UW–Madison student Tricia Francis wanted to continue studying populations that are “often left out of the literature” after an experience working as a research assistant on campus during her junior year.
While exploring additional research opportunities, the human development and family studies major stumbled upon information about the Summer Education Research Program (SERP) and decided to apply.
SERP is a 10-week summer research opportunity, sponsored by the UW–Madison School of Education and Graduate School, that provides traditionally underrepresented undergraduate students the opportunity to engage in independent research. Each student is mentored by a School of Education faculty member or research associate, and receives a competitive stipend.
“It is a unique experience for undergraduates that partners them with scholars whose work is aligned with their current and future research goals,” explains Ida Balderrama-Trudell, the former director of student engagement for the School of Education’s Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (OEDI).
Students participating in SERP have the opportunity to become an integral part of research teams engaging in projects with the potential for real impact.
While in the program, Francis joined a team studying vaccine hesitancy that was led by Dorothy Farrar Edwards, a professor in the Department of Kinesiology and the School of Education’s associate dean for research, who was also her SERP mentor.
“It’s a really important project, because we’re looking at attitudes about COVID vaccines among both healthcare providers and patients in federally qualified health centers in Wisconsin,” says Farrar Edwards.
“Tricia piloted the pre-test of the patient survey. The real, honest-to-goodness pre-test. And then based on her experience and her comments and observations, we made changes,” Farrar Edwards adds.
Francis says the experience opened her eyes to how people develop their views on vaccines. “I found it shocking how many people shared with me how they were so quick to believe something on TikTok or a random article on Facebook,” she says. “I also learned how some individuals have a tough time accepting vaccinations due to either political issues or trust issues with the government.”
A goal of SERP is to encourage diverse undergraduate students to both pursue and thrive in graduate studies. Many SERP scholars have been accepted into UW–Madison School of Education graduate programs and awarded fellowships.
For Francis, now a senior, working with Farrar Edwards and her study team inspired her career goals. She wants to pursue her doctorate after she graduates and become a nurse practitioner focused on psychiatric and mental health.
“I’m pursuing a PhD so I can continue doing research in communities that are underrepresented,” she explains. “Specifically, I want to study minority children with adverse childhood events to see the physical and mental connections in health.”