Underrepresented Researchers Mentoring Program

Personnel	Project Overview
Project Objectives	Project Purpose
Latest Updates	Primary Project Components

Personnel

Anna Malsch, Ph.D., Project Manager
Abby Bandurraga, Student Mentee
Kayti Mills, Student Mentee

Project Overview

The Underrepresented Researchers Mentoring Project offers undergraduate and graduate students research opportunities in the field of children's mental health. The project coordinates and evaluates a program targeted toward students of color, first generation college students, and students with disabilities; it is designed to encourage students to pursue an interest in research and to acquire a variety of research skills and experiences. Participants in this program will work directly with at least one existing research project. In addition to learning about the field of children's mental health at academic and practice-based levels, participants will gain an understanding of the expectations, demands, role requirements, and necessary strategies within research as an academic profession.

Project Purpose

To provide training in a variety of research skills to men and women from groups which are underrepresented in children's mental health research.

Project Objectives

To identify women and men who represent groups that are underrepresented in research, and particularly women and men of color, first generation college students, and students with disabilities, who have an interest in research and in children's health and well-being.
To facilitate training in a variety of research-based tasks, including literature reviews; database searching; evaluation of existing programs and research; gathering and representing knowledge and experience; networking with researchers, practitioners, and families in the field; ethical analysis of research issues and demands; presentation, preparation and delivery of research results; and writing for a variety of audiences.
To support and draw on the participants' existing knowledge, expertise, and experience.
To further critical thinking skills and the development of strategies useful in academic and research contexts.
To offer access to the supports and resources necessary for participants to become skilled and confident researchers.
To work in partnership with existing research, university, and community formal and informal supports for underrepresented students.

Primary Project Components

Participants: Participants in this program will be upper-level undergraduates, masters, and doctoral students who are from a variety of PSU departments and schools, and who are interested in children's mental health and in research. The program will be targeted toward students of color, first generation college students, and students with disabilities.
Work Structure and Responsibilities: The two primary components of the participants' work responsibilities include participation with one research project currently in process at the Center, as well as training, education and support activities related to the mentoring process.
Research Training and Education: Following an assessment of each participant's existing research knowledge and skills, the program director and each participant will identify the areas in which the participant will receive research training and education. This training will then be scheduled as a part of the participant's work responsibilities.
University and Community Resources: This program will draw on university and community resources and supports that currently exist for underrepresented students.

Latest Updates

For the last several years, the RTC has benefited from the contributions of students participating in our researcher mentoring program. Through this program, the Center hires students of color, students with disabilities, and first generation college students to work on various projects at the Center.

Anna Malsch, Ph.D. has taken the role of Principal Investigator for the mentoring program. Two new mentees, Abby Bandurraga and Kayti Mills, have recently begun working with the RTC through the mentoring program. Abby is working with the Practice-Based Evidence: Building Effectiveness from the Ground Up project, and Kayti has joined the Work-Life Integration team.

training > mentoring