Student Spotlight

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We are excited to introduce “Student Spotlight” where each week a different student who participates in Research at Roanoke College will be featured. For this first week, meet Snigdha Somani, an Undergraduate Research Assistant who is working with Dr. Andreea Mihalache-O’Keef in the Public Affairs Department. Currently, Snigdha is working on a project titled, The First Year: Determinants of Infant Nutrition and Marketing Solutions for Community Stakeholders in the Roanoke Valley. “This project identifies infant nutrition patterns in Roanoke and the surrounding area, as well as some of the socioeconomic, demographic, and policy-related determinants of infant nutrition decisions. It is a unique data collection initiative intended to serve a variety of local stakeholders, like WIC. The main contribution of the project is to fill a gap in data on infant feeding in our area and on challenges and resources for mothers during baby’s first year of life. Additionally, the project tests a set of hypotheses regarding determinants of infant nutrition outcomes, with a focus on two broad categories: (1) socio-demographics; and (2) community culture and resources”, says Snigdha. Follow Snigdha and Dr. Mihalache-O’Keef on their journey with this project throughout the semester!

Research Highlight: Shannon Baker

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I had the opportunity to interview Shannon Baker concerning her opportunity to have her distinction project on Confederate monuments be published in the Michigan Journal of History.

Can you describe what your research project is about?

My distinction project, Confederate Monuments in Context: Arlington National Cemetery and the Legacy of the Confederacy, analyzed the Confederate monument at Arlington National Cemetery and placed it in the larger, modern-day context surrounding the debate around Confederate symbols. I applied theory from memory studies and public history to explain the power of hegemonic narratives of history, why monuments can be so controversial, and the arc of the Lost Cause throughout American history. 

 What made you decide to pursue your topic? Why did you decide to do research

I decided to research this project both out of a genuine interest (we had been discussing Confederate memorialization in my Intro to Public History class when I proposed this project), and because I was going to participate in the Washington semester, and I wanted to be able to do research while I was in D.C. I knew I was going to do research because of my enrollment in the Honors program.

How has your experience with your research advisor been?

I really loved getting to work with Dr. Rosenthal. She was so helpful and encouraging, and I definitely couldn’t have gotten it done at all without her. Dr. Rosenthal kept me on track, and my paper wouldn’t have been as strong as it was if I didn’t have such a great supervisor.

What has been your favorite or most interesting part of your research project so far?

I’ve really found a lot of interesting things through my research, but I think the most interesting thing I’ve stumbled across — and the article that made me consider this topic in the first place — was a newspaper article written by the descendants of the Arlington monument sculptor, Moses Ezekiel, calling for the monument’s removal following the 2017 Charlottesville riot. (here’s the link, it’s really well-written: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/descendants-of-rebel-sculptor-remove-confederate-memorial-from-arlington-national-cemetery/2017/08/18/d4da6a3e-842b-11e7-ab27-1a21a8e006ab_story.html)

What would you say to current and incoming students interested in doing research? 

I recommend doing research to any student at RC. It gives you the opportunity to make something you can be so proud of, and it certainly made me a better writer and researcher. It’s not as scary as it seems!

Research Highlight: Abigail Packard

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I had the opportunity to interview Abigail Packard concerning her time as a research fellow at Roanoke College.

Can you describe what your research project is about?

My independent project looks at Perceptions of Assessment: Comparing College Students & Faculty. We asked a series of questions about assessment type, including formative, summative, and standardized assessments, what they thought about them, and general questions pertaining to assessment. We also asked about assessment method types such as projects, written exams, oral exams, take-home tests, etc. Through the project, I was able to gain insight into how students and teachers may or may not believe that assessment is an accurate measure of students’ knowledge and if students and faculty differ in their preferences for different methods of assessment.

What made you decide to pursue your topic?

