Undergraduate Research Experience - Kiersten Goetz

This year I had the privilege to assist with a research study in the Department of Education under Dr. Root and Sarah Cox. I am I sophomore here at Florida State University and I found this research opportunity through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP). This was my first experience with research at the colligate level and I couldn’t be happier with what this experience taught me. I got a first-hand look at all the work that goes on behind the scenes to get a study up and running. I also received hands on experience working with participants on a regular basis. This was a great introduction to research and has inspired me to continue researching into my undergraduate and, hopefully, graduate studies. However, this experience wasn’t all about figuring out if research was something I felt passionate about, it was also about solidifying my dream of helping children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. I learned so much about these students through my mentor, Sarah, and also from the student we worked it. This deepened my understanding and piqued my interest for working with these students and I can’t wait for all the experiences to come through research and my future career.