Going into the Brackenridge, I thought research was synonymous with data collection. Now I know that data collection is a small part of the research project. Arguably, the most important aspect of research is gathering background information and building a foundation for one’s project. I set out to participate in independent research as a freshman,…

When tasked with creating a project to address accessibility in higher education, my group decided to address student access to healthcare at Pitt. Based on a 2016 statistic from Inside Higher Ed, college students are the largest cohort of Americans without insurance. Success at school can be hindered by unaddressed and untreated health issues, so…

The connections I am building with my colleagues across disciplines have truly made the Brackenridge fellowship a special experience. My cohort has been a great support system throughout this process, but this week we were tasked with expanding beyond this year’s fellows and reaching out to past Brackenridge recipients. Rebecca Nock graduated from Pitt in…

This week, we focused on communicating our research to those outside our field. To accomplish this, one must understand the process of narrowing a research project that leads to the purpose and significance. Personally, I learn better when I take information from the readings and make flowcharts like the one below. The first step is…

This week we were tasked with familiarizing ourselves with our cohort. Our scholar mentor is Josh Cannon, so naturally we named ourselves the Cannon Crew! As I talked about in my introduction last week, I’m a senior nursing major. Growing up, I had always received my highest grades in science and math courses, so I…

Hi everyone! My name is Kailen Heath and I’m a rising senior majoring in Nursing. While I wish I was in Pittsburgh this summer, I will be completing my research at home near Boston, Massachusetts. On campus, I am a peer mentor for Nursing Chemistry and I am involved in greek life as a member…