Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Edson College Undergraduate Research Charter

The Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation at Arizona State University is committed to providing an inclusive, health care and health outcomes-focused research experience directed at serving individuals, families and communities, and affording undergraduate students of all majors the opportunity and resources to explore their research interests and ideas with guidance from experienced Edson College faculty researchers.

Why should I get involved with research?

Prior research has found that becoming involved in authentic scientific experiences as an undergraduate student is associated with higher graduation rates, greater acceptance rates to graduate schools, broadened career options (particularly in academic, industry and other professional science networks), and meaningful relationships with faculty mentors and peers within a team-based research setting.

How can I get involved with research at the Edson College?

Enroll in a faculty-led section of the course HCR 280 or HCR 480 Team-Based Research Practicum. Each section represents a lab or research project opportunity open to small groups of students of any major to obtain practical research skills while being an integral part of a research team implementing a health, nursing, healthcare and/or health innovation related studies.

Edson College Research Opportunities

For Credit in Fall 2025

HCR 280/480 Team-Based Research Practicum (1-3 credits)

Course Description: Small-group (e.g., team, project, lab, clinic, center-based) health, nursing, healthcare, and health innovation–related study and research experiences, led by an Edson College faculty mentor, for students of all majors.

*Note. Permission from the faculty mentor is required prior to enrollment. Contact them today!

