Where are they now? Catching up with graduates of SRI@FMHI

Rodill's research topic during the SRI@FMHI program was parent perspectives on co-occurring cannabis use and mental health symptoms, such as psychosis, among their young adult sons.

"I grew interested in researching co-occurring disorders as there are inevitable underlying factors among mental health experiences, such as substance use, trauma, physical health, social systems, etc.," said Rodill. "I’m inspired to address a multitude of factors that contribute to mental health in order to prevent minimal access and increased severity of these conditions as well as promote safety, well-being, informed autonomy in the community."

Rodill says she feels prepared for graduate school because of the experience she gained conducting and presenting research as an undergraduate student and as part of her student research assistant job, along with the training, faculty mentorships, presentation practice, and exposure to the manuscript writing process that SRI@FMHI offered.

"The SRI program made me aware of the passion I have for community involvement in research and writing. I didn't think a doctoral program was in my future because of imposter syndrome and limited funding for my education, but Summer Research Institute mentors Dr. Kathleen Moore and Dr. Khary Rigg truly inspired me and other students to give it a shot and apply to graduate programs that may have seemed beyond us to fulfill our career goals in becoming professional researchers."

Haney's research project during the SRI@FMHI program focused on the relationships between psychiatric symptoms, adverse childhood experiences, and substance abuse histories in a sample of adults with opioid use disorder. As an undergraduate research assistant in psychology and criminology at the University of Tampa, she became interested in the onset of mental health and substance use issues in relation to adverse events. However, the SRI@FMHI project was her first exposure to research on substance use and mental health.

"Not only did I feel better equipped to apply to graduate school after participating in SRI@FMHI, but I also felt more prepared to actually be in graduate school," said Haney. "The skills I learned in the Summer Research Institute transferred into my graduate school projects and contributed to my successes. The program also helped me build my confidence in my research abilities."

Haney's SRI@FMHI cohort faced unique challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic; they were forced to complete the first five weeks of the program virtually before shifting into an in-person format for the last six weeks. Still, Haney says the connections she formed have had a significant impact on her academic journey.

"The faculty and staff in the program allowed me to take charge of my research project but provided extremely helpful insights and advice," said Haney. "Once SRI@FMHI was over, they gave me the opportunity to work with them as a research support specialist and I continue to work with them now as a graduate research assistant. I am so happy that SRI@FMHI brought me these connections."

During his time in SRI@FMHI, Koza supported a program evaluation of a youth tobacco awareness initiative implemented for students in Hillsborough County schools for which he collected pre- and post-survey data from students regarding their knowledge and perceptions of using tobacco, as well as interview/focus group data from parents and other key stakeholders.

"This research topic was particularly appealing to me as it aligned with my interest in implementation science and my passion for supporting the health and well-being of adolescents in educational settings," said Koza. "The skills and knowledge gained from my time in SRI@FMHI continue to serve as a foundation for my current work."

Koza says he felt a genuine sense of community within the SRI@FMHI program and a shared commitment to his success as an aspiring graduate student.

"The SRI program has been instrumental in shaping my journey as a researcher and preparing me for the transition to graduate school. Through various opportunities and experiences available to us, such as seminars and field experiences, the program helped me strengthen my research skills, better understand the graduate school application process, and helped solidify my plans to pursue graduate school."

Koza says he continues to stay in touch with one of his mentors, Kathleen Moore, PhD, who has supported him long after the conclusion of the program by answering questions about graduate school and writing letters of recommendation for his applications.

Mills' SRI@FMHI research focused on methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and sexual risk behaviors among African Americans, which shed light on a historically overlooked demographic within MDMA use and its potential implications for HIV prevention. Mills says the opportunity to conduct in-depth research in the field of substance use contributed greatly to her present work looking at determinants of substance use among young adults.

Mills says that the community rotations that are part of SRI@FMHI program taught her about the importance of disseminating research findings and provided invaluable insights into the communities she aims to assist. She credits the SRI@FMHI program with providing her the opportunity to work as a co-author on a publication and present research findings and attributes her ability to transition directly from undergraduate studies to a PhD program largely to the opportunities afforded by the SRI@FMHI program.

"Transitioning into grad school with prior experience in conducting and presenting research has been invaluable," said Mills. "While some of my peers entered with master's degrees or post-bac research experience, the skills I developed through the SRI@FMHI program have allowed me to excel alongside them. I am immensely thankful for the foundation the Summer Research Institute provided, enabling me to meet the high expectations of a PhD program from day one."

