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Rightpath Associate Professor Trina Spencer’s Research Lab Undergraduate Students Present at USF Undergraduate Research Showcase and Conference

Nine undergraduate researchers from Rightpath Associate Professor Dr. Trina Spencer’s research lab presented their research at the USF Undergraduate Research Showcase and Conference. Dr. Spencer works with undergraduate research students to provide mentoring while encouraging them to learn the science of behavior so that it can be applied to interdisciplinary and general education issues such as professional development, instructional design, and the promotion of academic language. Five of the students have won CBCS Mom’s Scholarships to support their research.

Organized into three student teams consisting of at least one junior and one senior working together, the teams conduct their studies and prepare their findings for dissemination. They presented posters in person at the Showcase on Friday April 1st, and one team presented virtually on April 7th.

One team won the Audience Choice Award for their study on the perceptual accessibility of vocabulary used by K-3 students, and Megan Kirby, the doctoral student who has been mentoring the team, received an honorable mention for her mentorship.

“I am incredibly proud of these undergraduate students because they are all intelligent, persistent, and collaborative," said Spencer.  "Because I’m currently in Africa on Fulbright, Dr. Matt Foster and Megan Kirby served as the students’ primary mentors. They have done an outstanding job supporting the students and I’m extremely grateful for their help. When we work as a team, everyone wins!"

Congratulations to the students and a special thanks to Dr. Foster and Megan Kirby for their hard work!