As an
OSCAR RA, I am currently working on a nutrition study with Dr. Cara
Frankenfeld. The study focuses on the
relationship between where an individual lives and their eating habits.
Each
week, I collect data using a dietary assessment program, as well as a database
module containing information on U.S. businesses. With the addresses given by each subject
participating in the study, using the database module, I download and collapse
information about the locations of grocery stores, pharmacies, cafeterias, and
bars within a certain mile radius. Using
the dietary assessment program, I enter in the dietary information given by
each of the subjects, in order to further analyze the relationship.
One thing
I learned this week was how simple it is to modify resources being used to
collect data for research. I have always
been afraid of the research process, knowing that sometimes there are things
you simply cannot get around when collecting data and making analyses. However,
this week I was continuously reminded of how wonderful technology is when you
need to enter and assess data very quickly.
Becoming
involved in the OSCAR RA program has been wonderful! I have learned so much,
and have been granted opportunities to network with individuals who are
passionate about public health and research just like I am. As an undergraduate student, I have learned
so much from those individuals, as they are now starting their own research
studies. I would like to further my education and continue on to graduate
school, and this opportunity has set me apart from other cohorts because I have
gained research experience. I hope to
continue to learn, and as I advance I hope to use this information to help
others, as well as make a difference in the world.