Lab/Project	Contact	Description
People, Places, and Health Lab	Aaron Guest	Dr. Aaron Guest's lab delves into the intricate ways social and built environments impact health across the lifespan, with a special emphasis on older adults and rural settings. Embedded in this work is a commitment to understanding the role of policy in the development of public health programs that ensure the optimal health status for all people. Committed to turning insights into action, the lab aims to devise innovative strategies to reduce health inequities. If interested, contact Dr. Aaron Guest at [email protected]
Stigma and HIV-Related Health Lab	Angel Algarin	Students will be working in the Stigma and HIV-related Health Lab (SHH Lab) assisting on adapting then an intervention that promotes stigma resistance to improve HIV prevention outcomes among men who have sex with men. Contact [email protected] to enroll.
Aging, ADRD, and Family Caregiving Lab	David Coon	This lab group focuses on research projects related to the development of psychoeducational skill-building interventions for older adults facing chronic illnesses (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, depression, cancer) and their family caregivers using qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods. Contact Dr. David Coon at [email protected] to enroll.
Couple Health, Aggression, and Socio-Economics Lab	Julia Hammett	Dr. Julia Hammett’s lab investigates health disparities associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) and other forms of interpersonal aggression. Studies focus on examining sociocultural and economic risk factors of IPV, such as stress and financial strain, and on developing interventions to reduce the risk of IPV among couples. Students will participate in weekly team meetings and contribute to research projects via a variety of tasks (e.g., participant screening and recruitment; literature reviews; data coding). Interested students will have the opportunity to pursue individual research projects or thesis-related work by receiving support in data analysis and dissemination of research conducted within the lab. To enroll please contact [email protected].
Mixed Methods Approaches to Stress-Coping and Healthy Lifestyles	Felipe Castro	Two projects are ongoing. 1) One mixed methods study examines cognitive, affective, behavioral and retrospective reflections as coping effectiveness factors in response to a highly stressful difficult life problem. Groups examined in this study are: Latino community Leaders and community Residents, and Drug Users in Treatment. Research tasks include: (a) casewise analyses of stress, coping, and resilience, (b) thematic analyses and casewise ratings of resilience; (c) casewise comparisons of healthy and unhealthy lifestyle profiles, and (d) storyline analyses. This lifestyles research can inform the development of evidence-based interventions (EBIs) for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and of type 2 diabetes (T2D). 2) The second mixed methods study examines at risk individuals within the context of familial and cultural factors, as risk and protective factors in preparedness for behavior changes for preventing the onset of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). Research tasks include: (a) casewise analyses of healthful and unhealthy lifestyle profiles; (b) social and biological data analyses; and (c) thematic analysis of participant responses to focus questions regarding: diet and exercise, perceived diabetes risks, and familial social supports. For either study, data analyses can be used to develop an honors thesis, to develop a conference presentation, and to participate as a co-author in one or more journal articles. To enroll please contact [email protected].
Diabetes Prevention in Latino Youth and Families	Gabriel Shaibi	Our research team is looking for highly motivated students who would like to learn and contribute to our research lab led by Dr. Shaibi https://shaibiresearch.weebly.com/. The purpose of the lab is to develop, test, and expand diabetes prevention programs for high-risk Latino youth and families in collaboration with community partners and stakeholders. Join us as we implement a study funded by the National Institutes of Health to prevent type 2 diabetes in high-risk Latino families https://news.asu.edu/20210927-new-grant-expands-community-based-diabetes-prevention-research. Students bilingual in Spanish and English are highly encouraged to apply. Honors Students who wish to do their Barret Honors Thesis with the lab are also encouraged to apply. To enroll contact Dr. Gabe Shaibi: [email protected].
Views of Aging and Health Lab	Hannah Giasson	Dr. Giasson's lab examines the social contexts that shape views of aging and the impact of such views on people's health and well-being. Students in the lab will have opportunities to collaborate on research projects investigating the emergence of attitudes and beliefs about aging and evaluating the cognitive, behavioral, social, emotional, and physiological implications of age stereotypes. Projects in the lab also explore potential interventions for improving views of aging across the life span. To enroll please contact [email protected].
Alcohol and Sexual Health	Kelly Davis	The Alcohol & Sexual Health Lab is an interdisciplinary team of researchers focused on understanding the role of alcohol in sexual risk behaviors and sexual violence in young adults. We use multiple methods, including laboratory experiments, longitudinal and daily surveys, and community-based interventions. Students may engage in a variety of tasks associated with each of these types of projects. To enroll, contact Dr. Kelly Davis at [email protected].
Sleep and Health Lab	Megan Petrov	Dr. Petrov’s Sleep & Health Lab investigates the role of sleep in the development of chronic diseases across the lifespan (i.e., pregnancy, infancy, and through older adulthood) in the context of other lifestyle behaviors (e.g., physical activity, nutrition, sedentary behavior), identifying sleep health disparities across populations, and developing and testing interventions to improve sleep and prevent chronic diseases associated with poor sleep. http://meganpetrovresearch.weebly.com/. To enroll, please contact Dr. Megan Petrov at [email protected].
Public Health Ethics and Decision Making	Rachel Gur-Arie	In this lab, we will conceptually and empirically explore public health ethics and policy. Students will learn how to apply public health ethics frameworks to ongoing research projects in Dr. Gur-Arie’s lab, including but not limited to vaccine hesitancy research and genomic medicine implementation research in various primary care settings. Research projects are ongoing, growing, and evolving. Dr. Gur-Arie encourages students who are interested in public health ethics to express interest, even if they have no prior experience with the topic. To enroll, contact Dr. Rachel Gur-Arie at [email protected].
Activity, Community Collaboration, Equity, Sustainable Options	Rebecca Lee	Dr. Rebecca Lee's research uses implementation science to promote physical activity and healthy eating in Hispanic children and families. Sustainability via Active Garden Education (SAGE) is a garden-based program in underserved preschools. SAGE WISE will test the efficacy of in person vs. virtual implementation strategies and incorporate a virtual learning collaborative using social media. There are co-publication and thesis opportunities with existing data. To enroll contact Dr. Lee: [email protected].
Physical Activity and Health	Rodney Joseph	Dr. Joseph’s lab focuses the development and implementation of community-based, culturally and individually tailored, physical activity interventions. These interventions are aimed at reducing the burden of chronic diseases, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. Populations served through this work include women of racial and ethnic minority descent, particularly African American and Hispanic women, and midlife adults. Themes consistent throughout this work include a strong focus on health equity, critical attention to behavioral theory, extensive formative research to inform intervention design, use of mHealth technologies for intervention delivery, and evaluation of physiological biomarkers linked to health-enhancing outcomes associated with PA. Students in the lab will have opportunities to collaborate on various ongoing NIH-funded research projects focused on the above mentioned topical areas. To enroll, please contact [email protected].
Close Relationships and Health	Shelby Langer	This lab is dedicated to the scientific study of close relationships, in particular dyads or pairs. Examples include partners, spouses, children and parents, and care recipients and caregivers. Accumulating evidence suggests that the manner in which family dyads communicate plays a significant role in their adaptation to major stressors. Overarching aims of this program of research are to understand how partners communicate and influence one another’s mood, health behavior, and physical health (from physical activity to the gut microbiome), and to design/ test/ refine interventions to optimize health and well-being among dyads coping with chronic illness such as advanced cancer. Current projects include an expressive writing intervention for caregivers, a couple-based physical activity intervention for persons undergoing cancer treatment and their caregiving partners, and development of a smartphone app to deliver support to patients and caregivers in real-time and based on need. We are also working to secure funding to use artificial intelligence methods to inform a brief relationship enhancement intervention for couples coping with cancer. Goals for lab members are to gain an understanding of conceptual models that undergird dyadic research; gain exposure to various methodologies that are either unique to or can be applied to the study of dyads; and gain hands-on experience in the conduct, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of dyadic research. Lab members will also gain one-on-one mentorship and opportunity to present their work at local and/or national forums. To enroll, please contact [email protected].
Digital Storytelling and Cancer	Sunny Kim	Dr. Sunny Kim’s Digital Storytelling & Cancer Lab investigates the effects of digital storytelling 1) as a therapeutic psychosocial intervention to reduce distress among cancer patients and caregivers, and 2) as an innovative community-based participatory health communication strategy to promote health behaviors (e.g., COVID-19 and HPV vaccinations). The lab also examines Heart Rate Variability as a neurophysiological assessment. Students in the lab will have opportunities to collaborate on these research projects. To enroll, please contact [email protected].
Latino Health & Substance Use	Alice Cepeda	Dr. Alice Cepeda's lab is dedicated to examining the multifaceted and complex nature of illicit substance use and related health behaviors affecting communities of color. Students in the lab will engage in research on drug use and abuse, violence, migration, and associated health burdens, with a particular focus on the well-being of Latino communities in the U.S. and Mexico. The lab’s research explores how social and economic disparities, along with limited access to services and resources, contribute to specific vulnerabilities and the progression of chronic comorbidities. Committed to innovative theoretical and methodological approaches, the lab ensures that the voices and lived experiences of community members remain central to its work. Students will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on research, data collection, and analysis while developing critical skills for careers in diverse health-focused fields. To enroll, contact [email protected].
Health Services Research Methods Lab	Derek Manis	This lab uses population-level data and interdisciplinary methods from epidemiology, biostatistics, and health services research to examine service use, outcomes, and quality of care in a variety of populations. Students will have the opportunity to engage in current projects or pursue independent projects for their thesis. To enroll, please contact Dr. Derek Manis at [email protected].
Storytelling for Health Collaborative	Alyssa Robillard	The Storytelling for Health lab explores the use of stories to promote health to achieve health equity. The focus of the lab is HIV prevention, care, and treatment. This lab prioritizes community-based collaborations and is dedicated to understanding how stories can be used to shift attitudes and social norms, increase self-efficacy, and change behaviors. To enroll, contact Alyssa Robillard at [email protected].

