Research

PROJECT TAURUS (2023-2024)

Project TAURUS (Targeting and Understanding Racism Under the Skin) was a collaboration between Drs. Aprile Benner, Bridget Goosby, and Jacob Cheadle at UT Austin. The goal of Project TAURUS was to examine how positive and negative aspects of young adults’ lives affected their physical and mental health, with a focus on discrimination. The study used data from surveys, health measurements, blood samples, and biometric measurements from smartwatches to better understand young adults’ daily experiences, stressful events, and how these might relate to their health.

Project LIBRA (2020-2022)

Project LIBRA (Living Inequalities, Biology, and Resilience in Adolescence) was a continuation of Project PISCES, funded by NICHD, studying how the everyday experiences of adolescents influenced their mental and physical development. More specifically, Project LIBRA examined how different technologies could be used to better understand the positive and negative aspects of their daily lives (e.g., academics, experiences at school/home) and health and well being. Biannual surveys were collected from 11th to 12th grade, as well as two rounds of 14-day daily diaries, one round of interviews, biomarker sample collection, and activity sensor data from a subsample of Project LIBRA participants.

PROJECT PISCES (2016-2020)

Project PISCES (Preventing Inequalities in School Climate and Educational Success) was an NSF funded study examining how schools influence young people’s healthy development. We were interested in the positive aspects of schools, such as academic and emotional support, as well as negative aspects such as experiences of discrimination. We were also interested in how support from family and positive neighborhoods can promote positive school outcomes and mental health. We conducted annual surveys from 8th to 10th grades, along with one round of interviews and two rounds of 14-day daily diaries with subsamples of Project PISCES participants.