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Lab Members: Makayla Smith, Thyme Washington, Dr. Cerda-Smith, Oliver King & Shannon Beaune-Lala (left to right).
Purpose
Purpose
The RTR Lab runs the Ready Through Research program. In doing so, our goal is to enhance high school students' interest in psychology, research knowledge, and professional skills and networks.
Research Interests
Research Interests
How can we improve RTR programming?
Does RTR shape high school students' research skills, identity, and career interest?
RTR programming
RTR programming
Ready Through Research (RTR) is a supplementary curriculum that positions high school psychology students as competent researchers in their school community through project-based learning and mentorship.
Ready Through Research (RTR) is a supplementary curriculum that positions high school psychology students as competent researchers in their school community through project-based learning and mentorship.
High school psychology students participate in a series of class-based workshops throughout their psychology course. Workshop activities encourage students to practice quantitative and qualitative research methods and explore research topics of interest. Research mentors are local graduate and undergraduate students (NC State, UNC-Chapel Hill, Illinois State) who are recruited to highlight the diversity of field both in demographic backgrounds (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, ability status) and areas of expertise (qualitative and quantitative methods). Mentors facilitate workshops and advise RTR projects in which RTR students design, conduct, analyze and present an original research project. These research projects focus on better understanding or improving student experiences or school conditions. Students present their work at their school's RTR Research Expo in which mentors, parents, and school stakeholders (i.e., students, faculty, administrators, district personnel) are invited to attend.
For programming details, see our Facilitator's Guide.
Program History
RTR began with a single partner school in North Carolina in 2022-2023. It has expanded to three high schools across two states. RTR has occurred in year round AP Psychology classes as well as semester-long Introductory Psychology classes. Programming is modified based on partner teacher recommendations to best fit the needs of their particular students. We are currently planning our 5th year of RTR programming.
Interested in adopting RTR at your high school? Contact Dr. Cerda-Smith (jmcerda@ilstu.edu).
Above: Graduate student research mentors Angelina Joy (NC State, centered) and Maria Maza (UNC-CH, back left) advising students in North Carolina as they explore potential research topics and designs. Below: Research mentors from Illinois State University: Manny Oswusu (grad), Laura Botros (grad), Oliver King (undergrad), Shannon Beaune-Lala (undergrad), Makayla Smith (undergrad), Mari Faudoa (undergrad) before a workshop in Illinois.
RTR students presenting their projects at their school's Research Expo (a conference-style poster session). All students, teachers, administrators, mentors, parents, and other school stakeholders are invited to attend. Pictured are RTR students presenting research projects at two different schools in North Carolina.
our team
our team
Relevant works
Relevant works
Presentations:
Presentations:
Cerda-Smith, J., Koch, A., Winter, K., & Mulvey, K.L. (2026, April). Programming Strategies that Support Adolescent Researchers. [Poster Session]. Society for Research on Adolescence 2026 Biennial Meeting, Toronto, Canada.
King, O., Washington, T., Beaune-Lala, S., Smith, M., & Cerda-Smith, J. (2026, April). Ready Through Research (RTR). [Poster]. University Research Symposium, Illinois State University, Normal, IL.
Cerda-Smith, J., Winter, K. & Koch, A. (2025, January). Research Design Challenge. [Invited Teaching Demonstration]. 2025 Intro Psychology Coast-to-Coast, online.
Cerda-Smith, J., Winter, K. & Koch, A. (2024, June). Research Design Challenge. [Teaching Expo Presentation]. 2024 Psychology One Conference, Durham, NC.
Cerda-Smith, J. & Winter, K. (2023, June). How to get students “Ready Through Research”. [Teaching Expo Presentation]. 2023 Psychology One Conference, Durham, NC.
Publications:
Publications:
Cerda-Smith, J., Winter, K., Koch, A., & Mulvey, K.L. (2025). Getting Advanced Placement Psychology students “Ready Through Research”. Teaching of Psychology, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/00986283251335984
Winter, K., Koch, A., & Cerda-Smith, J. (2025). Research Design Challenge. In H. Scherschel & D. S. Rudmann (Eds.) Teaching tips: A compendium of conference presentations on teaching, 2023-24. (pp. 59-62). Society for the Teaching of Psychology. http://teachpsych.org/ebooks/teachingtips9
Winter, K. & Cerda-Smith, J. (2023). How to get students “Ready Through Research”. In H. Scherschel & D. S. Rudmann (Eds.) Teaching tips: A compendium of conference presentations on teaching, 2022-23. (pp. 60-64). Society for the Teaching of Psychology. https://teachpsych.org/ebooks/teachingtips8
funding
funding
We extend our sincere appreciation to the following organizations for their support:
We extend our sincere appreciation to the following organizations for their support:
Esther Katz Rosen Pre College Psychology Grant Program, American Psychological Foundation (2025-2026)
Psychology Emeritus Fund for Graduate Student Research, Dept of Psychology at NC State University
(2023)
Suniti-Anand Gupta Endowment Award, Dept of Psychology at NC State University (2023)
Joan J. Michael Scholarship Endowment Award, Dept of Psychology at NC State University (2023)
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