FWS Student Highlights: Julizza Canales

I am Julizza Canales, a sophomore at George Mason, and I am working on the CHEW Program, which stands for Child Health Exercise and Wellness Program. It is an intervention study led by Dr. Sina Gallo RD, PhD, to help Latino/Hispanic children from grades 1 to 4 in the Fairfax area who are obese. The program lasts six weeks in which the children and their parents will come to seven office visits in which they will receive lessons from a nutrition educator so that they can learn healthy eating and activity practices. 

Currently, I have been working on translating the documents needed for the study. Because we are working with the Latino population, we have to have Spanish versions of all the documents we will be using during the study. Recruiting participants has also been something I have been able to help with. It has been difficult to get the necessary number of participants needed to start the study so we have had to brainstorm outlets in which we can use to get people interested in participating in the study. I have also helped with gathering recipes that we thought our population will enjoy. Once we get all the participants and start the study, I will be helping with the lessons and also being available for the parent of the participants in case they do not understand something or would rather speak in Spanish.

This week I have had to translate documents that are needed for the lessons we will be teaching the children. Reading all the lessons has made me realize how much work and thought truly goes into putting these lessons together. You need to know your population well and know what is the best way to portray the information you want to teach and how will your participants learn best.

I aspire to be a physician’s assistant so being able to assist with this research study will help me improve my skills with interacting with patients and also learning how to educate others on health topics. As physician’s assistant I will be treating patients but I also want to be able to educate them so they can make healthier choices and live a healthy lifestyle. Through the months I have been working on this study I have learned many skills that I will carry with me into my career.

FWS Student Highlights: Natasha Taliferro

I am working with former OSCAR Program Coordinator and current GMU student, Denise Naizare, on her Ph.D research involving police­community relations. On a weekly basis, I read and analyze academic articles in the field of criminology that discuss police relations, community relations and how it is defined, and community­policing programs. Additionally, after I read and analyze the academic articles, I produce a literature brief or review on articles that are most relevant to the research being conducted and critique the articles and ideas expressed in the articles against other scholars in the field.

One thing I discovered this week is the way in which community­police relations is discussed in the United States. It seems that the majority of community­police relations focus around race­relations and socio­economic status; however, scholarship in the field fail to address how multi­faceted a community is, and how multi­faceted an individual is. It goes without saying that an individual's identity within a community can belong to multiple micro­communities; however, current literature fails to address how micro­communities can aid in community policing, especially in urban settings where "street code" is prevalent.

The research that I am assisting with is related to my long­term goals because I am studying the field of international relations with an interest in culture, and especially Eastern Asian culture. The articles that I have seen gives me a criminology­focused lense into community relations, a relationship that eventually affects domestic and international policies. Furthermore, I have a minor in the criminology­based Intelligence Analysis, and researching community­based relations can allow me to draw from such research if I decide to pursue an analyst career based in threat­analysis.

FWS Student Highlights: Tuvshintuya Gutierrez

My name is Tuvshintuya Gutierrez, a student majoring Information Technology. I have been working for College of Education and Human development at George Mason University as a research assistant under the supervision of Dr. King-Sears since February 2016.  My current tasks are converting data into statistical software SPSS and also converting files into spreadsheets for a research that being conducted to compare different instructional techniques on students’ academic performances.   

Being a part of the OSCAR Undergraduate Research Assistantship has brought a significant experience for me as an individual and for my future career goals.  Its significance remains in the skill set that I gain from work, which I value the most.  I learn different skills and experiences from assisting the research team that are essential for any professional career.  I feel lucky to have the opportunity to work with an amazing research team through OSCAR, learning from them what it takes to do the research.  I enjoy being a part of the research team and look forward to come to work on a weekly basis.  One thing I discovered while working on SPSS this week is how much functions and features can be undiscovered and unused within the technologies and their tools. I work on different tasks and we meet as a team on a weekly basis to discuss on-going projects and determine the goals. With that being said, my current position as a research assistant related to my long term professional career in many different ways.  To name a few, collaboratively working as a team, communicating effectively, planning ahead, and skills and in-depth working knowledge of technologies.

FWS Student Highlights: Amir Maghsoudi

Since I started working with Doctor van Hoek (at the MVH lab) in the Science and Technology campus, I have been exposed to many inspirational and driven individuals. Working alongside masters and PhD students, I have already learned so much about a real microbiology laboratory. From working with bacteria to autoclaving equipment, I have realized that working in a lab is fun, exciting, fast-paced, and most importantly, serious!

Currently, I am working with various bacteria and yeast found in our oral microflora. Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans are microorganisms found in the oral cavity, which are responsible for common diseases, such as carries (cavities). The goal of this project is to determine how these microorganisms grow and how we can inhibit them! In the MVH lab, I am the only person who is working on this project with the assistance of my managers/mentors, Stephanie and Dr. van Hoek.

           

Though working in the lab is very fast-paced, working with microorganisms can be very slow. Since the majority of my work relies on growing bacteria and yeast, sometimes it may take two to five days to achieve results. If the results are not desirable, the experimental procedure may be modified to acquire the desired results. On a weekly base, I will do many things, including growing bacteria, sterilizing equipment, and testing antibiotic resistance against bacterial growth! After many trials this week, I tested multiple different growth media for my yeast and determined what the best media is to grow it on!

Since my long-term goal is to enter dental school and practice as a dentist and health care provider, I think this project will help me achieve a greater understanding of the oral microflora, which is a key component of having a healthy mouth! Thus, having this knowledge will help me be a better dentist. With further knowledge and outstanding research, groundbreaking results may be found, which may benefit the medical community. My ultimate goal is to help move science forward and allow the community to achieve better health!

FWS Student Highlights: Chyna Staten

I am currently working with the Center for Teaching and Faculty Excellence (CTFE) which is an office at Mason that offers a range of opportunities for instructors. I was hired under Laura Lukes who is the Assistant Director for the office. As the office is working on various projects and programs, I assist in database analysis and management to measure effectiveness of Provost courses and CTFE events and programs that are being implemented. I usually spend my time updating the website, entering data into the designated software, and creating and reviewing materials distributed in events sponsored by the office.

I would say that I learn something substantial every week. Being around faculty, I gain insight to their efforts to create a beneficial environment for their students. I was unaware that some instructors meet on their days off to discuss ways to engage students in lecture and encourage class participation. The staff at CTFE are involved in a great deal of programs provided for faculty and I discovered how dedicated they are to listening to the concerns of that the teaching staff have and developing ways to improve these concerns for the future of George Mason University.

My major here at George Mason is communication with a concentration in public relations. My field requires creativity, interpersonal communication, and individual capability. PR involves creating and implementing communication efforts for a specific organization or business and I feel as though I am doing just that as a Research Assistant for CTFE. I spend my day getting familiar with software that I will have to use in future positions, updating the website, and creating advertisements—which are all duties that I may very well be assigned in my career. Overall, I am appreciative of this position that I have been granted at the Center for Teaching and Faculty Excellence. I work with individuals who are dedicated to making a difference in their environment, which is exactly what I plan to do in my career.