Psychology Student Assists with Government Research
October 9, 2017
Psychology Major and University of 麻豆频道 Western junior Roberta Irvin interned at the University of Pennsylvania over the summer. She worked with the National Institute on Drug Abuse, aiding researchers in their studies on the transmission of HIV.
After hearing of her plans to research the science of substance abuse following graduate school, Psychology Professor Heather Haas sent Irvin applications for the internship with NIDA.
The University of Pennsylvania was Irvin鈥檚 first choice out of 30 sites across the country where NIDA employs student interns.
Irvin believes none of this would have been possible without Experience One.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really nice having the one-on-one time with the professors. I wouldn鈥檛 have heard about the internship without that, let alone applied for it,鈥� she said.
During the internship, Irvin performed data entry for various studies, ran blood samples, and attended several conferences. She found the lectures based around substance abuse most interesting.
She hopes to focus her future research on treatment so that she can 鈥渕ake a difference in people鈥檚 lives.鈥�
Her work with NIDA will help her stand out when she applies for further education and eventually a career: 鈥淭his will be good to have on my resume, and it will really help me get into grad school,鈥� Irvin said.
This internship was the first step in Irvin鈥檚 journey toward her goals. She plans to do a presentation on her work in Pennsylvania at 麻豆频道 Western鈥檚 annual research symposium near the end of the spring semester.