What made me decide to pursue this research is my love for education and insight into assessing students best. I am majoring in elementary education and hope to bring knowledge of assessment preference into my future classroom. I also feel it is essential for others within education to see the possible stressors or benefits of assessment.

Why did you decide to do research?

I am part of the Research Fellows Program for the class of 2021, and what first caught my eye is the many benefits of research after college when looking into graduate programs and being a competitive applicant. I also enjoyed the idea of research pushing you to be a committed individual in your academics and the continued growth it provides me as a student.

How has your experience with your research advisor been?

My research advisor is Dr. Powell, who works in the psychology department. She has been such a wonderful mentor by pushing me to think in new ways, providing support, and continuing to help me grow as not only a student but also as an individual. It is apparent she cares for all students in her lab and wants to see them all succeed and work together, and it has been an incredible experience working with her.

What has been your favorite or most interesting part of your research project so far?

My research project’s most memorable experience has been sharing my research with interviewers as I have been applying to teaching positions. It has allowed me to see my research come to life on campus and in my future career and lets me share it with others.

What would you say to current and incoming students interested in doing research?

If there are incoming students or even current students interested in research, I encourage them to learn more about it and see if they feel they would enjoy it. It is important to ensure you are aware of the time commitment but also recognize the endless benefits that can come from completing research throughout college. It is not very common for college students to conduct research starting from first-year students to senior year. Take a chance and push yourself. You may find you love research!

Lastly, any other additional information or comments you’d like to include besides the questions stated above? 

I want to thank the Research Fellowship for the opportunity I was given and to thank Dr. Lassiter for supporting me throughout my four years at the college. Lastly, to my peers in the lab and Dr. Powell for always being my advocate and pushing me to be the best I can be as a student researcher.

Research Highlight: David Casson

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I had the opportunity to speak to David Casson concerning his research on structural stigma and substance abuse disorder with the aid of Dr. Schorpp.

Can you describe what your research project is about?

         My research project is about the effect of stigmatization, specifically in terms of a quantitative sociological analysis of structural stigma and substance use disorder. This research project analyzes various sources of structural stigma such as medical policies, treatment centers, clinics, prison systems, etc. and how these sources create stigma for individuals seeking care for substance use disorder and how these forms of stigmatization can hinder treatment and care efforts. We seek to evaluate how these sources create the stigma, where they are most prevalent, and how they can be improved upon to lessen the impact of stigmatization, so that individuals can have more fluid access to quality care to treat their substance use disorder. 

What made you decide to pursue your topic?

       I chose to pursue this topic for a few reasons and because my first two attempts at research topics did not go very well. I decided to turn to a sociological centered approach because I was taking sociology classes at the time of the switch and found them to be extremely fascinating. Hearing Beth Macy speak about her novel, Dope sick at Roanoke when she visited was also very inspiring as well. I also knew I wanted to do something related to the public sector and taking the sociology classes helped put that into perspective. 

Why did you decide to do research?

            I decided to do research because if I am involved with the research fellows’ program, I think it would be wise to conduct some. Additionally, I wanted to gain more experience in the research field and as a psychology major, it seems fitting to be more skilled in the research field if I am given the opportunity to do so. Also, conducting research has been a learning experience overall and has helped me become more proficient at analyzing empirical knowledge and a better student altogether. I believe it will also be very helpful to have this experience post undergrad when applying and completing a graduate school program one day.

How has your experience with your research advisor been?

My experience with Dr. Schorpp has been tremendous. We get along very well, and she has taught me more than I could have hoped for with research and skills associated with conducting and analyzing research work. She is incredibly charismatic, kind, helpful, cheerful, and supportive and has made this experience all the more worthwhile.

What has been your favorite or most interesting part of your research project so far?

        My favorite part of the research so far has to be seeing the individual pieces of data/research collected come together to form a pattern or a collective idea. It helps reassure that the hard work can pay off and that the research has significant meaning as it all ties together in quite unique ways.

What would you say to current and incoming students interested in doing research?

