MyVoice Team Members Ava Russell, pictured above right, and Elaine Chen, left, with MyVoice Manager Marika Waselewski, center, were among the latest young researchers– in– training who presented youth-focused research at the recent Undergrad Research Academy’s Research Symposium at the University of Michigan.
Additionally, Russell, a rising junior and Health Science major at Spelman College in Atlanta, was awarded the Overall Symposium Runner Up Award at the symposium for her presentation, “Youth Perspectives on Rising Food Costs & Their Impact on Food Choices & Daily Life.”
Russell, originally from Seattle, remarked that even though her research is still in progress, she was surprised by how much she and her team were able to learn from the young people’s responses already.
“Rising food costs are affecting youths’ choices, routines, and mental health,” she said. “This project reminded me how important it is to not only talk about issues affecting young people, but to make sure their voices are included in those conversations.”
She described her experience presenting her work at the URA Symposium as rewarding.
“I loved having the opportunity to share what we found, hear people’s reactions, and learn about the work other students were doing,” she said. “I am so grateful that I had the chance to work with the MyVoice team, and I especially want to recognize our project lead, Hannah Hua, who was incredibly supportive throughout the summer.”
Chen, a rising junior at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, presented the poster, “Adolescent Perspective on Family Planning.” She is double majoring in Neurobiology and Biomedical Engineering.
“Working with MyVoice gave me the opportunity to explore an issue that affects many young people and learn about many different perspectives, while learning how to conduct qualitative research,” she said. “Presenting my project at the URA Symposium was a rewarding experience because it allowed me to share interesting findings and discuss them with people from different research backgrounds. It strengthened my interest in pursuing research that can inform policies and improve health outcomes.”
Tammy Chang, MD, MPH, MS, director of the MyVoice national text-based survey, expressed her admiration for Russell and Chen and the work that they conducted during their time on with MyVoice
“I am so proud of Ava and Elaine,” she said. “They are both remarkable young researchers who have elevated their work with MyVoice to shine a light on the many areas that impact the well-being of youth. I know they will go on to do amazing things with the skills they gained this summer.”
The Undergrad Research Academy is a 10-week program designed for undergraduate students who want to explore biomedical research and health career pathways in a stimulating environment. Students gain exposure to U-M Medical School and Michigan Medicine healthcare professionals. The curriculum is aligned with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Core Competencies.
