My Internship

My internship was at the Hulvershorn Lab, a part of the Behavioral Health Research group at IU Medicine. The lab is researching risky decision-making/impulsive decision-making in adolescents as it relates to possible harmful behaviors such as early drug use or sexual behaviors. Brain imaging is used to assess the brain functions as decision-making and impulsivity behavioral assessments are completed to gain a baseline. The study then follows the participants via follow-up surveys to track their drug, alcohol, and sexual behaviors. 

My primary responsibility during this internship was longitudinal follow up or data collection over a longer period of time. In more simple terms, I managed the collection of data through surveys sent at specific points in time. This allows the lab to track behaviors and attitudes of interest as participants age. This role entailed the dissemenation of surveys and tracking participant responses to ensure participants recieved the correct surveys within their response window. The goal of this was to maximize participant response and survey completion rates.

The Lab's overall goal was to gain a greater understanding of the brain activity related to high risk behaviors, such as substance use. This understanding is more important than ever considering the public health crisis America is facing with opioids. Gaining a greater understanding of how engagement in high risk behaviors begin in adolescence could provide major insights into how to prevent it. The research done in this lab builds a strong base upon which further research on drug use and abuse and its prevention can find a basis in.

To learn more about the Hulvershorn lab and Dr. Leslie Hulvershorn's work click here