I would say to push yourself and to never doubt yourself. There are no stupid questions and asking questions can only help propel you further. Furthermore, I would highly recommend establishing a strong, positive, and friendly relationship with their peer mentors as they are incredibly helpful and only want to see us succeed and produce something extremely valuable and insightful. Always be true to yourself and don’t give in when it gets tough.

Lastly, any other additional information or comments you’d like to include besides the questions stated above?  

I would just like to thank the Research Fellows Department for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the fellow’s program as it has been an incredibly worthwhile experience for me. I wouldn’t ever change it.

Research Highlight: Emily Winstead

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I had the opportunity to speak to Emily Winstead concerning her research with Dr. Crozier on microbial source tracking using DNA sequencing.

Can you describe what your research project is about?

My research falls into the field of microbial source tracking – which are methods used to identify sources of fecal contamination in water sample. Our current project is to try to figure out how to use a new DNA sequencing device, the MinION to sequence DNA from environmental samples with the hopes of identifying the source of contamination.

What made you decide to pursue your topic?

There are so, so, so many organisms that we can’t see (yay microbiology!), and I think that it’s fascinating that there are molecular ways to identify them. In addition, water quality is an issue that affects public health. Microbial source tracking, and other techniques can be implemented to survey water quality to better serve communities.

Why did you decide to do research?

As a senior in high school, I found out about the Research Fellows Program completely by accident, and thought it sounded so cool to be able to do research from the time I walked onto campus as a freshman until I graduate. I have had the opportunity to learn how to do cutting-edge science, all while learning leadership skills, and gaining confidence as a scientist. These skills will be invaluable to me as I graduate from Roanoke and continue my research journey elsewhere.

How has your experience with your research advisor been?

I’ve worked with Dr. Crozier since my sophomore year, and he’s amazing! Sometimes the easiest parts of research (I’m looking at you PCR) end up being the most challenging, which can be incredibly frustrating. Dr. Crozier has always been supportive, and is always helping me troubleshoot. Also, he’s always there whenever I have a problem, or have needed life/career/what am I doing after Roanoke advice, so it’s definitely been an amazing experience.

What has been your favorite or most interesting part of your research project so far?

One of the weirdest parts of my research project has been extracting DNA from horse manure. But the actual weird part is that to ensure that we break open the cells enough to extract, we actually have to heat the feces in a water bath for thirty minutes. So a couple of times a semester, the second floor of Life Science might smell like hot horse manure, and that definitely is our lab… so my bad…

Another interesting thing is that the device that we use is called the MinION, so we definitely keep Despicable Me Minion stickers in our lab, and I stick them on random notebooks, sample boxes, pipette tip boxes, just random things…

What would you say to current and incoming students interested in doing research?

One of the unique things about me, is that I’ve had the experience of working in a number of different research fields, both here at Roanoke, and elsewhere. I’ve worked in the humanities, biochemistry labs, clinical research, and in microbiology, and the biggest thing I can recommend is to find something you’re passionate about. Find a topic that interests you, even if it’s not at all what you expect, and go for it! It’s also super important to have a support system in place, whether that’s a mentor, or other research students who can support you. 

Research Highlight: Lauren Powell

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I had the opportunity to speak with Lauren Powell concerning her research with Dr. Bucholz concerning the empathic differences between conservatives and liberals. 

Can you describe what your research project is about?

The most recent research Dr. Buchholz and I have presented was a study about the empathic differences between conservatives and liberals. Right now, we are looking at the use of fear appeals in politics and the levels of fear related to the 2020 U.S. presidential election. For this, we posted a survey in several different politically-leaning Facebook groups and had users fill it out. In the survey, we assessed fear and worry related to different core political issues, fears directly related to the election (ex., vote-counting issues), as well as fears related to the outcome of the election. We also included some empathy scales.

Why did you decide to do research?

