Research Components
Each student must complete a research portion in their Undergraduate Degree. Below are my research experiences, encouraged by Perry Honors College.
Undergraduate Research Symposium
As my largest accomplishment for Undergraduate Research in Honors College, I presented my work at the Undergraduate Research Symposium. I was given the opportunity to see work from every department on campus showcased with it’s finest researchers, and present my experiment in which I independently conducted. I had conversations with professors across departments in engineering, biology, statistics, business, education and more on my methods and applicability of my work to their field. I won the award of “Best Overall Presentation.” The award was competitive since students in many projects were assisted or led by Graduate students, and had large amounts of research assistants in their experimentation. This achievement was also in the Old Dominion University news, and showcased on the home page.
Eastern Virginia Medical School Apprenticeship
Through Perry Honors College, students are given an exclusive chance to parter with a mentor at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Following an application process through both institutions and thorough evaluation, students are paired with a mentor to conduct research. I was paired with Dr. Serina Newmann, head of Behavioral Psychiatry. In a collaborative experiment, I studied rTMS and it’s effects on mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. I learned statistical analysis such as how to conduct a one-way split plot ANOVA, experiment design, internal review board processes, research poster design, and poster presentation. I also had the opportunity to see physically how the rTMS machine worked.
Undergraduate Research and Creativity Grant
An additional research component option is to apply for, gain approval, and complete an Undergraduate Research Grant. I applied for the Research and Creativity Grant, that emphasized project independence and allowed for students to demonstrate how their work potentially influences the field of study. My work on this grant studied the possibilities of eye-tracking as a measure for creative problem solving.
Independent Studies (Research Orientation)
Independent studies were offered to Honors College students, with an application process and approval from all faculty involved. I thoroughly enjoyed all three of my independent studies, in dance, psychology, and graduate statistics. My first independent study investigated performance anxiety in dancers and a comprehensive literature review of research studies published on dance psychology. My second independent study explored working memory and creativity, in particular relation to compound remote associates task (CRAT), operation span tasks, reading span tasks, and cognitive reflection tasks. My final independent study took place my last semester and I learned beginning graduate statistics coursework.
Oral Presentation to the Public
Outside of other research opportunities through Honors College, I was able to present my work to the University President and Board of Visitors. My work was showcased in the University news. Above is a section of the article where my work was featured. Other oral presentations counted towards this credit as I participated in a research showcase for Honors College students in recruitment efforts, displayed my work on rTMS to the public in an open presentation setting, and participated in panel discussions.