Kremer Presents Research at National Conferences

I wanted to participate in a research project because I was looking for ways to explore my major outside of the classroom. Research allowed me to combine the knowledge I was learning in my classes with the skills and background I had coming into college in a new and exciting way!

I found out about this research opportunity through the Undergraduate Psychology Association and Wendy Quinton, clinical professor
in the Department of Psychology and director of the Psychology Honors Program. She who encouraged me to apply to research labs and helped me prepare for my interviews. She was a wonderful resource while I was initially looking to learn more about getting involved in research.

In the Social Development Lab, I primarily conduct school based behavioral observations in local preschools. I sit in during free-play sessions and take note of peer interactions, aggressive and prosocial behaviors, play styles, teacher interactions and general child behavior. I am also involved with child interviews over Zoom and in-person interviews where we assess numeracy, literacy and other similar constructs. I have recently been trained to serve as the assistant during lab-based physiology sessions, where we assess a child’s physiological reaction to stress through measures like skin conductance and heart rate.

Additionally, I am currently working as the head research assistant in the Social Development Lab, where I help train new research assistants and make sure that observations are going smoothly. I have also been able to pursue independent projects in the lab where I come up with and investigate my own research questions. This has allowed me to create a poster and travel to conferences where I presented my own work, met many other students in my field and learned a ton!

I learned a lot about child development and the preschool age through this experience. By visiting local schools nearly every day, I was able to observe many different classroom settings and teaching styles. I also saw peer interaction in real time and think about how my own research interests could be applied to real life settings. I also learned about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cognitive abilities in this age group and the importance of identifying such deficits so they can be corrected.

I have authored a poster that was presented at three different conferences last year including the Eastern Psychological Association Annual Meeting, Western New York Undergraduate Psychology Conference and the UB Celebration of Student Academic Excellence. I also won a Regional Research Award from the Eastern Psychological Association/Psi Chi for student authors of outstanding written abstracts. Additionally, I am currently working on my honors thesis.

Before beginning research at UB, I had no clue what I wanted to do after college. This experience has been incredibly important in shaping my career goals and interests into what they are now. It has also given me a passion for conducting scientific research I never would have discovered otherwise. I have gained communication skills, increased my confidence, learned leadership skills and was able to take part in many wonderful experiences through research that truly shaped my experience at UB.

My biggest piece of advice to a new student who wants to do research at UB is to just go for it! It is easy to feel like you may not be qualified to do research as an undergraduate, but that is not the case. People in the labs you may end up working in are there to help you and want to see you succeed as a researcher and as a person! Even if doing research is not your long-term career goal, gaining experience doing research gives you countless skills that can be applied towards whatever you want to do in the future.

My advice to future UB students is to get involved! Whether you want to pursue research or opportunities within your major, a new club or hobby, or join a sports team or musical ensemble, there are so many ways to be involved on campus. Trying something new or continuing a hobby from before your time at UB can be an amazing way to meet people and make friends!

UB was an option that I knew had a lot of opportunities since it was such a big school. I was also happy to be able to stay close to home and receive the benefits of living on campus while seeing my family often since I only live about 40 minutes away!

My favorite thing about UB is the wide range of opportunities available to everyone who attends. From clubs to sports to music and dance to research to student government, there are endless ways for students to explore their interests both within and outside of their majors. As somebody who has a lot of different interests, this is an incredible part of UB as it allows me to pursue an academic path that aligns well with my career goals, while still staying active in all of the things that bring me joy outside of the classroom.

I chose psychology as my major because I was interested in studying human development and behavior. While I did not initially know exactly what I wanted to do with psychology, UB has helped me find my own unique interests and passions within the field that have inspired me to pursue a career in child clinical psychology.

I love how compassionate and helpful all of the faculty within the department are and how even within such a large department you never feel like just a number. All of my psychology professors have been an essential part of finding my career path within the major.

The best thing about the department is how it feels like a community within UB. I have met so many incredible people in this major that inspire me, wonderful faculty that push me in the classroom and in the lab and an abundance of opportunities to explore new opportunities within my field.

When I started at UB, I had absolutely no clue what I wanted to do. I was not at all one of those students who has known what they want to do their entire life. I wasn’t even sure if psychology was a good fit for me and I had no idea how I would navigate through college life. However, my four years at UB have drastically changed me in terms of my career goals and my own personal growth. Through all of the various experiences I have had at UB, I have learned so much about myself and about my field that has inspired me to find a career path that truly suits me and allows me to use myn own skillset to help others. It is completely okay to not be certain of what your path in life is and things will always work themselves out!

I love the community of students I have found at UB. We have so many different students from all over the world who all have different backgrounds, different experiences and different fields of study. It is truly so inspirational to spend every day studying in an environment where this kind of intellectual diversity exists and gives me endless opportunities to learn from my peers. Being a UB student to me means striving to do your best in every opportunity that comes your way. It means immersing yourself in campus life and your major, taking the time to connect with fellow students and making the most of your four years on campus. It goes by faster than you can imagine!