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Bridging Disciplines Programs Opportunities

Sharing connecting experience opportunities with BDP students.

Research

, Filed Under: Internship, Research

Volunteer with the Association for India’s Development

The Association for India’s Development (AID) is non-profit organization committed to promoting sustainable, equitable and just development in India, fully run by volunteers, with over 52 chapters in six countries. AID seeks lives of self-reliance and dignity for thousands of people in India and has supported over 500 projects in the last 20 years. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of charkha (constructive work) and satyagraha (non-violent resistance to injustice), AID works with grassroots organizations in India and initiates efforts in various interconnected spheres such as education, livelihoods, natural resources, health, women’s empowerment and social justice.

Our work goes beyond simply providing funds, to working in partnership with grassroots organizations, to collectively and sustainably resolve systemic challenges in India. Do feel free to talk to or email any of our volunteers to find out more about AID.

Visit their website here: http://www.aid-austin.org/

And check out some volunteer possibilities here: http://www.aid-austin.org/volunteer/

, Filed Under: Research

Fall Research Opportunities with the Prevention Research Lab

The Prevention Research Lab is looking for undergraduate research assistants!

The Prevention Research Lab, operated by Dr. Keryn E. Pasch in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, is searching for fall undergraduate research assistants. Undergraduate research assistants (URAs) will work one or more of several projects: 1) Outdoor MEDIA II, 2) Coding Food Outlets, 3) Transcribing Qualitative Interviews, 4) Coding of Magazine Advertising, and 5) Tobacco Marketing to Youth and Young Adults.

  1. Outdoor MEDIA II

This project will use objectively collected data to document outdoor food, beverage, alcohol, and tobacco advertising in the Travis County area. This project is in collaboration with sites in California and Minnesota. Data collectors will use electronic tools to document and code advertising and marketing. For this position, a flexible schedule with at least four hour blocks of time available during the day is required. Data collectors will go out to site to collect the data and also be required to work in the lab to code the collected data.

  1. Coding Food Outlets And Menus

This project will involve coding previously collected data on food outlets located near Austin area middle schools.  For this project, URAs will use their nutrition knowledge and detailed coding protocols to code all outlets for items such as type, category, and food sold.  In addition, URAs will collect and code menus of selected restaurants based on a vegetable-centered menu analysis tool.  Similarly, this task will require URAs to use their nutrition knowledge and detailed coding protocol.  Results of this project will provide a novel way to examine the food environment near schools based on both outlet type as well as foods sold.  Nutrition background is required for this project.

  1. Transcribing Community Nutrition Interviews

This project will involve transcribing and coding qualitative interviews that were conducted with key staff members of Austin area community nutrition programs.  This project aims to determine what current best practices and biggest challenges are for community nutrition programs.  For this project, URAs will need basic computer skills for transcribing interviews, critical thinking skills for creating themes and codes based on responses of participants, as well as basic knowledge of community nutrition programs. Nutrition background a plus.

  1. Coding of Magazine Advertisements

This project will involve the coding of advertisements, including alcohol, food, and beverage, found in several popular magazines for content. Tasks will include creation of a data collection template, coding of the magazines, and basic data management.

  1. Tobacco Marketing to Youth and Young Adults

These projects are part of a large center grant. One component is a project focused on e-cigarette advertising on television, and uses eye-tracking technology and quantitative surveys, to better understand the influence of television commercials on 100 college students. Students will help administer the study protocol with the college students, code and enter data, and assist with other research tasks as needed. For this position, a flexible schedule with at least four hour blocks of time available is preferred, this may include evenings. Other components of this project may include working with Filemaker, a database program, to create data collection templates as well as other activities to support the projects within the center.

Additional research opportunities such as literature searching and data summaries may be available.

REQUIREMENTS:

A flexible schedule with at least 3-4 hour blocks of available time on two to three days a week is preferred.

Prior research experience is preferred.

Nutrition research credit (NTR355) and Bridging Disciplines (BDP 320) credit is offered through the Prevention Research Lab – please let us know if you are considering research credit when you contact us.

If you are interested in joining the Prevention Research Lab as an undergraduate research assistant this fall, please complete the application (link below) and return it, along with a resume, to Ana Herrera (Ana.L.Herrera@uth.tmc.edu) for additional information or to set up an interview.

Application: Call for URAs – Fall 2014[3]

 

, Filed Under: Research

Fall 2014 Research Assistant Position Examining Food Insecurity and Obesity

Looking for an interesting undergraduate research opportunity for Fall?  If you are a Spanish speaker, a junior with a good GPA (3.0 or more), you may qualify to assist with data collection and analysis for a project involving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)!

Qualifications:
GPA: 3.0 and above
Ability to speak, read and write Spanish fluently
Junior Year

Duties and Responsibilities:
Assist with data collection and data analysis

Description of Project
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions throughout the world, with the United States (U.S.) reporting the highest rates of obesity among developed nation. Food insecurity is a public health problem that concurs with obesity. Low-income populations are disproportionately burdened by the dual problem of food insecurity and obesity. The Food Stamp Program, now known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), was launched to boost the agricultural economy, and reduce food insecurity in the U.S. In 2012, nearly $74.6 billion were distributed in the form of SNAP benefits to 46.6 million Americans. Allotment of SNAP benefits is based on the Thrifty Food Plan, and the average monthly benefit per person was $133.41 in 2012. Given the vast outreach of the SNAP, its effective use may serve as a centerpiece to help improve nutrition among low-income Americans. An understanding of the dietary behaviors of SNAP participants is required to guide the development of effective policy measures. In order to gain an accurate knowledge of dietary behaviors of SNAP participants, this study will investigate food and nutrient intake of this population over the entire month. Individuals participating in SNAP may face barriers that reduce a healthy eating lifestyle. It is hypothesized that individual, environmental, sectors of influence and social and cultural factors will influence food intake patterns in this population. This hypothesis is based on the social ecological model, which posits that health behavior is determined by an interwoven relationship between the individuals and their environment. No study, till date, has evaluated the effect of social-ecological factors on dietary behaviors of SNAP participants. The primary goal of this project is to enhance the understanding of the role of social-ecological factors on monthly food intake patterns, thereby emphasizing the need to address dietary behaviors of SNAP participants at both an individual and societal level.

To Apply:
If you would like to work as a research assistant for this project, you can contact Namrata Sanjeevi, PhD student in Nutritional Sciences, at namratas@utexas.edu.