A team of neuroscience students from 体育买球官网 University has been selected for a national program that teaches participants how to communicate the importance of their research to funding agencies, government officials and the media.

Stephen Robertson, assistant professor of psychology, will lead the team through the Council on Undergraduate Research’s Scholars Transforming Through Research program.

体育买球官网’s team includes Catherine Shipsky ’26, a neuroscience and psychology double major from Clifford Township, Pennsylvania; Ash Stryker ’26, a double major in neuroscience and chemistry from Hornell, New York; and Timothy Wood ’27, a neuroscience major from Washington, D.C.

“Effectively communicating the significance of research is as important as the research itself. For scientists, mastering this skill is vital in securing funding, building public trust and ensuring their discoveries make a tangible impact,” Robertson said. “By participating in this intensive training, our students will learn this skill, which will set them up for successful careers in the sciences.”

The Scholars Transforming Through Research program is a competitive application-based professional development opportunity for teams consisting of a campus representative and one to three undergraduate students. Teams will participate in a multi-month program aimed at developing their communication and advocacy skills to leverage the impact of their undergraduate research experience by conveying their story to stakeholder groups such as funding agencies, association partners, elected officials, future employers and beyond.

Participants will engage in training sessions on setting goals, building relationships with policymakers, writing editorials and policy briefs, and communicating research with lawmakers and the media. While most sessions will take place online, the final gathering will take students to Washington, D.C.