University of Tulsa second-year doctoral student Melody Robinson’s dedication to clinical psychology and interest in research conducted by the Tulsa Institute of Trauma, Adversity, & Injustice lab and the Trauma Research, Assessment, Prevention & Treatment Center has opened the door to new and exciting opportunities.
Recently, Robinson was selected for a summer research fellowship through the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center. This nationwide competitive program selects three graduate students for a 10-week paid position to conduct veteran-focused research.
Robinson will be paired with a current VA faculty member to conduct research, attend trainings and seminars on professional development, writings, and statistics. She will also have the opportunity to mentor undergraduate students participating within the program and present her research by the time the fellowship ends.
The faculty at the Minneapolis facility study a range of questions related to veteran populations, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide risk and prevention, traumatic brain injury, cognitive aging, severe mental illness, and more.
“I am incredibly excited to expand my professional network, receive mentorship training and experience, and strengthen my research skills,” said Robinson. “I am also very eager to represent and orient myself as a disabled researcher in a professional space as so few of us exist or are represented in the field.”
Her hope is to one day develop a career in research and clinical work to assist and advocate for survivors of interpersonal violence. “With a clinical psychology degree, I feel I will have the flexibility and training to assist survivors, examine effective interventions, and contribute to psychological research,” she said.
Interested in assisting with projects like Robinson’s? Check out Kendall College of Arts & Sciences’ Department of Psychology to participate in groundbreaking research.