developing your research skills
- Be a part of the research you learn about in classes
- Work with faculty on passion projects
- Learn how to develop research questions
In research areas such as:
| -healthy aging | -social policy and law | -community and school-based programs |
| -healthy aging | -LGBTQ+ health | -Black families and communities |
| -parenting and inter-generational families | -mindfulness | -migrant families and policies |
and more!
What does this experience look like?
Research looks different depending on who you are working with. HDFS alumni have had this to say about their undergraduate research experience:
“I liked having an avenue to pursue questions that lacked answers.” -Benton Renley, 2020
“After much reflection on these experiences, as well as guidance from two very influential mentors in my life, Dr. Bellizzi and Dr. Steven Wisensale, I decided to pursue a Master’s of Public Health (MPH) degree.” – Samantha (Guarneri) Kaishian, 2017
“One of my favorite HDFS memories is assisting a professor with coding therapy session recordings using the Rapid Marital Interaction Coding Manual for clinical observation data.” – Aimee Roberge, 2014
Finding Research Opportunities
Students are expected to find their own research opportunities. Here are a few tips to help students start their search:
- Contact professors directly to ask about opportunities as early as possible in your undergraduate career.
- You can connect with faculty after class or via email.
Find tips for connecting with faculty via the Office of Undergraduate Research
Step 1: Check Eligibility and Prerequisites
- Who? Students who have declared HDFS their major.
- Course Prerequisites: Faculty may or may not have course prerequisites to conduct research with them. Ask the person you plan on working with if they have any course requirements.
Step 2: Identify Faculty/Staff to Work With
- Students should reach out to different faculty and/or research labs to inquire about undergraduate research opportunities. Students can find faculty and/or potential labs to work with below: