abstract

Welcome! On this page you will find a summary of the research assistantship work Jade Hipp, Mathia Jacobson, and Mya Ngo completed with Dr. Gray this semester. Some of the research projects included collaborative online international learning (COIL), National Institute of Health (NIH) K Award, and peer-to-peer counseling for a smoking cessation intervention. COIL is a way to co-create virtual international learning experiences with a faculty partner from a university in another country. Since its establishment, COIL has grown to be integrated into classes across the globe, building the concept of cultural awareness. The K award from the National Institute of Health (NIH) will help support Dr. Gray and his research assistant critically review the broader determinants of college students' health. Another in-progress project is exploring the effectiveness of Self-Determination interventions using peer counseling and group settings to overcome barriers to treatment for smoking cessation.

top 5 Goals For research Assistantship

1. Communicate effectively with Dr. Gray on a weekly basis.
2. Discover new ideas and knowledge that add value to public health literature.
3. Gain insight on research methods used within the public health field.
4. Apply Responsibilities and Competencies for Health Education Specialists in a real-world setting.
5. Document the learning experience through timesheets, evaluations, and reports.

INTRODUCTION

A Public Health Assistantship is a service learning experience designed for undergraduate students in public health. Under direct supervision of a public health faculty member, students will further their undergraduate education in an applied manner and develop skills that may enhance future graduate education or employment opportunities. Assistantship responsibilities may involve developing professional skills in research, laboratory management, pedagogy, or programming.

Summary of Research Assistantship

Research Assistantship Position No. 1

C.O.I.L Research Program (Mya): This is my second semester working as a research assistant for Dr. Gray. The topics that interest me on the research side of things would have to be holistic health, mental health, and nutrition. I took the opportunity to work with Dr. Gray again for the COIL program because I really enjoy learning more about COIL and the benefits it gives to students and faculty members. This assistantship focuses on writing my own COIL literature review in partnership with Dr. Gray, creating a COIL website, and some work with the Physical Activity Alliance (PAA). For PAA I helped create a syllabus for the upcoming program they are offering where you can get your Public Health Physical Activity Specialist Certificate (PAPHS).

Research Assistantship Position No. 2

NIH K23 Award Research Assistantship (Jade): This is my second semester working as a research assistant with Dr. Gray. Some of the projects I have been working on with Dr. Gray include helping him apply for the National Institute of Health (NIH) K23 award that would fund a research study focused on further understanding the inequalities in access to mental health care, health promotion services for individuals who identify as black, minority or ethnic (BME). This has involved a lot of grant writing related work. I typically help with the literature review sections of grants and I also helped create a timeline table which lays out Dr. Gray's additional teaching, research, and service experiences he will complete while working through his K23 award. Another project I helped Dr. Gray work on was submitting a manuscript for publication focused on motivational interviewing use by personal trainers to promote behavior change. We were accepted for publication by the journal Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology under their implementation strategies category. Dr. Gray and I were also asked to present on our research publication process at a MN SOPHE social hour.

Research Assistantship Position No. 3

Smoking Cessation (Mathia Jacobson): This is my first semester working as a research assistant with Dr. Gray. My position focused mainly on the pilot study about Smoking Cessation Peer to Peer Coaching Program that Dr. Gray and Dr. Lloyd have started. This study focuses on smoking cessation with peer coaches to work on overcoming barriers to affordability, availability, and accessibility encountered by minority, rural, and low-income individuals. UMD undergraduates will be trained as peer coaches and will then work with their peers towards smoking cessation through one-one and group meetings. Graduate students will observe and offer feedback for undergrad peer coaching. I was involved in grant writing, data collection, and finding literature related to the program. I also revised and edited documents, as well as created a logo and webpage for the program.

Reflection

Mya Ngo

I am truly grateful to have gotten the opportunity to work with Dr. Gray on this assistantship once again! It has been an amazing experience and I have learned a lot of what goes behind the scenes of research. There are so many obstacles and ways you can go about research which is pretty neat. I will be graduating in May 2021 so this is my last time I will be able to be a research assistant for Dr. Gray which is bitter sweet.

Jade Hipp

I am incredibly thankful to have gotten the chance to work with Dr. Gray as a research assistant. I never thought I would be a published student author, especially at the undergraduate level. This opportunity has provided me with grant writing experience which I felt like I had lacked before taking on this assistantship. I have developed and gained many research and writing skills from this opportunity which has made me much more confident to enter the public health field upon graduating this May. I would recommend becoming a research assistant to any public health student!

Mathia Jacobson

This semester has been awesome! I am so appreciative to have worked with Dr. Gray and my fellow research assistants. I was so lucky to work as a research assistant my last semester here at UMD. I learned a lot about what goes into creating research programs, as well as other factors that go into the whole research process. Before this semester, I barely knew anything about research in public health. Now I have new research experiences to help me on my next chapter in life.

Presenters