The research lab opportunities listed below may have limited availability. Please contact the faculty member directly if you have an interest.

Lab/Project	Contact	Description
Health Policy Analysis	Allie Peckham	This is a health services research lab that conducts comparative policy analysis to assess the implications of financing, organizing, delivery, and management of health services for individuals, communities, clinical practice, management, and policy. The goal is to impact health services and policy through innovative research and thinking. This health services research lab conducts research that expand the understanding of the wide-ranging field of health and health care to help improve the health of individuals and communities. Please reach out to [email protected] if you wish to enroll.
HIV and TB in South Africa	Joseph Daniels	We are focused on understanding influential factors in HIV and TB treatment adherence, and the development of responsive interventions to support treatment. Our work is in collaboration with South African organizations serving men and LGBTQ+ individuals. We use multiple methods including surveys and qualitative interviews. Students may engage in a variety of projects associated with any of these ongoing studies. To enroll, contact Joseph Daniels at [email protected].
Emotional & Cognitive Health in Late Life Lab	Molly Maxfield	Dr. Maxfield's research focuses on emotional responses to cognitive changes occurring as we age. One aspect of her research examines older adults' anxiety about cognitive changes, including anxiety in anticipation of cognitive changes or the possibility of a dementia diagnosis in the future. A second focus of research examines how a history of childhood abuse and neglect influences cognitive functioning in midlife and beyond. To enroll, contact Molly Maxfield at [email protected].
Former Dementia Care Lab	Zachary Baker	When a person with dementia dies, what happens to their family and friends? Our lab seeks to answer this question, and leverage that understanding to provide family and friends with the psychosocial resources and technological tools to thrive. More about us at https://baker-lab.squarespace.com/. To enroll, contact [email protected].
Daily Experiences of Stress, Engagement, and Research Topics in Aging (DESERT Aging) Lab	Rachel Koffer	Our research group studies everyday experiences across adulthood, including stressors we face (e.g., work stress, arguments, chores), activities we engage in (e.g., volunteering, physical activity, caregiving), and how we feel on a day-to-day basis (e.g., loneliness, happiness). We connect these experiences to long term healthy aging and well-being. Students interested in biological (especially cardiovascular and/or aging-specific processes) and/or psychological phenomenon across adulthood are encouraged to apply. Exciting data analysis opportunities are also available for students interested in data science. All students will have the opportunity to learn the literature on these topics, propose research ideas, and take part in the publication process if desired. To enroll, contact [email protected].