News

Rightpath Associate Professor Trina Spencer’s Research Lab Undergraduate Students Present at USF Undergraduate Research Showcase and Conference

Nine undergraduate researchers from Rightpath Associate Professor Dr. Trina Spencer’s research lab presented their research at the . Dr. Spencer works with undergraduate research students to provide mentoring while encouraging them to learn the science of behavior so that it can be applied to interdisciplinary and general education issues such as professional development, instructional design, and the promotion of academic language. Five of the students have won to support their research.

Organized into three student teams consisting of at least one junior and one senior working together, the teams conduct their studies and prepare their findings for dissemination. They presented posters in person at the Showcase on Friday April 1st, and one team presented virtually on April 7th.

One team won the Audience Choice Award for their study on the perceptual accessibility of vocabulary used by K-3 students, and Megan Kirby, the doctoral student who has been mentoring the team, received an honorable mention for her mentorship.

“I am incredibly proud of these undergraduate students because they are all intelligent, persistent, and collaborative," said Spencer.  "Because I’m currently in Africa on Fulbright, Dr. Matt Foster and Megan Kirby served as the students’ primary mentors. They have done an outstanding job supporting the students and I’m extremely grateful for their help. When we work as a team, everyone wins!"

Congratulations to the students and a special thanks to Dr. Foster and Megan Kirby for their hard work!

Jade Brown, Lena Bayyat, and Georgia Cox – The Relationship Between the Perceptual Accessibility of Vocabulary and K-3 Students’ Narrative and Expository Language

Jade Brown, Lena Bayyat, and Georgia Cox – The Relationship Between the Perceptual Accessibility of Vocabulary and K-3 Students’ Narrative and Expository Language

Photo L to R: Cassandra Henry, Lena Bayyat, Aaliya Muraisi, Iman El-Kolalli, and Bismah Zabih

Bismah Zabih and Iman El-Kolalli – Beyond the Spectrum: Examining the Correlations Between Inferencing, Theory of Mind, and Affect Recognition Skills in Children Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Bismah Zabih and Iman El-Kolalli – Beyond the Spectrum: Examining the Correlations Between Inferencing, Theory of Mind, and Affect Recognition Skills in Children Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Photo L to R: Iman El-Kolalli, and Bismah Zabih

Cassandra Henry and Aaliya Muraisi – Broadening the Spectrum: Insight into the Impact that Inferencing has on Math in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Cassandra Henry and Aaliya Muraisi – Broadening the Spectrum: Insight into the Impact that Inferencing has on Math in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Photo: Cassandra Henry

Breanna Zurito and Irene Febres - Inferencing Ability and its Relation to Comprehension in Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Photo: Breanna Zurito and Irene Febres