The UIC Department of Pediatrics conducts a wide range of research studies, from the community to the clinic to the lab. Whenever possible, we strive to engage students in these projects. For the summer of 2018, the Department of Pediatrics will support students involved in departmental projects to come to regular research seminars that allow for exposure to a range of research programs and concepts. We also have several specific research positions open. These are in the list below. If you are interested in one of these positions, reach out to the listed as the contact person. Other positions may become available in the next few months.
| Addressing Social Key (ASK) Questions for Health Screening in Pediatric Well Child Visits Faculty Mentors: Osta, Amanda; Laurent, Stacy; Minier, Mark Salary: Unpaid Start Date: Available now and through summer 2018 Description: UI Health pediatrics, in partnership with 3 other academic medical centers in Chicago, has started screening all children at their well child visits for unmet social needs (USN) (such as child care, employment, transportation, legal assistance, etc) and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)(exposure to violence, abuse, separation, etc). It is well documented in the literature that USN and ACEs have a strong correlation to poor health outcomes in children and therefore it is recommended that all pediatricians assess their families for these issues. Data is collected on a paper screening tool when children present for a well child visit at the Children and Youth Center at UI Health. The results from the screening tool are entered in a protected database (REDCap) and analyses can then be run off this database to look at trends affecting our patients. These data are being used to improve the screening process through a resident-driven quality improvement project. Needs: data entry, assistance with developing graphs and charts to monitor progress, developing PowerPoints to communicate findings, discuss ideas for improving the process Requirements: student will need to have IRB and Citi training. Student will need to receive REDCap training. All data entry needs to be done on campus from a desktop computer. For more info, contact Mark Minier, mminier@uic.edu
|
| CO-OP Chicago Student Job Description CO-OP Chicago is an NIH-funded randomized controlled trial that tests the ability of an oral health community health worker intervention to improve oral health outcomes for young children. Study details can be found at: http://co-opchicago.ihrp.uic.edu/. CO-OP Chicago is seeking two students to work on the study in 2018. Stipends (or hourly wages) are offered, depending on the student availability and study needs. Student responsibilities will mainly be to recruit families in pediatric clinic and WIC waiting rooms. Students will need their own transportation to get to recruitment sites which are located on the west and south sides of the Chicago area. Spanish-language skills are helpful. If interested, please send a resume and your contact information to Anna Sandoval at asando1@uic.edu.
|
| LUNG DEVELOPMENT BIOLOGY and INJURY REPAIR- Student Job Description Abnormal lung development and repair after injury can lead to lung pathogenesis in neonates and adults. Our lab research supported by two active grants funded by the NIH is investigating the mechanisms underlying abnormal lung inflammatory response and alveolar epithelial cell regeneration using pre-clinical models of inflammatory lung injury. Study details can be found at: https://projectreporter.nih.gov/reporter.cfm (PI Reddy, Sekhar). Our lab is seeking one-two students to work on these projects in summer 2018. Stipends for students with experience in laboratory research can be offered, depending on the funding availability. Student responsibilities will mainly be to assist the lab people in various basic laboratory experiments, animal studies and transgenic mice colony husbandry. If interested, please send a resume and your contact information to Mahsa Khatibeghdami (mkhatib@uic.edu).
|
| Sit Down and Play Sit Down and Play is a brief, primary care-based program that aims to promote early childhood development through encouraging key parenting behaviors. We are currently conducting an NIH-funded pilot randomized controlled trial of this program in Chicago. Department: UIC Department of Pediatrics Principal Investigator: Reshma Shah, MD, Director, Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, University of Illinois at Chicago Description: Applications are welcome for candidates interested in parent-child interactions and impact of enhancing parenting behaviors to promote early child development. Study team members will deliver a brief parent-directed intervention to parents while they wait for their child to be seen by his/her pediatrician at the University of Illinois Outpatient Care Clinic (1801 W. Taylor). Other responsibilities include conducting phone assessments, scoring data entry of assessments, and other project-related activities as requested. Students will gain experience in: (a) practice-based research involving parent-child communication in pediatric settings and (b) evaluating parenting outcomes. Requirements: Strong interest in childhood development, reducing poverty-related disparities, and are able to confidently communicate with parents Application Instructions: Please email your CV and statement of interest to the project manager, Ashley Isaia (aisaia2@uic.edu). Hiring Range: Hourly wages may be offered, depending on the student availability and study needs.
|
| Family-Physician Communication Study The Family-Physician Communication Study is a study funded by the Association of Pediatric Program Directors and the Erikson Institute to evaluate the use of a family-centered communication tool to improve pediatric residents’ empathy and communication in pediatric medical encounters. The Family-Physician Communication Study is seeking one student to work on the study in 2018. Student responsibilities will include data organization and analysis, for both quantitative and qualitative data. If interested, please send your CV and contact information to Michelle Barnes at mbarnes@uic.edu. |