To start, my brother is 7 years older than me. He is about to finish up and graduate from his Ph.D. program in school psychology. In the summer before my freshman year, my brother gave me two pieces of advice to take with me to undergrad: during your freshman year, put making friends over academics. It sounds weird, and of course, it doesn’t mean to flunk out during your first year as it’s all about balance, but make sure that you have a solid base of friends otherwise college won’t be a good time for you. The second was to DO RESEARCH! I’ve known for pretty much ever that I wanted to go on to grad school and eventually get my doctorate in Clinical Psychology and doing as much research as you can is a really, really good way to get there. Of course, maintaining a solid GPA is just as important, but having research experience is really important as well. It really helps you stand out from other applicants because at a bigger school, you might not have as many opportunities to do research with an advisor as you may be competing with graduate students (who I promise will come before an undergraduate student) for a spot in a lab. I was recently accepted into the University of Lynchburg’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling M.Ed. program, and I think that because my GPA wasn’t super high during my undergraduate years, the research really helped to bump me up to the top applicants and eventually got me a spot in their program.

How has your experience with your research advisor been?

I loved working with Dr. Buchholz for the past four years and wouldn’t change a thing. He was (and continues to be!) so helpful and understanding when it comes to research – if I had any questions about what I was supposed to be doing in our lab, in class, or just in general, he was always there to point me in the right direction. He never got mad when I came had shortcomings with my work because he always understood that some weeks I just had too much going on and not a lot of time left for our research. Dr. Buchholz and I have become friends at this point – in our meetings that we have every two weeks, a lot of the time is spent catching up and talking about what’s going on in my life and how he’s doing. COVID has really made our lab meetings interesting because we’re doing them via Zoom now, but we still make it work.

What has been your favorite or most interesting part of your research project so far?

For this project, I really enjoyed figuring out what core issues were important to both parties. It’s always fun to think about the other side and what’s important to them. I also enjoyed joining the Facebook groups and seeing what people with different opinions than my own have to say. Looking at the results of our data collection of course is always fun. Right now, I’m working on our paper and while that isn’t my favorite part it’s interesting to see how everything comes together in the end and all of the work we’ve done has produced a well-written and documented paper. We will be presenting our findings at APS’s virtual conference in May!

What would you say to current and incoming students interested in doing research?

Research in any field/major is super important – it’s important to keep researching to grow and improve the field. It’s really cool to be a part of that process. You read a lot of scientific articles/academic journals when you’re in college, and it’s neat to be able to understand what the researchers in the article you’re reading did because you have the experience. You’ll really learn to understand data analysis too, which again, makes the articles you would be reading regardless of if you’re involved in research or not a lot easier to understand. Additionally, you get the experience you need to improve your CV or your resumé. If you’re looking to continue your education at a graduate school after your time at Roanoke, a CV full of research experience is a really good tool to have to stand out from other applicants. You also become really involved and build close relationships with the faculty member(s) you work with – Dr. Buchholz is absolutely one of my favorite professors at Roanoke. I know that I can go to him for just about anything and I know he is always going to be there to help me, and that’s something I really hold close to my heart. He’s not only a professor to me but a friend as well! Another cool thing about doing research at Roanoke is that you will get the opportunity to attend conferences all around the country. I’ve been to two different conferences during my four years at Roanoke – one in Atlanta, GA my freshman year (which was really cool! Not a lot of students can say that they went and presented their research at a conference as a freshman!), and one in New Orleans, LA in February of 2020, right before COVID hit. Both were unforgettable experiences that I will always be grateful for. All in all, doing research at Roanoke really made me fall even more in love with the school and the faculty and I would recommend conducting research to every student! 

Anything else?

Applying to become a research fellow was hands down the most useful, productive, and important thing that I did at Roanoke. I remember before I started college, my brother told me that it was important to try and get involved in research especially as a psychology major with plans for graduate school. The Research Fellows program is awesome! You not only get the experience that is absolutely crucial for pursuing a masters degree or Ph.D. early, but you also get course credit and you get paid. Having the extra GPA boost each semester from the course credit I receive in return for doing research is always nice – I know that I work hard in our lab and it’s nice that my hard work and dedication to the research reflects on my institutional GPA. It’s also nice getting paid to do something I love to do!

Research Highlight: Andrew Droubay

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I had the opportunity to speak with Andrew Droubay concerning his research on using virtual reality training to help the National Forest Service fight fires. The research led to his winning of first prize for student research at the Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges: Southeastern Regional Meeting for “Interactive Fire Spread Simulation”.

Can you describe what your research project is about?

My research involved creating a virtual reality simulation that would allow forest firefighters to train in a variety of environments. The main research challenge came from tying in scientific models to make the simulation as accurate as possible.

What made you decide to pursue your topic?

I started working on this topic in particular because I am very passionate about doing work for social good. My simulation is one step of a research process that we hope will save lives down the road. I am enthusiastic about anything that gives me the opportunity to use my abilities for real change.

Why did you decide to do research?

I decided to do research generally because I like to challenge myself. I could always get a job doing some simple programming, but I want to push myself. In addition, I think there is a lot of benefit to the research process, and I love putting out work that no one has done before.

What has been your favorite or most interesting part of your research project so far?

My favorite part of the research is when we were first able to bring real-world fire data into our simulation. It was a real confirmation that what we were doing was possible, and it was inspiring to see the fire move in the computer in real-time.

What would you say to current and incoming students interested in doing research?

I would highly recommend any new student to do research. The skills and confidence you develop while working on a large-scale project are invaluable and will be beneficial no matter your intended career path.

Research Highlight: Hannah Petty

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I had the opportunity to speak with Hannah Petty concerning her research experience with Dr. Lassiter on examining the effects spironolactone has on the embryological development of zebrafish.

Can you describe what your research project is about?

For my research project, I look at the effects spironolactone has on the embryological development of zebrafish.  I use three different concentrations as well as a control to test what effects the chemical has on the heart rate, heart area (atrium & ventricle separately), blood vessel diameter, mortality (over 7 days), eye width, eye length, interocular distance, and head length of the fish.

What made you decide to pursue your topic?

When I was a freshman, I was new to Dr. Lassiter’s lab; therefore, I was pretty unaware of protocols and things of that nature.  One of the seniors at the time, Erin Kosmowski, was working on her senior project and needed help.  She taught me the necessary techniques to measure the effects of the chemical.  After she graduated, I continued with the project in an effort to have enough data to eventually publish.

Why did you decide to do research?

I am hoping to attend medical school after completing my undergraduate degree.  With that, I knew I needed to involve myself with every opportunity available.  When I was researching those opportunities offered at RC, I found information on “Research Fellows.”  I was really excited about the opportunity to conduct research for both course credit and pay in addition to the experience I would have gained after four years of undergraduate research.  So, between those three aforementioned benefits, I felt doing research would really help me on both an undergraduate and potentially graduate level.

How has your experience with your research advisor been?

My research experience with my advisor has been absolutely phenomenal.  Dr. Lassiter is an easy person with which to both work and talk.  Additionally, he is the king of spreadsheets and is more organized than you could ever imagine.  I am also a member of the swim team, so my research productivity during the season is very different than pre or post season; thankfully, Dr. Lassiter, is extremely tolerant of my weird schedule which makes it significantly easier to work in his lab.

What has been your favorite or most interesting part of your research project so far?

My favorite part of research thus far has been using the fluorescent scope underneath Massengill.  A couple of the lines of zebrafish we have are genetically modified to have parts of them glow under certain light.  For example, we have a line of fish who’s hearts glow green; we have a line of fish who’s jaws glow green; and we have a line of fish who’s blood vessels glow red underneath the fluorescent scope.  These fish, to the naked eye, appear to be perfectly normal; however, when they are put under the fluorescent scope, they are clearly unique.  I absolutely love watching their hearts beat and being able to differentiate between the atrium and the ventricle—I think it is so cool!

