Melissa Tarantola
Year in school:
senior
Major degree program/department:
psychology (minors in biology and human developmental family studies)
Faculty mentor:
Tom Piasecki, PhD,
clinical psychology and
Amanda Rose, PhD,
developmental psychology
How did you get involved with undergraduate research?
I started as a research assistant (RA) in Dr. John Kerns' lab after a graduate student came to one of my classes to tell us about the opportunity to work there. After working for a semester in Dr. Kerns' lab I knew I loved research but decided to broaden my experience and look at other labs. I then began working as an RA in Dr. Amanda Rose's peer relations lab and found that I absolutely loved it! When I heard about the Undergraduate Research Mentorship Program, I knew I wanted to work with Dr. Rose and, luckily, she agreed. Once I began working with Dr. Rose, I fell in love with undergraduate research and decided to get further involved by collaborating with Dr. Thomas Piasecki on a project for my honors capstone.
On what kinds of projects have you worked?
Dr. Rose and I did a project studying the subtypes of self-focused conversation (i.e. dominating or redirecting the conversation to focus on the self or aspects of the self) in adolescent friendship dyads. We examined how the use of each of these subtypes contributes to friendship quality and depression. Dr. Piasecki and I plan to examine how the subjective effects of alcohol are related to a family history of alcoholism and other variables.
Why is this experience so valuable to you?
This experience has changed me as a student and given me a greater sense of investment in my schoolwork. I used to study to get good grades; now I study to make myself a better psychologist. I plan to go to graduate school, and without this kind of independent research experience, I would have nothing to set me apart from the other applicants. But even more than something to put on my résumé, undergraduate research has been the most interesting, most important and coolest thing I have ever been involved with! I am actually contributing to science and creating knowledge — knowledge that has the potential to better someone’s life!
What advice would you offer to other students considering undergraduate research?
Research is much more accessible than it might seem! Even if you don't feel like you're qualified, you should still attempt to get involved! When approaching a professor about working with them, make sure to be enthusiastic about and familiar with their research. Also, make sure the research you are involved with is something you are interested in, as it is likely to be the kind of research you are involved with in graduate school and beyond!
