High-Impact Research

Transcript

Allyssa is double majoring in political science and anthropology and wants to share what she’s learned from her research. UNLV has more than 45 research centers and institutes, making great news in everything from brain health and clean energy to social justice and public policy. More than 10,000 undergraduates participate in UNLV research programs. Allyssa, tell us about your experience.

Thanks, Alex. Hi, friends. I moved to the United States from the Philippines right before my first year of college. It was really an exciting experience for me as it was a new school, new life, and new country. UNLV has never made me feel left out and in fact, I think of this place as my home. Starting out, I solely focused on my classes without thinking much about extracurriculars, until I discovered undergraduate research opportunities right here at UNLV and joined the Rebel Research and Mentorship Program. Through this program, I was partnered with a graduate student who taught me the research process and showed me how interconnected various disciplines are. I was also able to learn satellite imagery or QGIS, which I never expected to learn from both of my degrees. Not only that, but we were also able to present at regional research conferences with us winning best student poster presentation at a southwestern anthropological association. This experience made me realize how important research is for our policy makers who can eventually help underrepresented or minority communities, and because of this experience, I signed up for the College of Liberal Arts Program and Honors Creative Thesis. Thanks to the College of Liberal Arts Program, I got the position of legislative assistant for the Nevada Court Appointed Special Advocates Association. Currently, I am gathering data that can help legislators understand the importance of special advocates in being the voices for abused and neglected children. Because of UNLV, I am now excited to continue on my honors thesis defense. This project focuses on post-modern feminist analysis that can help us understand war crimes and post-Cold War civil conflicts. I hope to get this published with the help of UNLV. That’s my research story and I hope to make an impact. Back to you, Alex.

Allyssa, your research is inspiring. Thanks for sharing. It’s important to take advantage of research opportunities. Not only can they be impactful, but when you participate in research, it enriches your academic experience. It also helps build your resume before you’re ready to apply for your first professional job. That was great.