What would you say to current and incoming students interested in doing research?

If you’re an incoming freshman, do everything you can to involve yourself in what you love.  I have always had a passion for science, so I wanted to do research in the biology field.  It seems a little scary when the upperclassman are discussing some of the more advanced protocols, but I promise it is not as intimidating as it seems.  For both freshman and current students interested in research, don’t be afraid of scheduling conflicts!  My schedule has been extremely difficult to work with and around due to my athletic commitment, but professors are really understanding of students who want to really explore the opportunities RC has to offer.  Dr. Lassiter, for example, is both my research and academic advisor, so he deals with me all the time and knows the complexity of my schedule; however, he has never discouraged me from pursuing opportunities that interest me.  The encouragement provided by the faculty make everything ten times easier, as they want you to succeed just as badly as you do!  Also, as a last tip, always ask questions!  No one will judge you; the majority of the time, someone has the exact same question you do!

Research Highlight: Therese Weidenkopf

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I had the opportunity to speak with Therese Weidenkopf concerning her research experience with Dr. Hughes concerning the development of a methodology for the synthesis of the semiconductor nanocrystal CIS.

Can you describe what your research project is about?

My research involves the development of a methodology for the synthesis of the semiconductor nanocrystal CIS. Semiconductor nanocrystals, such as CIS, are involved in biolabeling techniques, such as fluorescent biolabeling and drug delivery. Unfortunately, the toxicity of CIS is not fully understood, nor is the ability to synthesis the nanocrystal in bulk and retain the stability and integrity if the nanocrystal for in vitro testing. The research I perform investigates potential methods of creating stable, water soluble CIS nanocrystals whose toxicity can then be determined by exposing zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos to varying concentrations of CIS.

What made you decide to pursue your topic?

When I was accepted as a freshman to the Research Fellows program I was given a list of projects with the chemistry faculty that I could chose to pursue. I noticed that Dr. Hughes’ project dealt with nanocrystals and nanotechnology, which is a topic I have been fascinated with since growing up watching Iron Man. If I had the chance to learn how to synthesize and work with small electrical conducting, light emitting nanoparticles and ‘play’ Tony Stark, I was not giving up that chance. However, throughout the project it was heavily methodology development based which required many brainstorming sessions between me and several scientific papers. It has been a constant search for puzzle pieces as I continue to find and incorporate new information in my research which has been incredibly rewarding.

Why did you decide to do research?

I have wanted to become a physician since as early as I can remember, and not only did I want to experience the science of the body, I wanted to experience the science of the world. Performing research at Roanoke has introduced me to another scientific world in where I can feel magical by synthesizing small light emitting particles. Science is incredibly diverse and I believe that participating in difficult and academically stimulating research will aid my work as a physician.

 

 How has your experience with your research advisor been?

It started off very intimidating. Dr. Hughes is an incredibly intelligent scientist and I was a young freshman desperately trying to understand P-chem. Even though I fell flat on my face many times, Dr. Hughes was always there to give me the tools to help me up. He consistently pushed me to stretch my scientific imagination and find the solutions to my research questions myself. Working with Dr. Hughes the past three years has not only cultivated and shaped my scientific mind, but it also has helped me grow in my character. He has always been there as a trusted advisor to talk about whatever I was struggling with in my life. He has supported me in my academic efforts and even attended my show when I was the supporting lead in TRC’s An Enemy of the People.

 What has been your favorite or most interesting part of your research project so far?

My favorite part about my research project thus far has been the ability to attend and present at a research conference as an undergraduate. This past month I was able to attend a virtual conference sponsored by Harvard University where I presented my research to my peers and researchers from around the world. It was truly a unique experience because I saw the vast diversity of research projects that illustrated the inclusive nature of research and the level of thought, detail, and preparation that goes into every research project. I was also able to soak in the wisdom of the keynote speakers such as Dr. Sylvester James Gates Jr. and Nobel Prize Laureate Dr. Michael Rosbash.

