Assumption is a hub for exciting faculty-student collaborations, allowing students to experience hands-on research, present their work at national conferences, and publish papers in fields as diverse as neuroscience, psychology, and Latin American literature.
Challenging Students to Ask New Questions and Test Theories
Most children ask for toys at Christmas. Not Heather Bates ’20. “Since a young age, I’ve been fascinated with the human body, so I asked for anatomy books,” she said.
Now a biology major intent on pursuing a career in medicine, her passion for science is greater than ever. “There’s never a lack of information to learn or new discoveries to be made.”
Bates is now making exciting discoveries herself, as she assists Associate Professor of Biology Michele Lemons, Ph.D., on research funded by a highly competitive $301,059 grant from the National Science Foundation for neurodevelopment research recently awarded to Prof. Lemons.
“Research supported by this grant is expected to shed novel insights on healthy brain formation and function, and could enhance our understanding of the molecular basis of neurodevelopmental disorders,” said Prof. Lemons, who also directs the Center for Neuroscience at Assumption. “In addition to its scientific merit, this grant supports key research training opportunities for Assumption students, local biology high school teachers, and students from backgrounds underrepresented in science.”
This is the second federal research grant for Prof. Lemons, one of many Assumption professors who mentor students in the research lab. She trains students to formulate research questions, design and execute experiments that will test their theories, and share their findings after they analyze them.
Last summer, for instance, Bates discovered novel genes necessary for neural development. “It’s so fun to ask questions that have never been answered before,” she said.
Finding Passions and Lifelong Mentors
For students already intent on research or academic careers when they arrive at Assumption, working with faculty on research projects can open doors to graduate or professional schools by giving them powerhouse academic credentials, especially if undergraduates present their findings at conferences and earn authorship on a publication. And, for students whose career paths are less well defined, being introduced to research can help them find new passions or career goals.
Associate Professor of Spanish Juan C. Grijalva, Ph.D., who chairs the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Cultures, inspires his students to continue learning outside the classroom by exploring new ways of integrating community service learning into coursework. “When Assumption students are given the opportunity to shine, their excellent work becomes a source of inspiration for others and for me as well,” he said.
For example, students in his Latin American Otherness: Indigenismo class studied, interviewed, and wrote the life stories of three influential indigenous women activists. The students traveled to the United Nations to interview the activists in person, then wrote up their interviews in Spanish and published them in Latino Rebels, one of the top Latino media outlets in the world.
Claudia Palencia ’17 called the trip “an incredible and unique experience. I feel inspired by the women we met and I loved listening to their personal stories.”
Discovering New Career Paths
Professor of Psychology Paula Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., estimates that her department has dozens of active ongoing research projects each semester. Her research focuses on child development, and her studies have been supported by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health and the University of Massachusetts Medical School and Assumption’s Collaborative Pilot Research Program. Currently, she is examining social interactions in children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Throughout her career at Assumption, “I’ve worked with some amazing students,” Prof. Fitzpatrick said, many of whom have gone on to masters and doctoral programs.
“By introducing students to the world of research, professors can sometimes change their career trajectories in profound ways,” she added.
One case in point: Devyn Oliver ’14, who conducted neuroscience research for two years under the direction of Prof. Lemons. “I went to college thinking that I would become a pediatrician,” she said. “It wasn’t until I enrolled in the natural science courses and labs at Assumption that I understood just how fundamental biology is. There is always something new and unknown in science that both excites and pleasantly frustrates me.” Today, she is continuing her research as a Ph.D. student at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
“Conducting research with students allows us to help them find their strengths and passions,” said Prof. Fitzpatrick. “The impact of their experiences and the mentoring relationships they form with us here can last a lifetime.”
Striding Toward Greater Knowledge
William Nall, who completed his master’s degree in clinical counseling psychology in 2018, can attest to that. He is now a clinician at Open Sky Community Services, where he provides therapy and treatment plans for clients with chronic mental illness. Yet, he still collaborates on research projects with his Assumption mentor, Psychology Professor Leonard A. Doerfler, Ph.D., who directs the Clinical Counseling Psychology program.
“We enthusiastically invite students to join us in our research because we see these collaborations as an extension of the work we do in the classroom,” said Prof. Doerfler, who is currently exploring the links between irritability and its overlap with other mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and oppositional defiant disorder.
Nall said he is a more effective counselor as a result of doing research himself and staying informed about current studies. “One of the best things about Assumption is that you get this unique experience of working with professors who have a vast amount of knowledge,” he said, “yet are still striving to pursue greater knowledge through research, and you get to do that with them.”
