Students often come to college with one intention: to get a degree, but often do not think much past that. However, college is also meant to be a chance for students to gain invaluable practical skills and experience that can help to further their education.
The Social Science Research Lab (SSRL) was founded in 2007 and offers about 50 students each year an opportunity to develop skills across all disciplines. Students are encouraged to work with universities throughout the state, emphasizing a broader community base than just the Monroe area. The SSRL has set up internships for students throughout the country, as well.
The SSRL supports interdisciplinary research, offering students either class credit or paid internships for contributing to the work, which can range from cleanup projects in small towns to solving public health issues.
When it comes to accepting new students and projects, Dr. John Sutherlin, a co-director of the research lab, says, “We try to be as accommodating as possible. You can’t always do it, but we say yes a lot more than we say no.”
Since its introduction, the SSRL has been granted hundreds of thousands of dollars from government agencies as well as other organizations to complete research and other projects. Some grant proposals currently in the works are going to the Louisiana Board of Regents, United States Institute of Peace and the MacArthur Foundation.
Professor of social psychology Dr. Joseph McGahan, co-director alongside Sutherlin, mentioned one of the SSRL’s current projects. It is a joint-effort between social psychology and the health science department concerning breast cancer treatment. “We need students for this one,” said McGahan. The application can be found on their website, and is open to students who want to propose new research as well.
Brady Holtzclaw, a second year graduate student in psychology, is working on a proposal for the MacArthur Foundation. He has spent over a year doing research on the SAVRY system, which categorizes risk levels of juvenile delinquents. “I have always been interested in law and the justice system, so this project allowed me to utilize my research skills toward something I enjoy and [to] also get paid at the same time,” Holtzclaw said.
Holtzclaw was also part of another project that touches on the original intent behind creating the research lab, titled “Stay, Brady, Stay.” The SSRL encourages students to do what is best for them, while also trying to produce tangible results for nearby communities.
