With the limited number of research funds available to undergraduate students, the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS) Undergraduate Student Summer Research Award provides undergraduate students with funds to explore meaningful research, offering an opportunity to expand their interests outside of the classroom curriculum.
Recipients of the award will conduct research on their topic of choice that addresses a social or disability problem in the health, assistive technology and rehabilitation fields. The recipient is granted $5,000 for the summer to assure that they can devote themselves full-time to their project. Funds may be used toward living expenses and research related travel.
The 2021 Undergraduate Student Summer Research Award recipient is Jordann Antoan (RS ’21), a senior in the Rehabilitation Science program at SHRS. Antoan’s project mentor is Professor Beth Skidmore.
Read more to learn about Antoan’s research project.
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Q: What is the purpose of your research project?
A: I wanted to investigate the quality of health care for Black or African Americans and explore potential barriers to their stroke recovery.
Q: Why did you choose to investigate this particular topic?
A: As someone who plans to work in stroke rehabilitation, I wanted to learn more about why those who are Black or African American have more strokes and experience worse outcomes after rehabilitation compared to those who are White. When I couldn’t find answers to my questions, I started looking for ways to explore the experiences of this population in more depth. I thought one way to start investigating the reasons for the disparities in stroke outcomes would be to ask Black or African Americans about their stroke journeys and what changes they wanted to see in the health care system. This gave a historically underrepresented population a voice in future changes to stroke management and the quality of health care they might receive.
Q: What are your future career goals?
A: Starting in fall 2022, I will be attending Pitt SHRS’ Doctor of Occupational Therapy program. My goal is to work in an outpatient stroke rehabilitation center somewhere close to Philly and my family.
Q: How was your experience pursuing a Bachelor of Philosophy?
A: Completing the Bachelor of Philosophy (BPhil) was probably the most rewarding accomplishment of my undergraduate experience. It allowed me to research something I am incredibly passionate about, and it opened so many doors for me in the occupational therapy field. I had the opportunity to work with the Pitt OT Department and meet my future professors and mentors as they helped me develop my project. It was a tough process to create and conduct my first- ever research study, but I learned different avenues I could use to help my community and future patients.
This summer (2022), I have the opportunity to continue my research beyond the BPhil requirements, submit my work to a rehabilitation journal, present it to my peers and colleagues, and lend my data to other researchers who are investigating similar topics. I am incredibly humbled to have completed this project and I would urge anyone who has a passion they want to pursue to consider completing a BPhil.
Q: What does this award mean to you?
A: Not only did this award allow me to continue my research over the summer, but it also gave me the confidence to continue with my project. When I received this award, my research was in its beginning stages, and I was not sure if it would be successful. However, having people believe in my project enough to bestow me the McMurtry Family Undergraduate Research Award assured me that my work is valued in my community. I am grateful to the committee and the McMurtry family for having faith in me and my research.
Read about the 2020 award winner, Brandon Nguy