What would you say to current and incoming students interested in doing research? 

You may come into your research project feeling completely overwhelmed and afraid that the topic is far too advanced for you to understand. Take that fear and channel into a drive for success and a desire for understanding.

 Lastly, any other additional information or comments you’d like to include besides the questions stated above?  

Understand that your research advisor is there to help you. Build a relationship with your advisor. It does not always have to be about your research topic. Take advantage of their help and let it launch you into an abundance of opportunities.

Research Highlight: Stephanie Zemba

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I had the opportunity to speak with Stephanie Zemba concerning her research experience with Dr. Hoffman and Dr. Mehrotra on examining interfaith dating relationships.

Can you describe what your research project is about?

Our research project examined interfaith dating relationships among college students, including students’ experiences, attitudes or views, expectations, and apprehensions. Drs. Kristi Hoffman and Meeta Mehrotra were the primary investigators, and they conducted five focus groups, which fell into two categories depending on whether students had interfaith experience (personally or through family/friends). Interfaith relationships were broadly defined to include faith-no faith and interdenominational relationships as well as a relationship between two individuals from different faith traditions.

I joined this project as a Research Fellow after the data was already collected, so I was primarily involved with analysis and helping to write up the results. Our article, called “Students’ Attitudes Towards Interfaith Relationships: The Impact of Parents, Religiosity, and Christian Privilege,” will be published in the Journal of College and Character this month. It discusses three main themes that arose from an analysis of the focus group data: the continued relevance of parents’ opinions about dating partners, the importance of religiosity in a religiously mixed relationship, and the role of Christian privilege in shaping attitudes towards potential dating partners who do not follow a Christian faith tradition.

What made you decide to pursue your topic?

I was interested in joining Drs. Hoffman and Mehrotra’s research team because my parents are in an interdenominational marriage. Several difficulties arose from these relatively minor religious differences in their relationship, most notably the negative reactions of my dad’s side of the family. Listening to my parents discuss their experiences sparked my interest in learning more about how religion shapes partner choice, relationships, and family life.

Why did you decide to do research?

My career goal is to become a professor of sociology and gaining research experience is very helpful as a prelude to a Ph.D. program. In addition to the practical benefits of learning the basics of research as an undergraduate, I enjoy the process of discovery that comes along with conducting a research project. Sociologists examine the social world, and I think that the best way to understand the multiple facets of a topic or issue is to ask people about it directly!

How has your experience with your research advisor been?

Drs. Hoffman and Mehrotra have both been wonderful advisors and mentors! I have enjoyed collaborating with them on several research projects, which has given me experience in all stages of the research process, from the design/planning phase to writing up results. Like all great mentors, they always see the potential in me and provide me with encouragement and support. Many of the opportunities that they encouraged me to apply for have really helped me develop as a person and as a scholar, including conference presentations, RC’s Summer Scholars, and the American Sociological Association’s Honors Program.

What has been your favorite or most interesting part of your research project so far?

My favorite part of this research project was the critical analysis we did when developing the Christian privilege theme. This was one of the major contributions of our paper, as few researchers examining interfaith relationships in the U.S. have considered the structural dominance of Christianity and how power inequalities between religious groups can influence openness towards interfaith relationships. In this section, we also discuss the need to encourage the development of religious literacy among college students, and the steps that higher education institutions can take to broaden students’ understanding of diverse religious groups.

What would you say to current and incoming students interested in doing research?

The first step to doing research is simply asking a professor about their interests and any research projects they are involved in or considering! While this may seem intimidating, it can lead to you becoming involved with a professor’s research project or developing an independent study with them. There are a lot of ways to do research, including as a volunteer, for course credit, or for pay. For current students, I would stress that it’s never too late to become involved in research!