Previously, McGonigal earned a master's degree in clinical psychology in 2020 and a master's degree in legal studies in 2022. McGonigal is the recipient of the Hatcher/Turner Memorial Award from the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals, which is given to young professionals and graduate students who conduct threat assessment and management research.

For his SRI@FMHI research project, McGonigal worked with Kathleen Moore, PhD, and Scott Young, PhD, to evaluate the YouCan! young adult drug court program in Pinellas County. McGonigal examined moderators of treatment outcomes among the young adults in the program and conducted focus group interviews with some participants to understand what they liked about the program and how it helped them become more successful.

Reflecting on his SRI@FMHI experience, McGonigal says the SRI@FMHI program shaped him as a researcher, scholar, and psychologist.

"My mentors had a remarkable impact on who I am and how I think about criminological issues," said McGonigal. "They exposed me to the value of mixed methods research and using both quantitative and qualitative methods to understand certain phenomena. It was my first introduction to qualitative approaches to research, and I learned of its value in uncovering the 'why.' It provides a richer and more colorful context for the topics we're so interested in."

During SRI@FMHI, Olson's research was on young adults aging-out of the foster care system. She focused on their personal experiences as well as the services that were provided as they aged-out, wanting to better understand what could be done to help, especially those faced with trauma, abuse, and uncertainty at the beginning of adulthood.

"I learned so much during the summer I spent at USF, and I can truly say it was one of the best summers of my life," said Olson. "I loved the professors, the other students, our classes, conferences, the ride-along with the police officers, trips to mental health facilities and jails ... and so much more."

Olson says she became close with the other students playing volleyball, going to the beach, celebrating birthdays, going out to dinner, and becoming like family, and she was thankful for their support.

"I remember crying outside the library at one point, thinking I wouldn't have enough participants to complete my study. Luckily, my mentor and other professors in the program stepped in to make sure the research project was a success—and it was!

"I learned that research is not a straight line—it shifts and changes and takes turns you may not expect. It can be frustrating when something goes wrong, but also thrilling when you learn something new and feel that you are contributing to the greater good," said Olson. "Presenting research is always a fun opportunity to engage with those both inside and outside of your field and teach others about the work your team is conducting."  

During the SRI@FMHI program, Means wanted to better understand why young women did not seek help for their mental health issues. She interviewed women with and without insurance and found that even with having the financial means, there are barriers to accessing certain services.

Means says she was grateful to have a research project she was proud of under her belt; she felt confident in her ability to complete a project and looked forward to the next opportunity. 

"The SRI@FMHI program gave me the support and resources to investigate a clinical question of my interest," said Means. "I was able to learn more about the research process and improve my presentation skills, both of which have been helpful in my medical career."

Means says the most memorable experience from the SRI@FMHI program was the law enforcement ride-along, in that it was very impactful in understanding how police encounter and handle mental illness within the community.

During the SRI@FMHI program, Guereca joined an ongoing grant-funded research project evaluating a female drug-court treatment program in Pinellas County. For her project, she developed a research question that provided additional measures of anxiety and depressive symptoms that was used in the existing assessment for the grant.

Guereca believes the SRI@FMHI program gave her an edge during the graduate school interview process as a unique experience that allowed for independent research but also community involvement and personal development.

"It increased my self-efficacy in feeling more confident to apply to clinical psychology PhD programs as well as to explore programs in locations that were geographically more distant from my hometown," said Guereca. "Indeed, I ended up applying to clinical internship for my PhD several years later at the Tampa VA."

She says she remembers SRI@FMHI as being a supportive, welcoming, and immersive environment and, above all, a lot of fun.

"The faculty modeled a mentorship style that was exemplary. We also had unique experiences that were about personal and professional development. I think this program was the main catalyst for facilitating my journey toward graduate studies."

Sommers' research has been funded by the National Science Foundation and has been published in the Yale Law Journal, the Stanford Law Review, the University of Chicago Law Review, Psychological Science, Cognition, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and Science. In 2024, Sommers became the first law professor to receive the SAGE Early Career Trajectory Award, which recognizes research excellence in the field of social psychology.

Before joining the Michigan Law faculty, Sommers was a Bigelow Fellow at the University of Chicago Law School, where she founded the Psychology and Law Studies (PALS) Lab. She earned her a JD/PhD from Yale. Before graduate school, she was a post-bac research fellow at the NIH Bioethics Department in Bethesda, Maryland.